CCAMLR Conservation Measure 25-03 prohibits the use of net monitoring cables within the Convention Area. Chinese and Norwegian krill trawlers have been granted an exemption from this CM for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 fishing seasons in order to map interactions between seabirds and the net monitoring cables that are rigged on vessels using the continuous pumping method. These trials will also help to evaluate whether further measures are appropriate and if current methods for routine observations performed by dedicated SISO observers on board can be improved. This paper presents the method used in the fishing season 2020-21. The final method design has been developed through previous discussions in WG-FSA, SC, through a dedicated e-group facilitated by CCAMLR and through discussion meetings on Teams from November 2020 to April 2021.

In 1991, CCAMLR adopted Conservation Measure (CM) 25-03, which prohibits the use of net monitoring cables in the Convention Area and applies to all trawling techniques. The establishment of this CM was a consequence of concerns over seabird mortalities resulting from collisions with net monitoring cables in fisheries. Technology has progressed since the introduction of this CM and the trawlers currently involved in the krill fishery that use continuous pumping methods differ in methodology from the fisheries that initially led to the establishment of it. The main change is that the part of the monitoring cable exposed in air is considerable shorter and represents no longer a separate wire in between the warps but attached to, or close to, the warp itself. In modern trawl fisheries the use of a monitoring cable enables expanded data flow which helps improve fishing efficiency, catch reporting, reduces negative ecosystem impact and increases crew safety. Some of the concerns regarding net monitor cables may be less significant now, and so Chinese and Norwegian vessels that use continuous pumping technology were permitted a derogation of the CM, allowing net monitor cable trials for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. This report presents the results from the 2019-20 fishing season (Jan-Oct) from three vessels (two side-trawlers and one stern-trawler) using the continuous pumping fishing method from CCAMLR Area 48. The study was undertaken in full compliance with the requirements of the CCAMLR Scientific Committee (SC) (SC-CAMLR-38, paragraph 5.14) and data were collected according to standard SISO warp monitoring and Incidental Mortality Associated with Fishing (IMAF) protocols, and followed methods required by the derogation. Abundance estimates of birds, not required by CCAMLR, were obtained while fishing within Subarea 48.3. Seabird mitigation measures used on all three vessels were determined by ACAP best-practice guidelines. A combination of deck observations and video monitoring were used to observe warps and monitoring cables and a total of 1,193 hours of observations were made, representing 4.5% coverage of the total fishing time. Four 15-minute observations were performed at set times each day, and deck observations included three 15-minute observations during turns and other high-risk events, or random periods during trawling. All sets and hauls were also monitored. No heavy bird strikes were observed with the net monitoring cable on either of the side-trawlers. One heavy ‘aerial’ (interaction with the monitoring cable in the air and hits the water with little to no control of its flight) contact was observed on the stern trawler, but with no confirmed injury or death. One contact was also made with the mitigation device, i.e., an equal number of contacts as with the net monitoring cable. In conclusion, this report demonstrates that for both types of trawlers (side and stern), the risk for seabirds in connection with interactions with the monitoring cable is minimal. All human activity has an impact on nature and biodiversity to some degree but must be attempted to be kept as minimal as possible. The warp and monitoring cables on the stern trawler may be interacting with birds catching up with the vessel from behind, and it may be possible to improve the mitigation design for stern trawlers using continuous pumping methods. The greater efficiency and targeted fishing enabled by vessels using this continuous pumping method can reduce the climate footprint. We ask WG-FSA to consider advising the Scientific Committee and the Commission as to revise CM 25-03 to allow the use of a net monitoring cable, with mitigation measures as requested by the derogation.

Если к 1 декабря 2021 г. общий допустимый вылов антарктического криля (Euphausia superba) в море Скотия не будет распределен во времени и пространстве, то Конвенция о сохранении морских живых ресурсов Антарктики будет поставлена под угрозу. Целью Конвенции является сохранение (CCAMLR 1980). Срок действия положения об управлении, которое распределяет уловы криля в море Скотия, истечет в ноябре этого года. Данное положение уменьшает риск того, что концентрированный промысел отрицательно скажется на хищниках криля. Если 26 стран-членов Комиссии по сохранению морских живых ресурсов Антарктики (АНТКОМ) не смогут прийти к консенсусу по продлению действия этого положения или разработать альтернативное положение, которое в достаточной мере ограничит концентрированный промысел, то это, скорее всего, окажет отрицательное воздействие на ряд видов хищников. В более общем плане, если АНТКОМ не предпримет действий по расширению зоны воздействия промысла криля, то следует ожидать, что эта социально-экологическая система будет менее устойчивой к изменению климата. Если не будет согласовано альтернативное пространственно-временное распределение уловов, то необходимо придерживаться действующей стратегии управления, которая, хотя, возможно, и не совершенна, предотвращает движение в сторону, обратную сохранению.

Отмечая, что последний 5-летний стратегический план НК-АНТКОМ уже завершен, в данной работе предлагается провести симпозиум НК-АНТКОМ для разработки следующего стратегического плана.

Frequency of fish bycatch in vessel and observer data are examined and discussed in this paper, with results from a survey undertaken by the Secretariat on krill bycatch data collection practices by Members presented. Recommendations on standardizing bycatch collection instructions and investigating bycatch data reported by some vessels are detailed.

Gear loss as reported by longline vessels from the 2020 and 2021 fishing seasons, including differences in line loss by gear type, is reviewed following recommendations made at WG-FSA-18. Vessels reported 1 363 km of line lost in the Convention Area, of which 22% were complete lines. There was a difference in the relative reporting of lost hooks by gear type, with rates of loss ranging from 2.5 to 4.6% for each gear type for the past two seasons. There was a significant difference in the frequency of complete line loss between gear types, with a higher rate of complete line loss for trotline than for Spanish or autoline. New fields for reporting gear loss in an updated C2 form are discussed.

The UK undertook a bottom trawl survey of CCAMLR Subarea 48.3 on the FV Robin M Lee from 7^th to 17^th May 2021.  Seventy-seven random trawls were completed covering depths of 105 to 354 m, including 20 at Shag Rocks, 27 in the NW, 14 in the SW, 6 in the SE and 10 in the NE. The biomass of mackerel icefish, Chamsocephalus gunnari, was estimated at 18,013 tonnes with a lower 1-sided 95% interval estimate of 10,627 tonnes. This is one of the lowest biomass estimates in the survey series. The highest catches were in the SW area, with low catches in the NW area, that are the main commercial fishing grounds and usually have the largest survey catches.

Catches of juvenile toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) were good, with almost 500 kgs caught in total.  Catches were dominated by fish of 40-50 cm TL, but with some smaller fish also caught.  Estimated biomass for the other species, such as the icefish Pseudochaenichthys georgianus and Chaenocephalus aceratus, and Gobionotothen gibberifrons were similar to previous surveys.  Whilst the total catch of Notothenia rossii was less than 2019, the species was caught in a high proportion of trawls.

During two nights of calm weather to the south of the island, the vessel had significant bird collision events, with more than 200 birds found on the vessel on the night of the 15/16 May.  The majority of the birds were diving petrels and were released alive and uninjured, but four diving petrels were killed. 

This paper notes updates to current commercial data forms due to the Secretariat’s taxon data project. Also discussed are a Longline Commercial Data Manual for the current C2 form, a proposed new C2 form for introduction in 2023, and a pathway for developing an updated C1 form and an accompanying commercial data manual.

This paper provides details of SISO observer deployments during the 2020 and 2021 seasons (based on data received by the Secretariat up to 20 August 2021). Developments in the Scheme of International Scientific Observation Programme regarding form updates and historic sampling information are discussed.