Marine debris data were collected at Bird Island and King Edward Point, South Georgia, at Signy Island, South Orkneys and at Goudier Island, Antarctic Peninsula for the period April 2014 to March 2015. Surveys of beached marine debris at Bird Island recorded a total of 289 and 275 items during winter (April to September 2014) and summer (October 2014 to March 2015) respectively. For the first time since records began (in 1991), surveys at Signy Island (operational during summer only; 24 November 2014 to 16 March 2015) recorded no incidences of beached marine debris. One item of beached marine debris was recorded at Goudier Island. The first record of an entangled juvenile elephant seal was made at Bird Island. Entanglements of five Antarctic fur seals were observed at Bird Island, six at King Edward Point, with no marine mammal entanglements observed at Signy Island or Goudier Island. In total, 132 items of marine debris were found in association with seabird colonies at Bird Island, most commonly in association with wandering albatrosses (88 items). Two incidences of entangled wandering albatrosses were recorded, one adult and one chick. There were no observed incidences of hydrocarbon soiling at any site during the reporting period. Overall, the occurrence of beached marine debris was above the long-term mean at Bird Island during both winter and summer. The incidence of marine mammal entanglements was below the long-term mean at all sites surveyed. Debris associated with seabird colonies was above the mean level for wandering albatrosses and grey-headed albatrosses, but below the mean for black-browed albatrosses and giant petrels.

Germany intends to present the Scientific Committee the scientific background and justification for the development of a marine protected area (MPA) in the Weddell Sea planning area. In accordance with the recommendations by WG-EMM-14 (SC-CAMLR-XXIII, Annex 6), this was done in three separate documents (Part A-C). SC-CAMLR-XXXIV/BG/15 (Part A) sets out the general context of the establishment of MPAs and provides the background information on the Weddell Sea MPA (WSMPA) planning area; SC-CAMLR-XXXIV/BG/16 (Part B) informs on the data retrieval process and SC-CAMLR-XXXIV/BG/17 (Part C) describes the means and the results of the scientific analyses and the development of objectives and priority areas for a Weddell Sea MPA.

Here, the delegation of Germany intends to update the Scientific Committee on the current state of Part C that was further developed in the 2014/15 intersessional period. Chapter 1 contains an update of the data analysis that has been presented in our background document SC-CAMLR-XXXIII/BG/02, and had welcomed and endorsed as a foundation reference document for the Weddell Sea MPA planning by the Scientific Committee (SC-CAMLR-XXXIII, § 5.21). Chapter 2 provides a systematic overview of the newly conducted MPA scenario development. The proposed objectives (subchapter 2.1) and priority areas for a WSMPA (subchapter 2.4) are intended to be incorporated in the WSMPA proposal.

Please note that this document already reflects a number of the recommendations made by WG-EMM 15. Further improvements and extensions that were proposed by WG-EMM 15 will be presented to WG-EMM in 2016 with a view for the Scientific Committee to approve Part C at its meeting in 2016.

Germany intends to present the Scientific Committee the scientific background and justification for the development of a marine protected area (MPA) in the Weddell Sea planning area. In accordance with the recommendations by WG-EMM-14 (SC-CAMLR-XXIII, Annex 6), this was done in three separate documents (Part A-C). SC-CAMLR-XXXIV/BG/15 (Part A) sets out the general context of the establishment of MPAs and provides the background information on the Weddell Sea MPA (WSMPA) planning area; SC-CAMLR-XXXIV/BG/16 (Part B) informs on the data retrieval process and SC-CAMLR-XXXIV/BG/17 (Part C) describes the means and the results of the scientific analyses and the development of objectives and priority areas for a Weddell Sea MPA.

Here, the delegation of Germany intends to update the Scientific Committee on the current state of Part B that was further developed in the 2014/15 intersessional period. Chapter 1 describes the environmental data sets that were acquired for the evaluation of MPAs in the Weddell Sea planning area. Chapter 2 provides a systematic overview of the current data situation regarding ecological data sets. Most data sets are already presented in our background document SC-CAMLR-XXXIII/BG/02, which the Scientific Committee had welcomed and endorsed as a foundation reference document for the Weddell Sea MPA planning (SC-CAMLR-XXXIII, § 5.21).

Please note that this document constitutes the final version of Part B of the WSMPA background document (subject to final editorial corrections and changes).

Germany intends to present the Scientific Committee the scientific background and justification for the development of a marine protected area (MPA) in the Weddell Sea planning area. In accordance with the recommendations by WG-EMM-14 (SC-CAMLR-XXIII, Annex 6), this was done in three separate documents (Part A-C). SC-CAMLR-XXXIV/BG/15 (Part A) sets out the general context of the establishment of MPAs and provides the background information on the Weddell Sea MPA (WSMPA) planning area; SC-CAMLR-XXXIV/BG/16 (Part B) informs on the data retrieval process and SC-CAMLR-XXXIV/BG/17 (Part C) describes the means and the results of the scientific analyses and the development of objectives and priority areas for a Weddell Sea MPA.

Here, the delegation of Germany intends to update the Scientific Committee on the current state of Part A that has been presented at the meeting of the CCAMLR Scientific Committee in 2014. The Scientific Committee had welcomed and endorsed the scientific background document (SC-CAMLR-XXXIII/BG/02) as a foundation reference for the Weddell Sea MPA planning (SC-CAMLR-XXXIII, § 5.21). Part A was further developed in the 2014/15 intersessional period and contains (i) a synopsis in terms of the establishment of MPAs (chapter 1); (ii) a description of the boundaries of the WSMPA planning area (chapter 2); (iii) a comprehensive, yet succinct, general description of the Weddell Sea ecosystem (chapter 3); (iv) and finally a guidance regarding the future work beyond the development of the scientific basis for the evaluation of a WSMPA (chapter 4).

Please note that this document constitutes the final version of Part A of the WSMPA background document (subject to final editorial corrections and changes).

At the recent CCAMLR Symposium held in Chile in May 2015, an issue that was discussed was improving CCAMR’s outreach and cooperation.  In this context some participants suggested that it would be beneficial for CCAMLR to have an ongoing dialogue with relevant States that manage toothfish fisheries outside the CCAMLR Area. 

In response to the discussion at the Symposium Australia has compiled a background paper outlining Australia’s management of the subantarctic Macquarie Island toothfish fishery.  The Macquarie Island toothfish fishery is managed by Australia consistently with the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources and the conservation measures adopted by the Commission.

This report is being submitted to contribute to ongoing structured dialogue between CCAMLR and relevant States that manage toothfish fisheries outside the CCAMLR Area.

At WG-SAM-15, Japan indicated it would submit a revised proposal on the design of research block 48.6_4 to WG-FSA-15. Here we propose the westward expansion of the research block along the continental shelf-slope to promote sufficient utilization of the catch limit, which would enable us to complete planned research and support a more reliable stock assessment. The revised design may also contribute to detecting tagged fish that had moved out of research block 48.6_4 to the continental slope/shelf.