CCAMLR

This report summarizes activities of Oceanites since CCAMLR-XXXVII and SC-CAMLR-XXXVII, including: 

• Results from the latest, 25th consecutive field season of the Antarctic Site Inventory 

• Update on the Mapping Application for Penguin Populations and Projected Dynamics (MAPPPD); and its use within the Antarctic Treaty system and in CCAMLR

• Working Group on Ecosystem Monitoring and Management (WG-EMM) 
• Buffer zone analyses

• Re-analysis of gentoo penguin populations in the Antarctic Peninsula 

• State Of Antarctic Penguins 2019 Report and penguin population changes 

• Update on Oceanites’ climate analyses

• Recent, Notable Scientific Papers Relating to the Antarctic Site Inventory and MAPPPD.

In compliance with the commitments undertaken within the framework of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), the State of Chile conducts Fishing Inspection Operations in the area of the Convention. Every year, the Second Commanders of Navy vessels participating in the Antarctic Campaign are trained as inspectors for this Agreement. In this context, the Chilean Navy vessel, OPV - 83 “MARINERO FUENTEALBA”, during the 2018/19 season, carried out 2 inspections to fishing vessels to the South of the 60^th parallel with the aim to verify the effective compliance of the Conservation Measures established within this international Agreement.

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 2018 to March 2019. Surveys of beached marine debris at Bird Island recorded a total of 141 items during austral winter (April to September 2018) and 404 items during summer (October 2018 to March 2019). Twelve items of beached debris were recorded at Signy Island (operational during summer only; 14 November 2018 to 4 March 2019). Fifteen items of beached marine debris were recovered from Goudier Island (operational 10 November 2018 to 8 March 2019). Entanglements of three Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) were observed at Bird Island and two at King Edward Point with no marine mammal entanglements recorded at Signy Island or Goudier Island. In total, 81 items of marine debris were found in association with seabird colonies at Bird Island, most commonly in association with wandering albatrosses (35 items; 43 %). One incidence of an entangled wandering albatross (Diomedia exulans) was reported; a bird with fishing line around its leg - this was removed successfully. 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 summer, around the mean level at Goudier Island and below the mean at Signy Island and Bird Island during winter. 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 black-browed Thalassarche melanophrys) and grey-headed albatrosses (T. chrysostoma), but below the mean for wandering albatrosses and giant petrels (Macronectes. halli, M. giganteus).

At SAM 2019, there were again reports on damage and/or loss of longline gear, most likely due to impact by sea ice. Especially when operating in areas with difficult sea ice conditions and quickly varying sea ice cover, there is an increased risk that any parts of longline gear floating on the surface might get caught up and ensnarled by drifting sea ice flows or sea ice pressure ridges. This paper informs FSA about the very successful experience gained by the Alfred Wegener Institute in using pop-up buoy recovery systems for short-term deployment of scientific instruments on the sea floor and invites FSA to: (1) to (re-)discuss the issue of damage or loss of longline gear due to sea ice, including the potential environmental impact this causes; (2) to consider recommending to SC-CAMLR that longline fishing vessels, especially when fishing in areas with high or rapidly changing sea ice cover, should use systems such as acoustic pop-up buoy recovery systems; (3) to determine whether there is adequate information available on this issue and/or whether there is a need to collect further, specific / targeted data.

At SC-CAMLR 37, Germany informed the Scientific Committee about the marine scientific research expeditions in the wider Weddell Sea area south of 60° S with RV Polarstern, which were planned for the 2018/2019 Antarctic season (SC-CAMLR-XXXVII/BG/02). This present document provides some feedback and first results of these expeditions.

Le présent document résume les informations détenues par le secrétariat sur les activités de pêche et des navires INN en rapport avec la CCAMLR d'octobre 2018 à août 2019. Le tableau 1 recense les cas d'engins de pêche non identifiés récupérés dans la zone de la Convention. Le tableau 2 fournit des détails sur les Parties non contractantes destinataires et les réponses reçues. Il est proposé d'apporter une modification à la liste des navires INN-PNC sur la base des dernières informations concernant le navire Hai Lung qui est inscrit sur cette liste.

Cooperation between the Scientific Committee of CCAMLR (SC-CAMLR) and the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) has been steadily increasing over the last few years to the mutual benefit of both. In order to avoid duplicate reporting between the two committees and following discussions between the Chairs of the CEP and SC-CAMLR, the report of the CEP meeting is presented to SC-CAMLR by the CEP Observer to SC-CAMLR and the report of the meeting of SC-CAMLR is presented to the CEP by the SC-CAMLR observer to the CEP. An agreed standard reporting template, to be routinely followed by both committees, has also clarified and simplified the reciprocal reporting. Accordingly, this report provides the CEP’s annual report to SC-CAMLR-38.