Recommendation 19: The current practice of managing the business of the Scientific Committee through an informal executive group be institutionalised as a Scientific Committee Bureau, in order to formalise good practices to improve the efficiency and conduct of business in the Scientific Committee and its working groups.

(paragraphs 72 to 75)

Recommendation 21: The annual work program of the Scientific Committee and its subsidiary bodies focus on delivering the requirements of Article XV.2 (provision of specific scientific advice to assist the Commission), whereas a strategy for meeting the requirements of 6 Article XV.1 (general science on Antarctic marine living resources) should be primarily developed through mechanisms other than the annual work program of the Scientific Committee.

Mechanisms for delivering general science on Antarctic marine living resources could include:

(i) triennial development of key scientific questions that would support the long- term development of advice to the Commission, coupled with a review of progress against previous or outstanding questions

(ii) engagement with SCAR, SOOS and the Integrating Climate and Ecosystem Dynamics in the Southern Ocean (ICED) and other relevant bodies to encourage them to address those questions in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Scientific Committee.

(paragraph 78)

(i) (2017) Scientific Committee workplan SC-CAMLR-XXXVI/BG/40

(ii) (2018) SC-CAMLR-XXXVII, paragraph 9.9; SCAR Krill Action Group SC-CAMLR-XXXVII, paragraphs 3.16 to 3.19 and CCAMLR-XXXVII, paragraph 4.12; ICED SC-CAMLR-XXXVII, paragraphs 9.5 and 9.6; SOOS ICED SC-CAMLR-XXXVII, paragraphs 10.8 to 10.10.

Article XV.1 (general science on Antarctic marine living resources) delivered through collaboration. 

(2022) Scientific Committee developed a new Strategic Plan, including cooperation with other organisations (SC-CAMLR-41 tables 6 – 12 and Annex 4).

(2018–2023) CCAMLR agreed arrangements for exchange of information with SEAFO, SIOFA, SPRFMO, including through joint development of data sharing protocols. Discussion of further cooperation with IWC is ongoing.

Recommendation 23: The background of key issues and the history of their consideration in the Commission and the Scientific Committee be better documented and included in new induction materials to be developed for Members.

(paragraph 79)

(2018) CCAMLR-XXXVII, paragraphs 4.4, 12.1 and 12.2 (2019–2022 Strategic Plan and brochure)

(2021) CCAMLR developed 40th anniversary blogs and other public/popular material, and the Commission endorsed further work within the 2023-26 Strategic Plan. The Secretariat has also embarked on documenting Scientific Committee procedures.

(2024) Development of the new website provided the opportunity to present some additional background.

Recommendation 25: A management–science forum across the Commission and the Scientific Committee be established to facilitate open communication and dialogue between scientists and policy makers involved in CCAMLR on key topics and issues and their respective expectations for science and policy.

(paragraph 79)

CCAMLR has not created a general forum for this, but in specific terms has encouraged cooperative work to address specific problems. Examples include the Working Group on Developing Approaches to Conservation (WG-DAC 1989, 1990), the Joint Assessment Group on IUU fishing 2006).

(2022) The Commission and Scientific Committee jointly attended a SCAR presentation on climate change on the first Monday of CCAMLR-41 (CCAMLR-41 paragraph 2.9).

(2022) The Commission agreed on an intersessional process to develop terms of reference for a joint CCAMLR/SC-CAMLR Workshop on harmonisation of conservation measures in the Antarctic Peninsula region (CCAMLR-41, paragraph 4.18).  

(2023) A Climate Change Workshop took place between 4 and 8 September 2023, in a hybrid format, with attendance online and in-person in Cambridge, UK and Wellington, New Zealand. 129 participants from 21 Members and 8 Observers registered for the meeting. Most participants attended one hub and the plenary sessions, and report adoption was attended by 106 participants. The outcomes of the workshop are detailed in SC-CAMLR-42/11. 

(2024) The Harmonisation Symposium (16 – 20 July 2024, Incheon Korea) was a joint Commission / Scientific Committee symposium to consider management in Subarea 48.1.

Recommendation 27: Steps be taken to maximise the accessibility and utility of meeting reports, and to reduce their length and associated translations costs.

In giving effect to this recommendation, the Panel offered the following ideas for the consideration of the Commission:

(i) for the Commission report, establish a practice of including a consolidated list of decisions regarding new or amended Conservation Measures at the front of the report

(ii) establish procedures and disseminate guidance for preparing meeting reports that emphasises the importance of ensuring a clear, succinct and accurate record of meeting discussions, with a focus on the outcomes of deliberations

(iii) to avoid or minimise the inclusion of attributed statements, establish a practice that such statements are not to be provided by delegations until after the draft report language has been circulated, and only then if essential to reflect an important view not already reflected in the report.

(paragraphs 83 and 84)

(2018) Guidance on ii, iii, provided to rapporteurs by Secretariat

(2019) Many of these improvements have been introduced into the conservation measures publication and the annual reports. The Commission has also agreed the need for more detailed annotated agendas and a “Chair’s Guide” to increase efficiency and engagement in meetings. All meetings strive to avoid attributed statements, except where necessary.

(2024) The Secretariat has prepared detailed briefing and guidance to Chairs to assist them in chairing a meeting and keeping reports succinct.