CCAMLR

The “Expert Workshop on Pelagic Spatial Planning for the eastern subantarctic region (Domains 4, 5 and 6)” was held in Cape Town ( South Africa) between 26th and 30th August 2019. The workshop developed a scientific work program that will result in both pelagic abiotic and biotic classifications of the Planning Domains using geographic, biological and oceanographic features. Distributions of plankton, mesopelagic fish and top predators were considered to be relevant to future ecoregionalization showing latitudinal patterns of communities for the pelagic species. The importance of frontal zones such as the Antarctic Polar Front, Subantarctic Front and the Subtropical Front were highlighted. The latitudinal zonation of bioregions (based on abiotic and chlorophyll clustering) according to frontal zones may be influenced by climate change and will influence the spatial distribution of pelagic assemblages. This will have consequences for marine bird and mammal populations as it will change the habitat of their main pelagic prey species (e.g. euphausiids, squids, mesopelagic fish, etc.).

The workshop highlighted that ecoregionalisation which combines abiotic regionalisation (or bioregionalisation) and species biogeographical distributions has to be conducted at the scale of plateaus and oceanic zones between them which includes areas outside the national jurisdiction i.e. a more detailed level than what has been done to date. High productive pelagic areas must be considered in relation to the bathymetry, iron enrichment, fronts and island mass effects, which contrast with high nutrient low chlorophyll areas farther south.

The subantarctic islands are known to support substantial colonies of seabirds and seals, which for several species have global importance. The high productivity in the vicinity of the islands, together with the large aggregations of seabirds and seals found at the islands, attract various other animals, e.g. several cetaceans, to their vicinity. The populations of several seabirds that breed at the islands have decreased. Although there is cumulative evidence that decreases of albatrosses and petrels have been substantially influenced by by-catch mortality in fisheries, the decreases in some penguins are probably attributable to decreased availability of prey. Thus, the workshop reported herein represents the logical progression of previous work conducted (WG-EMM 12/33) towards addressing these considerations. Specifically, the workshop developed a detailed and logical plan of scientific work that will lead to a regional (i.e. pan-subantarctic) overview of ecosystem structure and function which can be used in any future spatial conservation planning or risk assessments in such a dynamic pelagic environment.

We examined movements of tagged Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) for subarea 48.6 in relation to life history hypotheses. Most of long-distance movements occurred in westward direction along continental shelf, which may be consistent with the single Atlantic population hypothesis (Söffker et al., 2018). Meanwhile, no migrations of tagged fish between northern seamounts (research blocks 48.6_2 and 48.6_3) and southern shelf areas (blocks 48.6_4 and 48.6_5), which correspond to spawning and feeding grounds, respectively, have been observed to date. The lack of tag movement between the two areas is similar to those observed in the Amundsen Sea region (SSRUs 88.2C-H) where few tags move between northern seamount area and shelf area. Therefore, population dynamic modelling approach developed for the Amundsen Sea region would provide useful information to understand tag movement patterns in subarea 48.6.

This paper reports that toothfish offal was found by observers in the stomachs of toothfish caught by the FV San Aspiring while operating in the Convention area, South of 60ºS. Hooks and snoods were attached to some of the offal.   

В настоящем документе содержится пересмотренный вариант предлагаемого проекта меры по сохранению, устанавливающей морской охраняемый район в Области 1 (западная часть Антарктического п-ова и южная часть дуги Скотия), который был представлен в прошлогоднем документе CCAMLR-XXXVII/31.

Пересмотренный вариант предложения по О1МОР учитывает нерешенные вопросы, поднятые странами-членами на 37-м совещании Научного комитета (Хобарт, 2018 г.). Лежащее в основе модификаций модели О1МОР обоснование направлено на достижение природоохранных целей, согласованных на двух международных семинарах АНТКОМ (2012 и 2015 гг.), а также на эффективное рассмотрение распределения крилевого промысла. Вспомогательный документ с обоснованием этих изменений также представлен на совещание (CCAMLR-38/BG/22).

Для ясности в настоящем документе представлен чистый вариант пересмотренной меры по сохранению, а вариант с отмеченными изменениями приводится в Приложении.

It is shown that   the proposals for the establishment of an MPA in the Weddell Sea should be complemented by information on the commercial potential and future rational use for dominant fish species and krill  in the Subarea 48.5 and 48, 6.  

The areas for fishing activity and protection areas  in the Weddell Sea  should be managed by separate Conservation Measures.

It is shown that the WS MPA boundaries should be revised in compliance with sea-ice conditions for vessel navigation being a fundamental factor for the successful completion of assigned research tasks in designated areas.   Spatial planning in the Weddell Sea should make provisions that ice-free areas are areas for planning MPAs and fishing activities.

Gentoo (Pygoscelis papua) penguin colony population behavior/dynamics have been studied during 2018-19 season. The detailed observation of bird arrival, nesting, hatch and crèche has been provided in two colonies at GAI CEMP site at Galindez Island nearby the Vernadsky station. We inform on the results of visual survey of penguin population and penguin count. During the 2018/19 season biologist winterer at Vernadsky station at Galindez Island, provided continuous observations every day/each five days of gentoo GBV and GPP sites. The results of visual observations of penguin population changes are discussed. The two seasons of the data validation experiment have been provided for pictures from time-lapse cameras of the CEMP camera monitoring project of CCAMLR at Galindez Island gentoo (Pygoscelis Papua) penguin colonies are discussed. During 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons, biologists-winterers at Vernadsky station (Galindez Island), GAI CEMP site, provided daily observations of 15 gentoo nests chosen in the three monitoring sites GBW, GPP1, and GPP2, simultaneously with automatic time-lapse cameras picturing. The results of visual observations have been compared with data from camera pictures, which registered the same nests. The comparison of the events of lay, hatch, and crèche dates was undertaken. The preliminary results exhibit the reasonable correspondence within 0-3 days between visual observations and time-lapse camera data for both seasons. The standard deviation for each event varies from ±1 to ±3 days for 15 control nests at the three test sites. However the time delay in 1 to 3 days (7 days maximum) between the registered dates by camera and visual observations was recorded. This delay should be taken into account when the event dates from camera data analyzed without correspondent visual observations.

The scientific background in support of the Weddell Sea Marine Protected Area (WSMPA) has been discussed in the SC-CAMLR for 3 years. Some agreements has been reached in the SC-CAMLR, while substantial issues remain outstanding. China has actively engaged in those discussions and have provided serious and constructive suggestions on the issue.