CCAMLR

A consolidated summary of information related to the krill fishery, in a similar format to the fishery reports that are completed for finfish fisheries, is presented for consideration by the Scientific Committee. Alternative options for the presentation of time-series of the spatial distribution of catches are included.

Identification of bycatch species for scientific observers can be a difficult task whilst at sea, as freely available resources are limited, and often cover only a selection of common species. In the past year the Secretariat has requested by-catch identification material from Members, and has received several responses, included a Korean guide presented at WG-EMM (WG-EMM-15/06). This paper considers options for the development and distribution of these materials.

The outcomes of the TPRG e-group report for the Australian COTPAS submission of its scientific observer training are presented. The report indicated that the information provided for each of the criteria either met or exceeded the standard required. It is recommended that the Scientific Committee endorse the outcome of the report and consider how an Accreditation Review Panel should be established. 

Data on beach surveys, debris associated with seabird colonies, marine mammal entanglements and hydrocarbon soilings were received for 2015 from South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States and Uruguay. Non-fishing items such as plastics, packaging materials and wood remain the most common type of debris items found in beach surveys. The fishing items found were mostly from longline and trawl origins. Plastic packaging bands continue to be found in beach surveys, with an increase in open bands found at Bird Island. The amount of debris in albatross colonies at Bird Island varies; debris associated with grey-headed albatrosses remains consistent, debris associated with black-browed albatrosses decreased, while debris associated with wandering albatrosses increased considerably from the previous year. The amount of fishing related items (fishing lines and hooks) found in wandering albatross colonies remains the most frequent debris item found in each season. The number of marine mammal entanglements has decreased at Bird Island and King Edward Point, although packaging bands and fishing gear remain the main entangling materials. There were no new hydrocarbon soiling events reported. The results of the ongoing monitoring of marine debris in the Convention Area suggest that while the type and amount of debris varies annually there have been no long-term trends over the past decade. Extrapolation of these findings to areas outside Area 48 are limited by the absence of data on long-term monitoring of marine debris and Members with opportunities to engage in such monitoring are encouraged to submit data to the Secretariat.

The annual random stratified trawl survey (RSTS) at HIMI was conducted during May of 2015, with the completion of 163 stations, an additional five stations compared with previous surveys. The extra five hauls were part of a redesign of the survey on the main trawl ground which consisted of sub-division into two boxes, one having 15 and the second 10 randomly allocated stations. In addition the survey was conducted on a new vessel, the FV Atlas Cove, following the retirement of the previous vessel, the FV Southern Champion, which had been used for all previous surveys. Other sampling protocols, including the net used were identical to previous surveys.

The catch rate of D. eleginoides was twice that of 2014 and two and a half times that of the long-term average for the survey. The C. gunnari catch rate was at about half the average. For the managed bycatch species catch rates were higher than the average for C. rhinoceratus, macrourids and skates, but lower for L. squamifrons. The catch of invertebrates in the 2015 survey was 4.6 t, with the most abundant taxa being jellyfish and the poriferan sponges. Invertebrate catches were smaller the long-term average.

Length measurements were taken for nearly 23,000 fish and biological measurements for nearly half of those. Otoliths were collected from 1,599 D. eleginoides and over 500 toothfish were tagged and released. The extra focus on bycatch species this year meant that 333 sets of otoliths were collected for L. squamifrons,  499 for C. rhinoceratus and 929 for macrourids.

Following advice from WG-SAM-15, a revised version of the reserach proposal for toothfish in Subarea 48.2 is presented (WG-SAM-15/53).  

El Comité Científico hizo un llamado a los Miembros a considerar posibles maneras de racionalizar su labor. A principios de septiembre el Presidente y el Vicepresidente del Comité Científico, los coordinadores de los grupos y del subgrupo de trabajo, y la Secretaría celebraron una teleconferencia para discutir cómo tratar mejor este tema en la reunión del Comité Científico de este año. En la teleconferencia se acordó que los coordinadores de los grupos (WG-EMM, WG-SAM y WG-FSA) y del subgrupo (SG-ASAM) de trabajo prepararan conjuntamente un documento de trabajo a presentar al Comité Científico que resumiera las prioridades de cada grupo para los próximos 4 años, que debía servir de base para la discusión de este tema en el seno del Comité Científico.

Los principales puntos de este documento son:

• WG-EMM: la prioridad para el grupo en los próximos 4 años debe ser avanzar en el enfoque por etapas para el desarrollo de una estrategia de ordenación interactiva para la pesquería de kril. Esta es una tarea exclusiva del WG-EMM, pero requerirá de una colaboración estrecha con otros grupos para obtener evaluaciones y asesoramiento sobre temas concretos que corresponden a sus ámbitos especializados.
• WG-SAM: continúa desarrollando los métodos necesarios para elaborar evaluaciones integradas de stocks que sean robustas, e implementar criterios de decisión.
• WG-FSA: no hay razón para reunirse durante dos semanas cada año. Una reunión más corta en años en que no se realicen evaluaciones podría facilitar la celebración de talleres específicos para tratar determinados temas en otras épocas del año que permitan una mayor participación de especialistas.
• El desarrollo de un entendimiento claro y compartido de las metas en lo relativo a los planes de investigación en pesquerías de pocos datos permitiría liberar tiempo de trabajo para otras labores.
• SG-ASAM: el subgrupo fue establecido para tratar aspectos necesarios para la correcta estimación acústica del kril antártico y de los dracos. La labor actual del SG-ASAM tiene una relación estrecha con la ordenación interactiva, que es la labor prioritaria del WG-EMM y del Comité Científico en general.