CCAMLR

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.

Being able to correctly identify species is crucial in observer’s tasks and data quality implies very good knowledge from observers. Identification quality is related to observer’s training and resources provided by technical coordinators.

This document describes a tool developed as a “serious game” for observers to more easily learn species names before to go at sea or when steaming for example.

User can choose area, language, level and species groups.

So far only birds have been included to start with but any phylum of any area can be added including larval stages.

Exploratory fishing for toothfish (Dissostichus spp.) in Division 58.4.2 began in 2003. Robust stock assessment and catch limits according to CCAMLR decision rules remain to be determined for this Division. In 2014, the fishery was limited to one Japanese and one Spanish flagged vessel using longlines only, but there was no fishing activity. France notifies its wish to collaborate in this research fishery with the other participants over the coming years in order to participate in the tagging program and achieve a robust stock assessment. The aim is to collect sufficient data to provide an advice on a catch limit according to CCAMLR decision rules. This paper presents a proposal for a research plan for 2015/2016 developed under Conservation Measure 41-01. The biomass in the Division was estimated during WG-FSA 2014 using CPUE x seabed analogy method. In the absence of an assessment using the CCAMLR decision rules, the catch limit should remain unchanged at 35 tonnes for 2015/16 to maximize the expectation of tag-recapture.

Within the CCAMLR area, high quantities of images are collected by scientific observers at sea while performing the tasks outlined the Scheme on International Scientific Observation (SISO). These include photos of tags, cetaceans, birds and bird bands, fishing gear, or unusual and unidentified species. In order to maintain version control, to process and file the photographs efficiently, and to ensure compatibility and transferability between statistical subareas during different observer deployments, it is crucial to develop a common naming convention that allows to keep track of where, when, and on which vessel a picture was taken by whom, together with basic information on the picture content. This paper describes the naming convention discussed between MNHN, CapFish, MRAG and CEFAS and the development of a tool in Excel.

Exploratory fishing for toothfish (Dissostichus spp.) in Division 58.4.1 began in 2003. Robust stock assessment and catch limits according to CCAMLR decision rules remain to be determined for this Division. In 2008, only one vessel, Tronio, has conducted research fishing in accordance with a research plan submitted under CM 24-01. France notifies its wish to collaborate in this research fishery with the other participants over the coming years in order to participate in the tagging program and achieve a robust stock assessment. The aim is to collect sufficient data to provide an advice on a catch limit according to CCAMLR decision rules. This paper presents a proposal for a research plan for 2015/2016 developed under Conservation Measure 41-01. The biomass in the Division was estimated by research block during WG-FSA 2014 using CPUE x seabed analogy method. In the absence of an assessment using the CCAMLR decision rules, the catch limit should remain unchanged at 724 tonnes for 2015/16 to maximize the expectation of tag-recapture.