CCAMLR

CCAMLR has been managing the krill fishery without sufficient measures needed to meet the requirements of Article II of the Convention. To meet these requirements ASOC seeks key improvements in the management of Antarctic krill fisheries, including establishing feedback management procedures, requiring 100% scientific observer coverage on board krill vessels, and implementing further protective measures to prevent excessive concentration of krill fishing in coastal areas close to predator colonies in Subarea 48.1. This is of particular relevance since fishing has in recent years been concentrated in coastal locations in 48.1.

In 2014 the  Commission acknowledged the extensive developments that have taken place in recent years in relation to research fishing in exploratory fisheries, closed fisheries and other areas and  requested a review of the requirements of CM 21-02 and related measures (e.g., CMs 21-01 and 24-01) in light of these developments.  It is apparent that the nomenclature and working ‘status’ of individual fisheries and the regulatory framework have become somewhat disconnected, and the Scientific Committee and Commission may wish to review the current status and nomenclature of exploratory and closed fisheries, with a view to  realign these fisheries with their status within the context of the  regulatory framework. There may also be a need to review the relevant Conservation Measures to determine the information requirements, and the process for obtaining that information, for all fisheries targeting toothfish that are not established fisheries. One option may be to consider decoupling  the Research Plan pro-forma from CM 24-01 (Annex A, Format 2) and make it an annex to CM 41-01 noting that this would require a change in the status of some fisheries  from ‘Closed’ to ‘Exploratory’ and would require new/revised  CM(s) that includes a specific research catch limit.

Conservation Measure 32-18 on the conservation of sharks prohibits “directed fishing on shark species in the Convention Area…” and calls for the live release of incidentally-caught sharks where possible.  The measure is, however, silent on the practice of shark finning should incidental catches of sharks occur. The delegations of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, European Union and USA propose to amend CCAMLR Conservation Measure 32-18 to prohibit shark finning and require that all fins of any shark that is incidentally caught and that cannot be released alive remain naturally attached through the point of first landing. This is consistent with United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolutions adopted by consensus every year since 2007.

This paper follows-up on a number of consultations undertaken during 2015 with CCAMLR Members on a proposal for the establishment of a marine protected area in the Weddell Sea (Weddell Sea Marine Protected Area, WSMPA). Intersessional discussions have revealed the need for further reflection, especially on management and research and monitoring (R&M) measures before a WSMPA proposal could to be submitted to the CCAMLR's Commission and Scientific Committee for decision. To his end, the aim of the current paper is to obtain advice from CCAMLR Members on some relevant matters highlighted in the paper, including the development of possible research and monitoring questions and provisions.

This paper summarises the data collected by Scientific Observers operating in the Convention Area on board longline and finfish trawl vessels during the 2015 season (based on data received by the Secretariat up to 09 October 2015).

Information on observer coverage, incidental mortality (including the implementation of mitigation related CMs), tagging and conversion factors is presented.