The stock of Antarctic toothfish (D. mawsoni) in CCAMLR subarea 48.4 was conservatively estimated from tagging returns to be 1068.7 tonnes. In previous years the harvest rate used for Patagonian toothfish (D. Eleginoides) in Subarea 48.3 (γ = 0.038) has been used as a precautionary harvest rate which would imply a 2016/17 yield of 40.6 tonnes compared to the 2015/16 TAC of 39 tonnes.

Net monitor cable systems have been prohibited in CCAMLR trawl fisheries since 1994. This paper advocates a change in the CM 25-03 that opens for use of such cable. It is argued that this is beneficial for management as well as fishery.

The first winter longline survey of Antarctic toothfish in the northern Ross Sea region was successfully completed during June and July 2016. A total of 55 longlines sets were completed in the 4 strata, and 55.2 t of Antarctic toothfish and 3.4 t of Patagonian toothfish were caught. Spawning and spent Antarctic toothfish were captured late in the survey on undersea features to the northwest of stratum 1. Gonad staging and gonadosomatic indices suggest that males in spawning condition may aggregate earlier than females and that spawning begins in early July. There were a higher proportion of male fish caught during the survey than during the summer fishery (73% vs. 60–65%), and the sex ratio varied substantially among sets. Nineteen toothfish eggs were captured using a plankton net in the top 200 m of the water column, and eggs from two running ripe females were successfully fertilised and reared for several days in flow through incubators. Egg buoyancy measurements, conducted with fertilised eggs in density gradient cylinders, are being analysed and compared with CTD data to indicate the depth of neutral buoyancy. We recommend that a survey be carried out from mid-July through August to further document the temporal extent of spawning, although much of the likely spawning habitat is under sea ice at that time.

We describe the typical steps involved in demersal longline fishing operations for toothfish in CCAMLR fisheries and link those steps to the variables recorded as part of the CCAMLR catch and effort data reporting system. We then describe statistical properties of the recorded variables and how they may vary among gear type and other factors that make them useful to understand fishing activities and for error trapping or data validation.

During this process we identified some unusual values for some variables; some are explainable while others are obvious errors. We suggest that identifying values outside normal maximum ranges can be used to target additional error-checking or seek additional information using other associated vessel records. Other unusual values, although potentially in error, are more difficult to evaluate given the wide range of influences that may affect recorded values for a given parameter.

There are strong functional relationships identified between some of the variables. For example, a catch with high numbers of large fish increases the time taken to haul a line as each fish is required to be gaffed aboard and removed from the line. This effect is compounded by fish size and the requirement to tag fish, which further slows the hauling process. We investigate some of these relationships and their use in identifying erroneous data. The analyses show that many of the useful metrics that could be derived, are likely to be influenced by multiple variables. Therefore, multivariate analyses are needed to control for the influence of multiple variables before we interpret patterns in the data. We also recommend additional information be included in the data recording forms to improve interpretation for some variables.

WG-SAM and WG-FSA both have substantial and increasing workloads. Discussions have recently been directed towards trying to organise their roles and work schedules such that there is a more cohesive structure and apportioning of their work schedules. The discussions to be held at the 2016 Scientific Committee symposium will likely raise these issues again which presents an opportunity to revisit the opportunity to develop a CCAMLR stock assessment and advice benchmarking process. The need for this was first raised in Scientific Committee (SC-XXXII, paragraph 3.66), developed in Darby (WG-SAM-14/16), recommended by WG-SAM 2014 (paragraphs 2.31 to 2.33) and subsequently endorsed by WG-FSA 2014 (paragraph 10.4). However, due to time constraints in 2014 the circle was not completed and the advice from WG-SAM and WG FSA has not been reviewed by Scientific Committee.

Article II has periodically been the subject of discussion in the Commission.  As CCAMLR moves through its fourth decade of service as a vital part of the Antarctic Treaty system, the delegations of United States and Australia considered it was important to recall the development of the Convention and to articulate our views on what “conservation” means for CCAMLR.  At its core, this involves taking a close look at Article II of the Convention to see how the term is applied and to consider its intended interpretation, as well as revisiting the background and context of the Convention.  This examination consistently emphasizes that the central object and purpose of the Convention is conservation. It is clear to our delegations that the correct way to think about “conservation” in CCAMLR is that “conservation” is the Convention’s singular objective, and that any rational use must be consistent with that objective. 

In this paper, ASOC and COLTO discuss developments in IUU fishing enforcement as well as efforts to improve monitoring and compliance within the Convention Area. Significant progress has been made in recent years, but there are some additional actions CCAMLR could take to make greater progress towards eliminating IUU fishing. Key recommendations include continuing to support the trial satellite enforcement project; implementing the new e-CDS; providing funding for Project Scale; and supporting the US-Australia proposal to improve oversight of transshipments. These and other recommendations will further enhance CCAMLR’s ability to ensure the compliance of licensed vessels with CCAMLR CMs and prevent IUU vessels from operating in the Convention Area.

This document examines the progress made to date in the establishment of a representative system of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the CCAMLR Convention Area, looking at the wider context and what still needs to be accomplished. ASOC suggests that although CCAMLR should consider different concerns, it should focus on its conservation mandate, and realise the objective of establishing a representative system of MPAs in the CAMLR Convention Area.

The IMO has agreed to consider additional provisions for vessels not covered by the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention in Step 2 or Phase 2 of the Polar Code. Most recently, Member States and international organizations were invited to submit further information to IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), the next meeting of which takes place in November 2016. Consequently, ASOC urges the CCAMLR Secretariat to provide comprehensive information on incidents in polar waters involving fishing vessels, and encourages Commission Members to submit to the IMO’s MSC national reports into incidents and accidents involving fishing vessels. Nevertheless, given the seriousness of recent incidents involving fishing vessels in the Convention Area, ASOC believes it is appropriate for CCAMLR to introduce additional measures to protect human life and the environment. These include requiring all licensed vessels to meet at least the ICE-1C ice classification standard and introducing a two-tier level of training for fishing vessel crews in the CCAMLR area via a new Conservation Measure.

The Joint CEP/SC-CAMLR Workshop on Climate Change and Monitoring was a timely and useful exercise that produced a number of recommendations with relevance to CCAMLR XXXV, SC-CAMLR XXXV and the planned SC-CAMLR Symposium. In this paper, ASOC highlights some actions for SC-CAMLR and the Commission so that implementation of these recommendations can begin immediately, including: o    developing a climate change response work programme and a list of key scientific questions for SC-CAMLR; o    inviting SCAR, ICED and SOOS to attend WG-EMM-17; o    making CEMP and other CCAMLR data more visible and accessible; o    requesting SCAR to submit ACCE updates to SC-CAMLR; o    linking discussions about key scientific questions on climate change to MPA discussions; o    providing annual updates on climate change-related work to the CEP; o    including climate change in working group discussions; o    developing a response to ocean acidification; and, o    encouraging fishing vessels to assist in data collection.