During the 2017 EMM meeting Norway was requested to act towards the industry to ensure catch reporting in accordance with the present conservation measure (CM 21-03) and to investigate potential errors in historic catches. WG-EMM-17 requested a plan for how this could be done and this paper describes the action taken to respond to the request. Most of the work will be carried out in the 2017/18 season but Norway will also work on a longer perspective to further develop methodology for precise green weight estimation.

This paper summarises issues discussed in WG-EMM-17/42 relating to the appropriate use of data in the Weddell Sea Marine Protected Area (WSMPA) planning process, and whether the approach taken to develop the WSMPA proposal (CCAMLR-XXXV/18) was consistent with past and ongoing CCAMLR MPA planning processes. These issues have wider implications for all CCAMLR MPA planning processes.

Norway underline the need for discussion and clarification on how consistency amongst CCAMLR MPA planning processes can be ensured. Ensuring that area-based management proposals are founded on a consistent and rigorous scientific basis will strengthen Norway's commitment to supporting such actions.  Norway further underlines our concern on matters pertaining to suitability of data, particularly with regard to MPA planning areas that include both data-rich and data-poor areas.

The MPA Special Fund was established in 2005 to support activities undertaken in respect of MPAs. Given recent progress by CCAMLR towards the development of MPAs, it is now timely to review the purpose of the Fund, and to update the terms of reference and practical guidance for how it is accessed and used. This paper makes recommendations on the following updates for consideration by the Scientific Committee:

i)    Terms of Reference for use of the MPA Special Fund

ii)    Guidelines on submission and review of proposals for use of the MPA Special Fund

iii)    Terms of Reference for the MPA Special Fund Correspondence Group