CCAMLR

At CCAMLR XXV Australia presented the results of the BROKE-West acoustic krill biomass survey. These were used by the Scientific Committee to recommend to the Commission a revised precautionary catch limit for krill in Statistical Division 58.4.2 of 1.49 million tonnes (up from 450 000 tonnes). During the Commission deliberations on this issue Australia noted that while the scientific data supported the large increase in the precautionary catch limit, such a large increase required the inclusion of other elements in the conservation measure to facilitate the orderly and precautionary development of the fishery. The aim of this paper, which Australia committed to present to this year’s WG-EMM, is to outline the scientific requirements related to the orderly development of the krill fishery, and to provide justification for why they are important. Not all of the requirements outlined below are required to be established immediately, however at a minimum there needs to be mechanisms developed to ensure that they are in place prior to any problems arising in the fishery. The rationale for the timing of these requirements is also provided. The paper recommends that in keeping with the precautionary approach, steps need to be taken to establish when, relative to the scale of the fishery, different arrangements need to be set in place. The following is recommended for ensuring the orderly development of the krill fishery: (i) Undertake krill stock surveys in areas with no precautionary catch limits in order to establish a catch limit before fishing is prosecuted in these areas. (ii) Establish small-scale management units to minimise localised impacts on krill predators prior to a threshold being reached, where the threshold is determined as the magnitude of catch that, if it were taken from one location, would avoid impacting on the predators dependent on that location for food, and allow for the reasonable development of the fishery. (iii) Establish a threshold capacity for the fishery relative to the catch limits (small or large scale spatial limits) such that the capacity (effort) of a fishery should not expand beyond what might be just enough to take the catch limit for a given area until the system for managing the catch limits is in place. (iv) Develop a program to monitor and observe krill catch and by-catch, with methods for minimising by-catch in krill fisheries developed early (if they are needed) so that satisfactory low-levels of by-catch are achieved from the outset.

A preliminary analysis of the 32 reports submitted under the CCAMLR Scheme of International Observation revealed that there are a number of inconsistencies in the information being reported. Few reports have been submitted each year with a maximum of eight submitted in 2005. Very little information is reported from seasons other than winter. The areas being observed are heavily biased to Sub area 48.3. Information on fishing gear suggests great differences between vessels. Aspects of operational procedures are reported sporadically and inconsistently. Similarly, because of the differences in the information reported in individual Observer’s Reports it is difficult to assess the level of by-catch of larval fish or of vertebrates. Suggestions for changes to the Observer’s Reports are made to reduce ambiguities. Consistent reporting of Observer’s information, and comprehensive observer coverage in the krill fishery, appear to be the only way to achieve the aims of the Observation Scheme.

The relationship between Adélie penguins and ice is undeniable, with ice influencing penguin populations through a variety of processes operating at different spatial and temporal scales. The Smith et al. (1999) conceptual model of Adélie penguin population growth incorporates the relationship between sea-ice and penguin populations based on data from multiple sites to predict the likely outcome of population growth in response to a reduction in the frequency of heavy sea-ice years. However, it is difficult to generalise the predictions from the model because penguin-ice interactions vary according to the form of sea-ice present, the season in which it is present and the processes that such sea-ice influences, such as primary productivity or foraging trip duration. To further explain the relationship between sea-ice and Adélie penguin reproductive performance, we investigate the relative importance of various attributes of sea-ice on breeding success at Béchervaise Island.

This paper briefly summarises deliberations of the predator survey correspondence group since 2006. In particular, some general principles for estimating predator demand are outlined, and draft terms of reference for a workshop in 2008 presented.

A joint survey of the R/V Kaiyo Maru and the Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the Antarctic (JARPA) was carried out to study the interactions between oceanographic conditions, and the distribution of krill as prey and baleen whales as predators in the Ross Sea and its adjacent waters, Antarctica, in austral summer of 2004/05. Results indicated close interactions between the thermal conditions, krill and baleen whale distributions. The oceanography of the surface layer was summarized as an oceanographic environmental index that integrated the mean temperature from 0 to 200 m in depth (ITEM-200). Distribution of ITEM-200 was used as background information for comparing with distribution patterns of each species. Antarctic krill (Euphausia superb) mainly distributed in the Antarctic Surface Water (ASW) area (ITEM-200 = 0 to -1°C) and extended in the Shelf Water (SW) area (less than ITEM-200 = -1°C). Ice krill (Euphausia crystallorophias) clearly distributed in SW but not ASW. Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) mainly distributed in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) waters with high density around ITEM-200 = 0°C near the Southern Boundary of ACC and their distribution slightly extended in ASW. Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) mainly distributed in ASW and SW with a high density around ITEM-200 = -1°C in the continental shelf slope frontal zone. The interaction between distributions of krill and baleen whales with ITEM-200 could yield quantitative information to identify the boundary of distributions of Antarctic krill and ice krill for biomass estimations using acoustic data in the surveys. Finally we summarized a conceptual model of interaction between oceanography relating water mass and circulation pattern of the oceanic surface layer with ITEM-200, as well as the distribution and abundance of krill and baleen whales.

This paper summarises the notifications received from Members intending to participate in the krill fishery in Area 48 in the 2007/08 season.

As reported to the CCAMLR Secretariat, 5 vessels from 3 Contracting Parties are fishing for krill in Area 48 in the 2006/07 season, and these vessels have taken 61876 t of krill to date. Two CCAMLR scientific observers have been deployed. The preliminary estimate of the total catch of krill for the season is approximately 111746 t. This compares with 106589 t of krill reported in the STATLANT data for 2005/06. With the exception of Korea and Poland, all Contracting Parties have submitted complete sets of haul-by-haul data for 2005/06. Fine-scale data from Korea for 2004/05 are still overdue. The Secretariat has contacted both Korea and Poland. The report includes: Availability of fishery and observer data; Time series of catch by season, Contracting Party and small-scale management unit; Species composition of by-catch; Occurrence of incidental catches of seabirds and mammals; Development of measures of overlap between the krill fishery and krill predators; Consideration of the Conservation Measures in force in the fishery. Reference information on stock and areas, and parameters used in stock assessment are also included.

The CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program (CEMP) uses indices derived from data on indicator species collected by standard methods in the three Integrated Study Regions of the Convention Area. Each year the Secretariat updates the standardised index values and provides a summary of trends and anomalies in these data. This report covers predator indices only. Data were submitted by 8 Members for 10 sites and 13 different CEMP parameters for the 2006/07 season. No data was submitted from Ross Island, however counts from aerial photographs are being undertaken. Data were collected from Esperanza Station, but were lost in a fire onboard the icebreaker Irizar. The development of an ordination method, with guidance from WG-EMM and consultation with experts, remains a main priority for future work.