In response to concerns over the decline in albatross populations, and the potential for this to be exacerbated by interactions with CCAMLR fisheries, the Commission undertook initial discussion in 1991 and 1992 and convened a meeting of relevant experts on seabirds and longline fishing in 1993. One of the outcomes of this meeting was the creation of an ad hoc Working Group on Incidental Mortality Arising from Longline Fishing (later to become Incidental Mortality Associated with Fishing (IMAF).

WG-IMAF met annually until 2009 when, in response to the reductions in incidental mortality of seabirds, the decision was made to meet in alternate years. At its meeting in 2011 the Scientific Committee decided that while there remains a need to retain the issue of incidental mortality on its agenda, WG-IMAF should meet in future to address specific issue(s) identified by the Scientific Committee (rather than have a fixed meeting schedule).

A list of the meetings (including reports) is available here.