CCAMLR

As requested by members at WG-FSA 15, the Secretariat has collated existing materials to develop a bycatch guide for commonly caught fish and skate species in CCAMLR longline and trawl fisheries. The guide consists of comprehensive descriptions for 21 species, and two additional appendices which contain detailed descriptive keys for Macrourid (Grenadier) identification, and for juvenile fish caught in the CCAMLR krill fishery. The Secretariat thanks members for access to materials, and for reviewing the draft version of this guide. Additionally, images in this guide have been provided for the identification training tool developed by Mr N. Gasco (WG-FSA-16/11) for improved observer bycatch education.

The annual random stratified trawl survey (RSTS) of 2016 at HIMI was conducted during April, with the completion of 163 stations. The survey was conducted for the second year on the FV Atlas Cove. Sampling protocols such as the design and the duration of the hauls were similar to last year’s survey, but with a new set of randomly selected station points.

The calculated density of D. eleginoides was half that of 2015 but similar to that of the long-term average for the survey. The C. gunnari density was five times that of 2015 and nearly three times the average. For the managed bycatch species catch rates were lower than the average for macrourids, close to average for C. rhinoceratus and only one-third the average for L. squamifrons. Conversely, the density of aggregated skates was higher than both 2015 and the long term average. The catch of invertebrates in the 2016 survey was two times higher than average, due in part to the greater abundance of jellyfish, which was almost five times higher than average. Length measurements were taken for nearly 19,000 fish and biological measurements for more than half of those. Otoliths were collected from 813 D. eleginoides and over 400 toothfish were tagged and released.

The core effort of Oceanites and its Antarctic Site Inventory project is discerning how Antarctic species are changing in distribution and abundance, and more importantly, identifying factors driving long-term changes in the western Antarctic Peninsula ecosystem.  This paper provides background information on the history of Oceanites and the Antarctic Site Inventory, links to key scientific papers and other publications, results from the most recently concluded 2015-16 field season, plans for the forthcoming 2016-17 field season, and data analyses currently underway.

The attached paper, now in review, describes the Mapping Application for Penguin Populations and Projected Dynamics (MAPPPD), which is a web-based, open access, decision support tool designed to assist scientists, non-governmental organizations, and policymakers working to meet the management objectives as set forth by CCAMLR and other components of the Antarctic Treaty system (i.e., Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings and the Antarctic Treaty Committee on Environmental Protection).

The database underlying MAPPPD includes all available (published and unpublished) data on the four penguins (emperor, gentoo, Adélie, and chinstrap) for the region south of 60° S. A Bayesian population model integrates the available data to develop estimates of abundance for each site and for each year since 1982; estimates are easily aggregated across multiple sites to obtain abundance estimates over any user-defined area of interest. A front-end web interface located at www.penguinmap.com provides free and ready access to the most recent count and modeled data, and can act as a facilitator for data transfer between scientists and Antarctic stakeholders to help inform management decisions for the continent. 

The paper reports on the outcomes of the first Future of Antarctica Forum that Oceanites, Inc. convened and held February 28 – March 9, 2016 in the Antarctic Peninsula, and work that has proceeded subsequent to the Forum. Major Antarctic stakeholders were present during the Forum, including representatives from the tourism and fishing industries, all of whom actively engaged in these discussions and made it clear that they have shared objectives. All stakeholder participants agreed on the importance of continued monitoring of the sensitive Antarctic Peninsula region and challenged Oceanites, because of its Antarctic Site Inventory project’s 22-year history monitoring this region, to ‘distinguish the direct and interactive effects of climate change, fishing, tourism, and national operations on ecosystems in the Antarctic Peninsula region for improved environmental management’. Oceanites accepted the challenge to bring together and analyse relevant data, with assistance as possible from the Forum participants, and with encouragement to keep the ATCM, CCAMLR, and all stakeholders informed as this effort proceeds. In particular, with assistance from IAATO and the Association of Responsible Krill Fishers (ARK), it is hoped that analyses can assist management of krill in the vicinity of penguin breeding and foraging locations.