Réflexions sur l'établissement et le fonctionnement des AMP dans la zone de la Convention de la CCAMLR, notamment l'AMP du plateau sud des îles Orcades du Sud et l'AMP de la région de la mer de Ross.

The adoption of the Ross Sea MPA in 2016 marked "the end of the beginning" of the CCAMLR MPA designation process started over a decade earlier. Additional MPAs will demonstrate that the Ross Sea MPA designation was not a one-off for CCAMLR, but rather one important step in establishing a representative system of MPAs in the Convention Area. This paper provides an overview of the progress made by CCAMLR toward establishing a representative system of MPAs in the Southern Ocean, including spatial gaps. To achieve further progress on MPAs, Members should adopt a pragmatic approach that prioritises meeting the ecosystem protection, scientific and climate change objectives of CM 91-04, and also realises the potential of MPAs to enhance science and governance in Antarctica, including with respect to implementing the objectives of Article II (iii) of the CAMLR Convention.

In providing this update on Information and Data Systems the Secretariat welcomes input and recommendations from Members on priorities for future work including in the formation and operation of the Data Management Group (DMG).

This paper summarises the data collected by Scientific Observers operating in the Convention Area on board fishing vessels during the 2017 season (based on data received by the Secretariat up to 15 September 2017). Information on observer deployments, incidental mortality and fish sampling are presented.

Norway proposes a plan to investigate the toothfish populations in the Statistical Subarea (SS) 48.6 in 2017/18 using standardised longline gear, established tagging techniques, pop-up tags and acoustic techniques. The proposed research is pertinent to issues raised by the Scientific Committee (SC-CAMLR-XXXV, paragraph 3.3.252-3.265) and will supplement and expand existing efforts to characterise the local toothfish populations in the area to better understand stock structure, movement patterns and improve estimation of population characteristics and thereby contribute to the development of spatial population models and assessments in support of management advice. Additional outcomes of the research relate to mapping the bathymetry of the fishable area, documenting relative abundance of Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish, tagging toothfish for biomass estimation and for stock linkage studies, and collecting information on distribution, relative abundance, and life history of bycatch species. This initial year will be used for exploration with particular emphasis on tagging efforts and habitat mapping, and the study will adhere to principles and guidance expressed in CM 41-01. The proposed new studies build on existing research plans and available knowledge and addresses recommendations expressed by WG-SAM 2016, and is being co-ordinated with on-going activities in the same area by Japan and South Africa.  In future years the aim is to expand the investigation and involve additional collaborating members. In 2018 a new Norwegian fishing vessel will be available, equipped with advanced technology for sampling and observation, enhancing the potential for deriving significant new insights benefitting toothfish assessments as well as general ecosystem studies in a relatively data-poor subarea. During the 2017 FSA meeting Japan/South Africa and Norway coordinated and integrated their efforts into a coherent research plan as described in in this rev.1 proposal.