This document presents a revised survey design and spatial extent of the planned International synoptic krill survey in Area 48 during 2019, based on the recommendations provided by the EMM working group under evaluation of WG-EMM-18/12.

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 background paper (SC-CAMLR-XXXVII/BG/xx), 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, crystal krill, and larval and juvenile Antarctic silverfish in the RSRMPA; zone-specific estimates of the numbers of nesting pairs of Adélie penguins and adult emperor penguins; and region-wide estimates of the numbers of Weddell seals and Type C killer whales.

This report is the last of four describing the activities of the Secretariat under the 2015–2018 Strategic Plan. Highlights of the year are presented, which include the development of a new Strategic Plan for the next 4 years 2019–2022. Future reports will be against the format of the new Strategic Plan.

The ICG on Sustainable Financing (CCAMLR-XXXVII/17) recommended that several of the clauses of the Financial Regulations be amended to accommodate (i) the creation and operation of a Working Capital Fund, (ii) the creation and operation of a General Capacity Building Fund, and (iii) an amendment to the rules on small purchases to bring them up to date with current financial limits.

The Secretariat proposes changes to the Regulations to accommodate these recommendations.

At CCAMLR-XXXVI, the Commission decided (paragraph 9.34) that, in relation to future work to provide appropriate opportunities for the Commission and Scientific Committee to further consider the PR2 recommendations, it requested:

(i)    the PR2 Report be placed in the public domain on the CCAMLR website with the understanding that the PR2 Report was received as the work of the Panel and was intended to be used for consideration and discussion by Members

(ii)    that the Commission, SCIC, SCAF and the Scientific Committee and its working groups annually review the status of each relevant recommendation

(iii)    the Secretariat to provide annual updates to a matrix, maintained on the CCAMLR website, that records the discussion and action considered in respect of each recommendation at each annual meeting of the Commission and Scientific Committee.

The Secretariat has prepared item (i)¹ which is public, and item (iii)² which is currently password protected. This paper provides a summary of the actions taken at and since last year’s meetings (Annex 1).

¹ PR2 Final Report of the Panel, www.ccamlr.org/node/98950. ² PR2 matrix, www.ccamlr.org/node/99391.

CCAMLR has Arrangements with five other organisations. Two Arrangements (Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) and South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO)) expire after CCAMLR-XXXVII. Activity under these arrangements has generally been restricted to exchange of reports and invitation to meetings. The Secretariat proposes that this be extended for those organisations that also catch toothfish to include cooperation with CCAMLR’s toothfish tagging program, and to cooperation with the CCAMLR Catch Documentation Scheme for Dissostichus spp. (CDS), sharing CDS data and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) vessel lists.

The Secretariat seeks a Commission decision to renew these two Arrangements (CCSBT, SPRFMO) for a further 3 years. The Secretariat seeks the endorsement of the Scientific Committee, SCIC and the Commission in respect of activities to be undertaken under the Arrangements with SPRFMO, the South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (SEAFO) and the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) on toothfish tagging and CDS.