CCAMLR

The Secretariat receives notifications for transhipment activities within the Convention Area in accordance with Conservation Measure 10-09. The Secretariat maintains a list of all transhipment notifications on the password protected part of the website in accordance with CM 10-09 paragraph 5. This paper summarises the transhipment notifications received between 1 August 2018, and 31 July 2019 and identifies some enhancements that the Secretariat intends to make to the transhipment notification processing and publication in 2019/20.

This paper represents the annual report of a multi-member longline survey on Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) at Subarea 48.6 in the 2018/19 fishing season by Japan, Spain, and South Africa. The data set, C2 and Observer data, was provided by the CCAMLR Secretariat on the 7th August, 2019. In this paper, the data set during current fishing season (2018/19) was used for reporting the quantity of data and samples collected. The research operations at 48.6 have not yet been completed in the 2018/19 fishing season.

The Secretariat reviewed the quality and consistency of port inspection and System of Inspection reports received from 01 August 2018 to 31 July 2019. Observations and suggestions for the enhancement for inspection reports are given.

The aim of the Workshop (see SC-CAMLR-XXXVII/24) was to explore how management strategies for the krill fishery can be integrated and harmonized. Such strategies include, but are not limited to, feedback management and the use of research zones including those within the proposed D1MPA and advice developed from risk assessments and ecosystem models.

CCAMLR has defined Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VME) detection thresholds based on the benthos bycatch monitoring. When these thresholds are reached during a single longline fishing operation, the data are reported to the Secretariat to inform the CCAMLR about the potential presence of VME to be protected. Management decisions are triggered out according to various levels. Important catches of sea pens (Pennatulacea, NTW, VME bioindicator) in the 58.4.4b sector have been reported during the CCAMLR SAM Working Group 2018. However, despite the important level of the catches, no VME detection threshold triggering out the establishment of an immediate fishing exclusion zone have been reached. Here, we provide the R code of a beta version of a library allowing to compute detection probabilities according to series of criteria such as the weight and abundance of organisms, longline length, number of hooks and section to be monitored. Furthermore, we present the preliminary results and some discussion elements of a study centered on the case of the sea pens, and based on the data collected in the 58.4.4b sector. The results may indicate that (1) detection thresholds may be defined considering the taxa of the VME bioindicators, (2) the detection probability is both linked to the weight/size ratio of the organisms and to the ecology of the taxa.

In recent years, CCAMLR Member States have undertaken substantial efforts to designate marine protected areas (MPAs) within the CCAMLR Convention Area in order to conserve marine living resources and marine biodiversity. During the Commission meeting of 2018, a proposal was made by Norway on an approach to facilitate progress on the further development of the Weddell Sea MPA (WSMPA) proposal (CCAMLR XXXVII para 6.31, 6.37). Most CCAMLR Members supported Norway’s suggestion (CCAMLR XXXVII para 6.39) as a useful way forward to achieve consensus and offered to work collaboratively with Norway, the EU and its Member States to progress on Norway’s proposed design to protect areas in the eastern part of Domain 4 for submission to the Commission in 3 to 4 years. Work on this project commenced with an international expert workshop organised by Norwegian scientists in Tromsø (13-14 May 2019; WG-EMM2019/14). Here we show progress on data acquisition and data, progress on the assessment of suitable analytical and modelling approaches and the project timeline (milestones and deliverables) to July 2020.

This document provides summary advice to the Commission on the Secretariat’s interpretation and application of procedures to monitor and forecast closures in CCAMLR fisheries in the 2018/19 season. Key issues in applying the procedures, and specific instances which resulted in catch over-runs and under-runs in certain circumstances are examined.

Given the large scale and hostile condition of the Southern Ocean, which accounts for almost 10% of the world ocean, the collection of scientific data and information in support of effective decision-making process is particularly challenging. To fulfill its obligation to provide scientific recommendations and advice for management, the SC-CAMLR is mandated to encourage and promote cooperation in the field of scientific research in order to extend knowledge of the marine living resources of the Antarctic marine ecosystem. As an important component of the Antarctic marine ecosystem, the vast marine area around east Antarctica is generally recognized as data-poor region. During the discussion in the SC-CAMLR on the marine living resources and the ecosystem in this region, including in the process of development of East Antarctic Marine Protected Areas proposal, the paucity of time-series biotic data that can be used to describe the structure and process of the ecosystem, particularly those relevant to the quantitative assessment of some important fish and krill stocks, has been reiterated by members. For example, WG-EMM-10/26, and SC-CAMLR-XXX/11, etc. 

The Regional Fishery Body Secretariats' Network (RSN)  is a unique coordination mechanism consisting of Regional Fishery Advisory Bodies (RFABs) and Regional Fishery Management Organizations (RFMOs) from around the world. The paper provides a brief overview of RSN, its scope and activities that have the ultimate goal of promoting and highlighting the essential role of regional cooperation for fishery and aquaculture development and sustainability. CCAMLR Members are invited to note the scope and work of RSN and consider the benefit of CCAMLR participation in RSN.

A preliminary integrated stock assessment model was constructed for Dissostichus mawsoni at the research block 48.6_2, as a test run for integrated assessment model for stock assessment of D. mawsoni at Subarea 48.6. Our preliminary analysis is problematic as a stock assessment, but indicates future tasks for improvement: further sensitivity analysis of IUU, addition of ageing data and modeling of migration.