The second CCAMLR Performance Review Panel in 2017 recommended that the “relationship between krill and whales may need greater attention” (CCAMLR-XXXVI/01). There have recently been significant advancements in the understanding of the status of whales, much of scientific and management relevance to CCAMLR. As CCAMLR works to progress management of the krill fishery and develops a network of marine protected areas (MPAs), it is crucial to incorporate information on whale ecology including foraging distribution, abundance and behavior into SC-CAMLR advice and CCAMLR conservation measures.    

ASOC therefore recommends that CCAMLR:

•       Consider the most recent and best available science on the foraging needs of baleen whales including humpback, fin, sei, blue and minke whales in krill fisheries management and MPA design.

•       Increase formal cooperation and knowledge sharing between CCAMLR and International Whaling Commission (IWC) scientists, including inviting IWC-SORP (Southern Ocean Research Programme) participation in SC-CAMLR meetings.

•       Conduct a joint CCAMLR / IWC Workshop to agree on a common agenda for further studies, cooperation and data sharing for the Southern Ocean to allow for the inclusion of whales in CEMP.

•       Assist in the collection and analysis of data to inform management and mitigation of vessel impacts on marine mammals including avoidance planning by ships operating in Antarctic waters.

A list of events attended by the Scholarship holder for 2019 with the support of the CCAMLR Scientific Scholarship is presented. The types of work that have been completed and the knowledge that is planned to be acquired during the visit to the Mentor are presented.

To move towards ecosystem-based management of the Antarctic krill fishery and meet the requirements of Article II of the Convention, ASOC recommends that:

• SC-CAMLR endorses the work plan proposed by WG-EMM and prioritizes implementation of the work plan to enable revision of Conservation Measure (CM) 51-07.
• SC-CAMLR agrees on the need to conduct subarea or finer scale stock assessments on a regular basis, reconciles methodological discrepancies between the 2000 and 2019 surveys, and develops standardised survey methods prior to conducting any future surveys.
• SC-CAMLR provides advice on changes to krill catch reporting including 1) developing methods to accurately report catch despite differences in greenweight across vessels; 2) ensuring guides for finfish larvae and ice krill are provided to SISO observers; 3) ensuring a method for bycatch reporting at 2-hour intervals in the continuous mid-water trawl method.
• CCAMLR reviews CM 21-03 to incorporate the agreed methodology to estimate 2-hour interval catches in the continuous mid-water trawl fishing gear.
• SC-CAMLR organizes a technical workshop to undertake a comprehensive review of CEMP, considering the growing ecosystem monitoring requirements of CCAMLR.

ASOC has submitted 7 background papers to this CCAMLR meeting, all containing policy recommendations on a variety of issues relevant to the work of the Commission, including on marine protected areas, krill fisheries management, climate change, vessel safety, transhipment and toothfish fisheries. Throughout the intersessional period, ASOC and its member groups have conducted a variety of activities with the aim of supporting Antarctic conservation: supporting science, engaging in public advocacy, and facilitating opportunities for discussion between CCAMLR stakeholders. CCAMLR must respond to the ongoing climate and biodiversity crisis and take immediate steps to achieve the long-term conservation of the Southern Ocean.

A stratified bootstrap of icefish catch density based on the UK 2019 demersal fish survey catch rate data indicated a biomass of 53,124 tonnes (lower one sided 5th percentile: 32,399 tonnes) within Statistical Subarea 48.3. Projections for the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons applying the CCAMLR harvest control rule lead to catch limits (TAC) of 3,225 tonnes for 2019/20 and 2,132 tonnes for 2020/21.

This paper describes an updated CASAL based assessment of Patagonian toothfish (D. eleginoides) in Subarea 48.4. The assessment data are updated with the observations for the 2017/18 season and the data weighting method revised to be consistent with those applied in other CCAMLR assessment model fits. Stock projections indicate that the stock was at 67% of B₀ in 2018/19 and that a yield of 27 tonnes in 2019/20 and 2020/21 is consistent with the application of the CCAMLR harvest control rule.

Assessment of the Patagonian toothfish (D. eleginoides) in Subarea 48.3 indicates that the current status of the stock is at 50% of B₀. Spawning biomass has been relatively constant in recent years. Projections indicate that a constant catch of 2,420 tonnes in the 2020  and 2021 seasons would be consistent with the CCAMLR decision rule.

The biomass of Antarctic toothfish (D. mawsoni) in CCAMLR subarea 48.4 is estimated from tagging returns to average 1109 tonnes since 2010, with a five-year (2015-2019) average biomass of 1187 tonnes. Applying the CCAMLR agreed precautionary assumption of average biomass across the time series and harvest rate of γ = 0.038, implies a 2019/20 yield of 45 tonnes using the 5-year average biomass.

Historically, a precautionary approach has been applied in treating the 48.4 Antarctic toothfish as a separate stock. Based on the biological characteristics of the catches in Subarea 48.4, and the surrounding regions, the Antarctic toothfish around the southern South Sandwich Islands are now hypothesised as being part of a much larger stock that extends south into Subarea 48.2, 48.6 and possibly 48.5. The current method of assessment, based on tag returns, consequently, is considered to provide an estimate of the local biomass.  

In order to investigate and monitor the ecological impact of longlines on the benthic environment and subsequently develop strategies for its management, the UK is conducting a series of research projects studying the potential impact of longline fishing gear on benthic habitats. The research has been structured around three approaches, each deploying a different format of benthic camera system and movement sensors. Data collected by the cameras and sensors will be input to models which predict the areas in which benthos is likely to occur and identify potential risks, in order to evaluate their validity and further develop their relevance to advice.