The CAMLR Scientific Committee in 2017 reviewed the scientific background document SC-CAMLR-XXXVI/BG/28. Germany was asked to carry out further work, in particular as regards the issues raised at WG-EMM-17 and SC-CAMLR-XXXVI (SC-CAMLR-XXXVI, Annex 6, §§ 5.1-5.14). The implementation of recommendations and questions raised by WG-EMM-17 and SC-CAMLR-XXXVI was already presented at the Workshop of Spatial Management (Cambridge, UK, 2 to 6 July 2018), where the great amount of work was acknowledge and the updates were welcomed.

With this document, the Delegation of Germany would also like to inform the Scientific Committee about the additional scientific analyses and implementation of the recommendations carried out in support of the development of a CCAMLR MPA in the Weddell Sea.

Chapter 1 of this background paper reflects on the recommendations concerning the suitability of some data layers for the Marxan analyses. Chapter 2 discusses the recommendations on the suitability of the cost layer developed for the WSMPA Marxan analysis (SC-CAMLR-XXXVI, Annex 6, §§ 5.10 and 5.12) and presents the updated cost layer. Chapter 3 provides a new data layer on juvenile Antarctic toothfish, and Chapter 4 presents a robustness test of the WSMPA Marxan model.

The Secretariat recommends that the Commission make some changes to the Staff Regulations so that the 2019–2022 Staffing and Salary Strategy (CCAMLR-XXXVII/21 Rev. 1) may be implemented effectively. The recommended changes are provided in Annex 1. The background to these changes is presented in detail in CCAMLR-XXXVII/21 Rev. 1 and CCAMLR-XXXVII/BG/02.

In 2018, the Secretariat undertook a comprehensive translation review of all conservation measures and the Basic Documents. This paper provides details about the review process. Summaries of major issues identified in the conservation measures and the Basic Documents are appended, and the proposed changes were available for consultation between June and August. These changes will be included in the next version of the Basic Documents and will be incorporated into translations of the next publication of the Schedule of Conservation Measures in Force, following their adoption by the Commission at CCAMLR-XXXVII.

The Executive Secretary's Report of the 41st Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM XLI), Buenos Aires, Argentina, 16 to 18 May 2018, presents a summary of items of interest to CCAMLR Members.

A Research and Monitoring Plan for the Ross Sea region MPA (RSRMPA) has been endorsed by the Scientific Committee (SC-CAMLR-XXXVI/20). The Plan identifies research questions that aim to facilitate assessment of the degree to which the RSRMPA achieves its objectives. The Plan also identifies a set of indicators that, when observed or quantified, provide baseline data for key species and characterize the status of the marine ecosystem in the Ross Sea region. These baselines provide benchmarks from which to assess change and evaluate the performance of the MPA. Here, and in an accompanying working paper (SC-CAMLR-XXXVII/11), we suggest candidate baseline data for seven indicator species listed in the Research and Monitoring Plan and endorsed by the Scientific Committee. These candidates include zone-specific estimates of the mean densities of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), crystal krill (E. crystallorophias) , and larval and juvenile Antarctic silverfish (Pleuragramma antarcticum) in the RSRMPA; zone-specific estimates of the numbers of nesting pairs of Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) and adult emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri); and region-wide estimates of the numbers of Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) and Type C killer whales (Orcinus orca). We invite Members to contribute additional baseline data if they exist.

The Scientific Committee has previously used results from the Krill-Predator-Fishery Model (KPFM2, also known as Foosa) to consider the risks that implementing various management strategies for the krill fishery will compromise the Commission’s ability to achieve the objectives in Article II of the Convention. Management strategies for the krill fishery are currently comprised of an overall catch limit and a spatial distribution of this limit. We used KPFM2 to assess the risks of feedback management strategies in which the overall catch limit is dynamically redistributed among small scale management units (SSMUs) every five years based on results of monitoring either (1) the density of krill (g·m^‑2) or (2) changes in penguin abundance. Relative to the case in which the overall catch limit is statically distributed among SSMUs in proportion to catches taken during 2009-2016, we found that the two feedback management strategies we considered mostly redistributed risks to penguins and seals. Neither feedback strategy mitigated risks, beyond those projected to be incurred by the status quo distribution of fishing, in all or most SSMUs. We preliminarily attribute these results to the fact that none of the management strategies considered here redistributed fishing to offshore SSMUs, but we intend to verify this point with additional analyses. Catches by the fishery were generally projected to decrease in SSMUs where risks to predators decreased and increase where risks to predators increased, but the risks that the fishery might temporarily suspend operations due to low krill densities was insensitive to differences between the management strategies assessed. Our results suggest it may be useful to consider alternatives to the two FBM strategies evaluated here.

A few sub-adults of the Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) were collected by bottom trawling carried out by the RV Polarstern in the southern Weddell Sea (Subarea 48.5) (PS82, ANT-XXIX/9, 19 December 2013 - 5 March 2014). Fishes were caught on the shelf and slope off the Riiser-Larsen Ice Shelf. In this document we report first data on individual age, gonad stage of maturity and diet through otolith readings, histological and stomach content analyses, respectively. All specimens were immature, showing an age range of 10-13 years. Main prey consisted of Antarctic silverfish and daggertooth.

Oceanites, Inc. is a US-based, nonprofit, scientific, and educational organization under US law, which was founded in 1987. Its mission is to champion science-based conservation and increased awareness of climate change and its potential impacts through the lens of penguins and Antarctica.

This report summarizes activities of Oceanites since CCAMLR-XXXVI and SC-CAMLR-XXXVI, including: 

• Results from the latest, 24th consecutive field season of the Antarctic Site Inventory;

• Update on the Mapping Application for Penguin Populations and Projected Dynamics (MAPPPD); 

• State Of Antarctic Penguins 2018 Report and penguin conservation efforts; 

• Buffer zone reference tool; 

• Update on Oceanites’ climate analyses; 

• Camera work and additional research; and 

• Recent scientific papers.

Thirteen ACAP species (out of 31 currently listed) are currently showing overall population declines. The population trends of a large proportion of 16 ACAP species with significant distribution in the CCAMLR area are still uncertain or showed declines during the last two decades, and two thirds of the total is listed by the IUCN as threatened. The greatest threat to the ACAP species is incidental mortality in longline and trawl fisheries. CCAMLR has achieved outstanding success in reducing seabird bycatch in the area under its jurisdiction to negligible levels. However, the species distributed in the Convention Area are highly migratory and largely extend their distribution in neighbouring waters, where bycatch is still occurring, both in jurisdictional waters as well as those administrated by RFMOs. Addressing the pervasive threat of fisheries bycatch for species as wide-ranging as albatrosses and petrels requires concerted and collaborative management actions covering both national and international waters. Bycatch of seabirds in adjacent regions may undermine the success that CCAMLR has achieved to date, and the conservation status of those species that breed or forage in the Convention Area is dependent on efforts to minimise bycatch both within the CCAMLR area, and importantly outside of it, both in jurisdictional waters and the high seas.