CCAMLR has a history of leadership in conservation and management, yet the outcomes of both performance reviews have demonstrated that there is significant room for improvement. Thus, ASOC recommends that as CCAMLR reviews the outcomes of the second Performance Review, it also considers how to implement outstanding recommendations from the first Performance Review. Implementation should take into account recommendations on the same issues from the second Performance Review as well as recent CCAMLR proposals and discussions on the issues. Key actions for CCAMLR from ASOC’s perspective are to create a representative system of MPAs, to refine compliance categories, to implement additional precautionary management measures in the krill fishery, and to support the implementation of a climate change response work plan (CCRWP).

Improving the management of the krill fishery is a key priority for ASOC. In this paper, we recommend several key actions that CCAMLR should take to ensure that management of the krill fishery remains highly precautionary and protects the needs of the full range of krill predators. Obtaining up to date krill biomass estimates, reviewing the CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program, reviewing decision-making frameworks in a workshop, implementing these approaches before the expiry of CM 51-07, and developing a better understanding of by-catch of other krill species are critical steps toward the development of a responsible science-based krill fishery.

The intersessional process to develop a Ross Sea Region Marine Protected Area (RSRMPA) has been extremely fruitful, and ASOC appreciates the work of the conveners and participants in drafting the plan. ASOC supports the implementation of the RMP, but recognizes it is a living document that will be refined over time. Thus, ASOC recommends that the importance of developing indicators and defining baselines should be highlighted more strongly; that baselines and indicators be identified where possible; that the linkages between research and monitoring priorities and the MPA’s objectives should be clarified; and that the use of geographic terms and references should be standardized.

ASOC strongly supports the development and adoption of a Climate Change Response Work Plan (CCRWP) by CCAMLR and the establishment of an Intersessional Correspondence Group (ICG) to support its implementation. The draft work plan focuses on the key climate change issues that ASOC believes CCAMLR needs to address. As climate change is expected to have significant impacts on Antarctic marine ecosystems, it is very important that the work plan achieves its intended outcomes. Therefore, ASOC recommends that the ICG conduct further prioritization and scheduling of work plan items, and implement a measurable, SMART approach to increase the effectiveness of the CCRWP.

This paper provides an update on the progress at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on the timetabling and development of a second phase of work on the International Code for ships operating in polar regions (Polar Code) which is expected to focus on non-SOLAS vessels (fishing vessels, pleasure craft, small cargo vessels). It leads to recommendations on the engagement of CCAMLR and CCAMLR Members in the work at the IMO and also identifies actions to be undertaken ahead of completion of the work at the IMO. The recommendations and actions will contribute to the necessary protection for the CCAMLR Convention Area.

In 2011, the Scientific Committee endorsed the procedure for training and accreditation presented in SC-CAMLR-XXX/08, and invited Members to participate in a trial of the initial review and technical peer review. These are described in Parts a–c of the proposed procedure for a CCAMLR observer training program accreditation scheme (COTPAS, SC-CAMLR-XXX, paragraphs 7.19 to 7.20, SC-CAMLR-XXX/8). The Commission endorsed the recommendations from the Scientific Committee (CCAMLR-XXX, paragraph 10.2).

The ad-hoc TASO noted that in order to receive high-quality data from the CCAMLR Scheme of International Scientific Observation (SISO), it is important that observers working in CCAMLR fisheries operate to a consistent set of standards. In an effort to achieve this, the Scientific Committee began development of a process to develop a set of minimum standards for observer training programmes. While a trial for the COTPAS scheme was introduced and endorsed by the Scientific Committee, the scheme has not been fully implemented.

In August 2017, New Zealand volunteered to submit its details of its observer training program in accordance with the requirements of SC-CAMLR-XXX/08, Appendix 1 to evaluate the New Zealand observer scheme against the COTPAS criteria. Following this submission, the Secretariat agreed to undertake an initial review following the instructions in SC-CAMLR-XXX/08. The submission of the observer programme against the standards determined by Scientific Committee would allow us to evaluate areas where we may improve and develop data quality and observer safety on New Zealand vessels.

As the review under Part b is now complete, we note that the review will be passed to the Technical Peer Review Group using a closed e-group of Members to undertake Part c of the COTPAS review.

Knowledge of recruitment dynamics, and in particular trends in recruitment and recruitment variability, are key inputs for integrated assessments of fish stocks. A quantitative longline survey monitoring the recruitment of Antarctic toothfish (Dissotichus mawsoni) in the southern Ross Sea was started in 2012. The first year established the feasibility of carrying out a random stratified longline survey from a fishing vessel platform, the FV San Aotea II, to monitor recruiting toothfish using standardised gear in a standardised manner. It also established the appropriate depths and stratum boundaries and the number of stations required to achieve a target biomass CV of 10%. Since then a further five annual surveys have been conducted at a similar time of the year.

The surveys caught mainly 70–110 cm total length, 5–10 year old, Antarctic toothfish. The results suggest a decline in toothfish abundance from 2012 to 2015 followed by a sharp increase in 2016 and 2017. The scaled age and length frequency data show the appearance of a strong year class in 2012 which progressed through each year to 2017 and the appearance of a second strong year class in 2016. Although the changes in age frequency were consistent with the trends in abundance across surveys, the extent of those changes in abundance could not be fitted in recent stock assessments, even when the time series was upweighted, suggesting the survey abundance was not representative of the wider stock, but was monitoring local abundance. Nevertheless, the time series has been invaluable in providing the first estimates of year class strength, recruitment variability, and recruitment autocorrelation for an Antarctic toothfish stock. The continuation of the time series will provide an important early-warning signal if changes in recruitment occur in the future, and can be expected to provide updated estimates of recruitment variability and recruitment autocorrelation.

CCAMLR has had success in tackling marine debris from local sources in the Southern Ocean; however it remains a persistent threat. Current understanding of the distribution and impacts of marine debris, particularly in pelagic areas, is limited. This is particularly concerning, as recent evidence suggests that microplastic concentrations in the Southern Ocean are higher than previously thought, and that they are from local and international sources.

Knowledge of the impacts of debris, particularly microplastics, in Antarctic ecosystems is understudied. Combatting the problem of microplastics in the Southern Ocean will require a collaborative effort between CCAMLR and other Antarctic Treaty System bodies, notably the CEP, introducing new mechanisms  instruments to mitigate local sources of microplastics. These may be from both shipping activity and untreated greywater from Antarctic bases.

This paper outlines the significant gaps in knowledge of the spatial distribution of marine debris in the Antarctic relative to the rest of the world. ASOC proposes that offshore and sediment monitoring of marine debris is needed, particularly to investigate the trend of heightened microplastic concentrations in areas of high human activity in the Antarctic. Understanding of the ecological impacts of this debris is also limited, and avenues to assess these impacts on the population and community levels should be explored. CCAMLR has the capacity to detect and monitor the impacts of marine debris on populations, and could set an example for other management bodies seeking to reduce the impacts of this problem on marine species.

Exploratory fishing for toothfish (Dissostichus spp.) in Subarea 88.3 began with a survey by Chile in 1999. Since then there have been research surveys by New Zealand (2005), Russia (2011 and 2012) and Korea (2016 and 2017). However, there is still considerable uncertainty about the abundance of Antarctic toothfish in Subarea 88.3 and the Scientific Committee has requested members complete research in this area to address that uncertainty. There is also considerable uncertainty about the stock structure of Antarctic toothfish in this subarea – and their relationship to the rest of the Pacific Sector (Parker et al. 2014).

A 3-year research plan for this subarea was commenced by Korea in 2016 and new proposals to carry out research fishing in this subarea were submitted to WG-SAM-17 by New Zealand and Ukraine. WG-SAM-17 recommended that the proponents collaborate to produce a single multi-Member coordinated research proposal for presentation at WG-FSA-17 (WG-SAM-17, para 4.89). This joint research proposal is for an additional 3 years covering the period 2018, 2019 and 2020. It is designed to build on Korea’s previous research by continuing to focus on those research blocks where tagged fish have previously been released on the slope, whilst also prospecting two of the northern seamount complexes and two boxes on the southern shelf, where little or no fishing has occurred. The main objective of the proposal is to determine the abundance of Antarctic toothfish in Subarea 88.3. Secondary objectives are to improve understanding of stock structure of toothfish in this area, to carry out calibration trials between the two vessels, to collect data on the spatial and depth distributions of bycatch species, and to trial electronic monitoring using video cameras.

Fishing in the Amundsen Sea region (SSRUs 882C–H) has been managed through a research plan since the 2015 fishing season. The aim of the research plan is to collect sufficient information to carry out a reliable stock assessment of the toothfish stock in that area. In this report, we assess if the research plan is thus far achieving its goals and if the current fishing level is deemed precautionary.

In the 2016 and 2017 seasons, a total of 19 tagged fish (excluding within season recaptures) were recaptured in the research blocks in the South Amundsen Sea region, confirming the utility of the research plan to recapture tagged fish, and providing key information on the size of the population in the South. Although only 4 tagged fish were recaptured (excluding within season recaptures) in the North (SSRU 882H) in 2017, the increase in tagging rate to 3 fish per tonne in the 2017 season has increased the number of tagged fish at liberty and therefore the number of recaptures of tagged fish is likely to increase in the 2018 season.

Catch rates, length frequency data, access to research blocks and Chapman biomass estimates for the North and South areas all indicate that the current catch limits in the Amundsen Sea region are precautionary and we recommend extending the current research plan for 2018 season.

No validated age data are currently available since 2014 for the North, and for 2014, 2015, and 2017 from the South to support the development of a stock assessment.