Trammel net surveys were continued in Potter Cove, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, to achieve a 33-year record, 1983-2016, to monitor changes in the prevalence of three species of notothenioid fishes: Notothenia rossii, Gobionotothen gibberifrons and N. coriiceps. Inshore results were consistent with those achieved from the most recent offshore bottom trawl research cruises in 2007 and 2012 around the South Shetland Islands: 1) a continuous increase in the abundance of N. rossii; 2) further decline in G. gibberifrons recruitment evidenced by the low proportions of juvenile fish; and 3) a high abundance of N. coriiceps. Results were also consistent with trends in seabirds that feed on juveniles of these species. The three notothenioids have similar ecological habits nearshore, but while in offshore waters N. coriiceps was never commercially fished, N. rossii and G. gibberifrons were severely impacted by industrial fishing during the late 1970s-onset of the 1980s. Reasons for lack of recovery in G. gibberifrons remain obscure but seemingly relate to the dramatically changing ecosystem of the region due to climate and perhaps recovery of previously depleted upper trophic level species. 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.

This paper presents a proposal by Ukraine to amend Conservation Measure 10-05 in respect of the implementation of the Dissostichus spp. Catch Document: i.e. it is clarified that this document shall apply in cases of transhipment or landing of Dissostichus spp. catches.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have been on the agenda of the Antarctic Treaty System since at least 2005. Since then, various efforts have been made with the aim of conserving Antarctic marine living resources. In the current context of climate change, the Antarctic Peninsula and Southern Scotia Arc (Domain 1) areas are particularly important, since they are one of the regions of the planet that are most at risk from the effects of climate change. In this document we describe progress made in the process of designation of a representative system of MPAs in Domain 1, and highlight that it extends beyond the primary aim of establishing an MPA, i.e. the conservation of resources. The process itself includes the compilation, analysis, integration and publication of a great deal of the available information, which not only contributes to the accumulation of scientific knowledge but also offers an exceptional tool for viewing and sharing information, thereby facilitating the decision-making process.

The Executive Secretary's Report, for the 12-month period since CCAMLR-XXXIV, is accompanied by an Implementation Report for the second year of the Secretariat’s Strategic Plan (2015–2018) and an Implementation Report for the Secretariat’s Salary and Staffing Strategy for 2016. 

Since 2013 the Secretariat of the Commission has been preparing an annual compliance report in accordance with the provisions of Conservation Measure 10-10. This report has facilitated the analysis by the Standing Committee on Implementation and Compliance (SCIC) of alleged issues of non-compliance with some conservation measures. The report and its discussion have made it possible to clarify the text of some measures that could be read in ways that allowed for differing interpretations and to refine some measures that were in force, and have contributed to general diagnostics of compliance levels by the Members of the Commission. However, the current compliance status categories contained in the table attached to Conservation Measure 10-10 sometimes lead to protracted discussions over what should be considered ‘partially compliant’ or ‘non-compliant’. This proposal aims at modifying the table of compliance status categories so that this kind of discussions are avoided, thus reducing the time devoted to discussions by the Committee.

In this paper, we briefly review recent environmental information for the Antarctic Peninsula, highlighting how both natural variability in near-surface air temperatures and longer term changes in the oceanic domain add to the complexity of managing the Antarctic krill fishery, particularly at small spatial scales. We present an example during the early Austral summer of 2015/2016, when sea ice conditions were extensive and led to unusual foraging conditions for gentoo penguins. Conditions were such, that gentoo reproductive performance was lower than average, and at some locations, mortality events were observed. Fishing in close proximity to some colonies also occurred and it is plausible that removals of even small amounts of krill could have reduced foraging opportunities. We discuss three management tools that could provide conservation benefits for near-shore krill-dependent species, particularly during periods when environmental variability might mean that potential impacts of fishing are difficult to predict. These management methods include: (i) coastal buffers closed to fishing, (ii) closed areas during critical ecological time periods, and (iii) harvesting limits and move-on rules. We discuss the potential impacts upon the fishery arising from these methods. We show that designating coastal buffers closed to fishing during the penguin breeding season could reduce krill catches by approximately 30,000 tonnes, but that this catch could be recovered either offshore, or after penguin breeding is complete. We note that use of these tools would increase CCAMLR’s leadership in precautionary fisheries management and enhance its public image.

In this paper, we highlight how environmental variability has led to reduced penguin breeding performance, and increased penguin mortality following starvation, such that localised harvesting by the krill fishery at specific times or in particular areas might not be considered to be rational management. However, we also note that the current network of ecosystem monitoring sites currently makes it difficult to obtain the necessary management information at the resolution needed to facilitate precautionary reductions in catch at relevant time and space scales in all areas. Moreover, an experimental framework (such as open and closed areas to test contrasting harvesting protocols) to determine whether the fishery might have an impact upon different ecosystem components (and by how much), has never been implemented; this means that localised impacts from the fishery remain untested. Changing patterns in the operation of the krill fishery mean that either improved management information, or a precautionary spatial management approach is appropriate. Until such time that adequate information is available, and a Feed Back Management approach is implemented, the UK recommends that a precautionary approach constitutes rational spatial management. Tools that would help satisfy this requirement include seasonal coastal buffers closed to fishing. We note that application the precautionary principle using these tools would increase CCAMLR’s leadership in ecosystem based fisheries management and enhance its public image.