Conservation measures are an integral part of CCAMLR’s management of Antarctic marine living resources. The first measure was introduced in 1984, and the number of measures in force each year has grown rapidly since that time; 61 measures were in force in 2000/01. The majority of conservation measures focus on the management of fisheries and related activities, and most of these measures are in force for a period of one year only. Other conservation measures include specifications for protecting scientific sites, compliance requirements and CCAMLR’s Catch Documentation Scheme for Dissostichus spp. Ten management elements were identified in the set of fishery conservation measures adopted by the Commission during the period from 1984 to 2000. These elements have been added to fishery conservation measures at a steady rate of approximately one new element every two to three years. Elements include access to fisheries, catch limits, seasons, data requirements and specifications for minimising incidental catches. This review allowed the development of two alternative approaches for simplifying the drafting of fishery conservation measures. These alternatives are proposed in CCAMLR-XX/20.
Abstract:
This report outlines the participation of the SC-CAMLR Chair in the Fourth Meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP-IV) under the Madrid Protocol. The most important issues of relevance to SC-CAMLR are: (1) A report of an open-ended intersessional contact group of the CEP reported on progress to find appropriate criteria for and a mechanism to ensure consistency in, the designation of Antarctic Specially Protected Species. The contact group will continue under a specified Terms of Reference; (2) A report from an intersessional contact group on Diseases of Antarctic Wildlife provided a document that would be useful for Parties when developing or improving national procedures to avoid introduction of diseases in the Antarctic. It noted that the risk that human activities in Antarctica might introduce diseases was currently assessed to be very low; (3) The CCAMLR SC Chair presented a paper prepared by the Secretariat presenting CCAMLR’s experience with data management; (4) The CCAMLR SC Chair also presented a paper prepared by the Secretariat on monitoring marine debris; (5) Australia, the CEP Observer to CCAMLR XIX and SC-CAMLR XIX, presented a report on CCAMLR activities at its 2000 meetings; and (6) The CEP agreed to consider more extensively CEP/CCAMLR cooperation at CEP-V.
