Owing to commercial fishing during the late 1970s/early 1980s, targeted notothenioid species had become depleted around the South Shetland Islands. Herein we report subsequent changes in the prevalence of three species, Notothenia rossii, Gobionotothen gibberifrons and Notothenia coriiceps in Potter Cove, King George Islands/ Isla 25 de Mayo, in a 33-year effort to monitor recovery. N. rossii and G. gibberifrons had been severely impacted by industrial fishing but in offshore waters N. coriiceps had never been commercially fished; however, all three species exhibit similar nearshore habitats and life history. We examined composition in trammel net catches during 2012–2016, augmenting a time series started in 1983. Our inshore results were consistent with those from offshore bottom trawl sampling in 2007 and 2012 around the South Shetland Islands: (1) continued increase in the  abundance of N. rossii; (2) further decline in G. gibberifrons recruitment evidenced by low proportions of juvenile fish; and (3) a high abundance of N. coriiceps. Reasons for lack of recovery in G. gibberifrons remain obscure but seemingly relate to the dramatically changing ecosystem of the region due in part to climate as well as recovery among previously depleted upper trophic level species. Our results are also consistent with trends reported in seabirds that feed on juveniles of these notothenioids: decrease in the areas commercially fished. Under the regulation of CCAMLR, commercial fishing for finfish in the South Shetland Islands region (FAO Subarea 48.1) remains prohibited since 1991; results indicate that it cannot be reinstated.

Annual report on the CCAMLR marine debris monitoring program.

The appropriate sample size for krill length measurement was raised during the WG-SISO-17 and WG-EMM-17 meetings.In this paper, the question was investigated through a case study based on the length data collected by scientific observers onboard the Chinese krill fishing vessel Fu Rong Hai during the 2015/2016 fishing season. The variation of statistical property of krill length distribution with different sample size was evaluated using simplebootstrap resampling method. Four typical patterns of krill length distribution, including unimodal, bimodal, left-skewed and right-skewed unimodal, were investigated, respectively.Results indicated thatwhenthe sample size was higher than 100 individuals,the mean and coefficient of variance (CV) of the krill length distribution mightnot be very sensitive to the size of the samples.

The is the report of the conveners of the Ross Sea region MPA Research and Monitoring Plan Workshop (WS-RMP) that was held at the Palazzo Farnesina (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, MAECI) in Rome from 26–28 April 2017.

The Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area Research and Monitoring Plan

The attached draft Climate Change Response Work Program addresses the remaining Terms of Reference of the Intersessional Correspondence Group (ICG) to develop approaches for integrating considerations of the impacts of climate change into the work of CCAMLR (components of TORs 7 and 8). It aims to build on related work of the Commission, SC-CAMLR and its working groups, and to link with related work being undertaken by the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP).

It is proposed that the objective of a Climate Change Response Work Program is:

To provide a mechanism for identifying and revising goals and specific actions by the Commission and SC-CAMLR to support efforts within the Antarctic Treaty system to prepare for, and build resilience to, the environmental impacts of a changing climate and the associated implications for the governance and management of the Southern Ocean and the conservation of Antarctic marine living resources.

This reflects and complements the objective of the CEP Climate Change Response Work Program.

On behalf of the ICG, Australia and Norway seek feedback on the proposed work program, specifically advice on issues, information gaps identified, proposed actions and relevant activities already underway. Advice on appropriate timeframes for responding to research activities would also be appreciated.

This proposal establishes a process for CCAMLR to increase transparency and documentation of research activities conducted under Conservation Measure 24-01 by adopting, annually, a conservation measure for research activities targeting Dissostichus spp. to be carried out under paragraph 3 of Conservation Measure 24-01 in areas with a zero catch limit or where directed fishing for Dissostichus spp. is prohibited. It also suggests minor amendments to Conservation Measure 24-01 to clarify the process for submission and review of Research Plans and reporting requirements.