At CCAMLR XXVI there was significant discussion in the Commission regarding a notification to conduct pair trawling operations in the krill fisheries in the 2007/08 season. During the discussion it was suggested that as the pair trawling method had not previously been used in the CCAMLR Area and there were no established data collection and analysis methods, the use of pair trawling in the CCAMLR Area constituted a new fishery. To clarify the CCAMLR requirements with regards to new fishing gear, and to ensure a clear and consistent approach to all CCAMLR fisheries, Australia proposes that a footnote be attached to the section on “Fishing technique” in Annex A of Conservation Measure 21-03 such that a krill fishing notification using new fishing gear should be notified under Conservation Measure 21-01.

Australia is encouraged by the willingness of Members to support the orderly and precautionary development of the krill fishery as it continues to expand. Currently Contracting Parties as well as Members are able to participate in krill fisheries. This is different to the approach taken by the Commission for new and exploratory fisheries as only Members can participate in these fisheries. To ensure a consistent approach to the management of CCAMLR fisheries (which CCAMLR is currently seeking to achieve) and the best regulation possible to achieve the orderly and precautionary development of the krill fishery, Australia recommends that Conservation Measure 21-03 be amended so that it only applies to Members.

Under Conservation Measure 41-01 (Annex C - Tagging Program for Dissostichus spp. in Exploratory Fisheries), the flag States of fishing vessels participating in exploratory fisheries are responsible for ensuring the tagging of Dissostichus spp., tag recovery and correct reporting. At CCAMLR XXVI (2007), “the Commission requested the Secretariat to annually prepare and submit a table for SCIC’s consideration containing data on individual Dissostichus spp. tagged and released, and the tagging rate reported by vessels operating in the exploratory fisheries” (CCAMLR-XXVI Report, paragraph 8.12). It is expected that the data will be made available to SCIC at this year’s meeting. Australia undertook an assessment of compliance with the CCAMLR tagging program based on information contained in the Fish Stock Assessment Report 2007 and discovered a high level of non-compliance. The lack of reliable information can affect stock assessments and therefore impact on the ability of the Commission to meet its objectives of conserving marine living resources. Australia considers that non-compliance with research obligations is a significant issue and should be considered further by the Commission, including adopting appropriate and proportionate mechanisms to ensure compliance.

Currently all Contracting Parties and non-Contracting Parties cooperating in the Catch Documentation Scheme (CDS) are using the electronic web-based format for reporting. Australia proposes to amend Conservation Measure 10-05 (CM10-05) to remove redundant provisions and provide clarification on electronic reporting.

Illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing vessels are increasingly using gillnets as a fishing method to target toothfish in the Convention area. Estimating the impact of IUU fishing is hampered by a lack of data on the design, deployment, catch and bycatch rates of gill nets. This paper describes a gillnet found abandoned by Australian vessel patrolling BANZARE Bank (Statistical Division 58.4.3b), and the toothfish and bycatch found when a section of the gillnet was retrieved. Based on the amount of toothfish found in the 8 km long section of net retrieved, upwards of 29 tonnes of toothfish may be removed by a single vessel’s deployment of a 130 km long series of gillnets.