CCAMLR

Dense assemblages of hyocrinid stalked crinoids (Echinodermata, Crinoidea, Hyocrinidae,) a vulnerable marine ecosystem (VME) indicator taxon, were encountered at four sites on two isolated knolls adjacent to the northwest and southeast of Admiralty Seamount (CCAMLR Subarea 88.1G) at 578-778 m depths. The details of these encounters, utilizing occurrence and density from underwater video transects, are provided. As a precautionary measure, two boxes around these respective knolls are proposed for designation as VMEs, and inclusion into the CCAMLR VME registry. These boxes are approximately 19.7 and 19.6 km2. This proposal is structured according to the guidelines set out in Conservation Measure 22-06 (2010), ANNEX 22-06/B, and provides published supporting documentation (Bowden et al, 2011; Appendix 1).

Six Members submitted notifications for a total 15 vessels for krill fisheries in Subareas 48.1, 48.2, 48.3 and 48.4 in 2011/12, and the total notified, expected level of catch of krill is 391,000 tonnes. There was no notification submitted for exploratory fisheries for krill in 2011/12.

The requirements for notifying encounters, and potential encounters with vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) are described in Conservation Measures (CM). Notifications are made under CM 22-07 in the case of encounters with potential VMEs during the course of bottom fishing, and under CM 22-06 in other cases such as during research surveys. Notifications are held in the Secretariat’s VME registry.

Since 2008, the Secretariat has received a total of 32 notifications of encounters with VMEs arising from research surveys (CM 22-06): 17 notifications in Subarea 48.1; 13 notifications in Subarea 48.2; and 2 notifications in Division 58.4.1. No notification has been submitted to the Secretariat so far in 2010/11; however a notification for two VMEs in the Ross Sea has been submitted to WG-EMM for consideration (WG-EMM-11/10).

Since 2008, the Secretariat has also received a total of 112 VME-indicator notifications from exploratory bottom fisheries (CM 22-07): 29 in 2008/09; 24 in 2009/10; and 59 so far in 2010/11. These notifications originated from vessels operating in the exploratory crab fishery in Subarea 48.2 (1 notification), and exploratory longline fisheries in Subareas 48.6 (2 notifications), 88.1 (90 notifications) and 88.2 (19 notifications). No notification has been made from exploratory fisheries in Divisions 58.4.1, 58.4.2, 58.4.3a and 58.4.3b.

The VME-indicator notifications has led to the declaration of 42 VME risk areas in Subarea 88.1 and 4 risk areas in Subarea 88.2. In addition, 5 VME fine-scale rectangles were identified in Subarea 88.1 and 1 VME fine-scale rectangle was identified in Subarea 88.2

The CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program (CEMP) uses indices derived from data on indicator species collected by standard methods in the three Integrated Study Regions of the Convention Area. Each year the Secretariat updates the standardised index values and provides a summary of trends and anomalies in these data. This report covers biological indices only.

Six Members submitted data for 13 sites and 12 CEMP parameters in 2010/11. No data was received from CEMP sites in Area 88. Since 1989/90, a total of 116 anomalous values (anomalies, see Appendix 1) have been observed in the times series of biological indices. All anomalies (both high and low) in the past 2 seasons have been from monitoring sites in Subarea 48.1. These are:

2009/10:

• Low number of chicks fledged per egg laid (A6a) for Adelie penguins at Stranger Point Station;
• Low chick fledgling weight (A7) for Adelie penguins at Admiralty Bay; and
• High pup growth rate deviate (C2b) for female Antarctic fur seals at Cape Shirreff.

2010/11:

• High fledging weight (A7) for Gentoo penguins at Cape Shirreff;
• Low stomach contents weight (A8a) for Gentoo penguins at Admiralty Bay;
• Low occurrence of fish in diet (A8c) for Gentoo penguins at Admiralty Bay.

So far this season (2010/11), twelve vessels from Chile, China, Japan, Korea, Norway and Poland have fished for krill in Area 48. The total catch reported to May 2011 was 110949 t, most of which has been taken from Subarea 48.2 between February and May. Approximately 55% of the catch has been taken by two vessels using the continuous fishing system. The forecast total catch of krill for the season falls in the range 153000-214000 t. In 2009/10, 10 vessels fished for krill in Area 48 and reported a total catch of 211974 t; three vessels used the continuous fishing system. For the first time, the catches of krill approached the apportioned limit for Subarea 48.1 (25% of the trigger level: 155000 t) and the subarea was closed to krill fishing during the remainder of the season on 10 October 2010 (153262 t). A total of 85764 t of krill was taken from SSMU APBSW (Antarctic Peninsula Bransfield Straight West), 37650 t from APBSE (Antarctic Peninsula Bransfield Straight East) and 17295 t from APDPW (Antarctic Peninsula Drake Passage West). The remainder of the catch for that season was taken predominantly in Subarea 48.2, notably 48444 t from SOW (South Orkney West). The catches of krill reported from SSMUs APBSE, APBSW and APW in 2009/10 were the highest catches reported from those SSMUs in the history of the fishery. The daily catching capacity of vessels in the fishery has increased markedly since 2003/04, with vessels using conventional trawls now capable of catching and processing up to 450 t of krill per day, and some vessels using the continuous fishing system have recently exceeded 900 t of krill per day

During three summer surveys at Prince Edward Island (PEI), southern Indian Ocean (2001, 2004 and 2008), 416 southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina were inspected for identification tags. In all, 42 seals that had been tagged as weaned pups at their natal site were found on Marion Island (MI), 38 of which could be individually identified by resighting their tag numbers. The majority of the MI-tagged seals were yearlings or subadults, and all but one were hauled out at PEI for the annual moult. The attendance rate of the known individuals at their natal island during the annual moult was only 40%, based on their resighting histories. This was significantly lower than the 77 ± 6% moult attendance rate estimated for a random MI population sample drawn from the same cohorts (based on 10 000 replications). Annual resight probabilities (considering all haulout phases) was 58% per annum for the MI seals seen at PEI, and 80 ± 4% for the simulation. Seasonal and annual absences of seals from MI violate the ‘homogeneity of capture’ assumption of mark–recapture models. When multiple sightings during any year are treated as a single sighting, resights during other haulouts (e.g. breeding) compensate only partially for absences during the moult. Therefore, mark–recapture studies undertaken in archipelagos should ideally include both marking and resighting of individuals on all islands which will allow discrimination between mortality and local migration.

The onshore distributions and the abundances of Antarctic fur seals Arctocephalus gazella and Subantarctic fur seals A. tropicalis were determined at Prince Edward Island during 16–20 December 2008. This repeats a survey conducted in December 2001 and extends the area surveyed to include the entire south-west coast of Prince Edward Island. Of the two colonies of Antarctic fur seals, the colony among Subantarctic fur seals north of Boggel Beach remained small, with increased numbers of Subantarctic fur seals and putative hybrids. The other Antarctic fur seal breeding colony at Penguin Beach remained free of Subantarctic fur seals and had expanded at a mean intrinsic rate of natural increase of 11.4% per year from 2001. With an estimated 810 pups, the Antarctic fur seal is still in the rapid recolonisation phase of population growth. The distribution of the more widespread and abundant Subantarctic fur seals also had increased, with several new breeding colonies along the east coast and one at Kent Crater on the west coast. The annual pup production was conservatively estimated at 14 130 pups. The mean intrinsic rate of natural increase has declined to –0.3% per year over the last seven years, compared to the 9.3% per year between 1987/1988 and 2001/2002, and the population is in the mature phase of population growth.

Breeding numbers of Laridae and other surface-nesting seabirds have been monitored at subantarctic Marion Island since 1996/97 and counts of breeding birds were made at nearby Prince Edward Island in December 2001 and December 2008. Four species are regular breeders at the islands: subantarctic skua Catharacta antarctica, kelp gull Larus dominicanus, Antarctic tern Sterna vittata and Kerguelen tern S. virgata. The latter three species currently each have populations of below 150 breeding pairs at the islands. Kelp gull numbers appear to be relatively stable though they may have decreased since the 1980s. Kerguelen tern numbers decreased and then recovered at Marion Island but numbers of the species have declined at Prince Edward Island and it maintains a tenuous foothold there. The small Antarctic tern population appears to be stable.

The second mid-summer survey of surface-nesting seabirds at the Prince Edward Island group (Marion and Prince Edward islands) was conducted during December 2008, seven years after the initial midsummer survey. Wandering albatrosses Diomedea exulans may have decreased slightly at Prince Edward Island, mirroring a decrease of roughly 2% per year at Marion Island from 1998 to 2005, a decline that has since reversed. Numbers of grey-headed albatrosses Thalassarche chrysostoma on Marion Island have remained stable, whereas the population on Prince Edward Island decreased by 20% from 2001 to 2008 (3% per year). The estimate of Indian yellow-nosed albatrosses T. carteri at Prince Edward Island was similar in 2001 and 2008. Counts of both sooty albatrosses Phoebetria spp. were substantially higher at Prince Edward Island in 2008, possibly as a result of better coverage compared to 2001. Dark-mantled sooty albatrosses P. fusca on Marion Island have decreased by almost 2% per year since 1996, continuing a negative trend from the early 1980s, whereas lightmantled sooty albatrosses P. palpebrata have increased by almost 6% per year at Marion Island since 1996. Counts of both giant petrels increased at Prince Edward Island (northern Macronectes halli by 44%; southern M. giganteus by 28%), whereas their numbers have remained stable at Marion Island. Current best estimates for annual breeding populations (pairs) at the two islands are 3 650 wandering albatrosses, 9 500 grey-headed albatrosses, 7 000 Indian yellow-nosed albatrosses, 2 900 dark-mantled sooty albatrosses, 800 lightmantled sooty albatrosses, 750 northern giant petrels and 2 800 southern giant petrels, confirming the global importance of the Prince Edward Islands for these seven species. Apart from the dark-mantled sooty albatross, their populations are reasonably healthy despite fishing mortality.