CCAMLR

To support the implementation of both the precautionary and ecosystem approaches to the ongoing management of the Southern Ocean krill fishery, Norway would like SC-CAMLR and its Ecosystem Monitoring and Management Working Group to consider a proposal to obtain annual krill biomass information in CCAMLR sub-area 48.2.

Results of Russian krill fishery in the area 48.2 in the season of 2009 (March – beginning of June) on the cruise data of trawler “Maxim Starostin” are discussed in the paper. The vessel used the continuous fishing method. 21 trawlings with the total duration of 1113,5 hours were carried out during 71 fishing days. Mean catch per hour trawling is 5,6 t/h. Data on daily catch, catch per hour trawling, krill length composition and biologicall conditions along with description of hydrometeorological and ice conditions are given in the paper.

In accordance with conservation measures (CM) in force, Members are required to notify the Secretariat of encounters, and potential encounters with vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs). Notifications are made either under CM 22-07 in the case of encounters with potential VMEs during the course of bottom fishing, or under CM 22-06 in other cases such as during research surveys. The Secretariat received a total of 30 notifications of encounters with VMEs in 2008/09 arising from research surveys (CM 22-06); no new notification has been submitted so far in 2009/10. The encounters were notified from Subareas 48.1 (17 notifications) and 48.2 (11 notifications) and Division 58.4.1 (2 notifications), and the VMEs were observed using in-situ photography and benthic/bottom trawls. VME-indicator notifications have been submitted from the exploratory pot fishery for crab in Subarea 48.2 (1 notification), and the exploratory longline fisheries for Dissostichus spp. in Subareas 48.6 (1 notification), 88.1 (32 notifications) and 88.2 (19 notifications). A total of 53 notifications have been received, of which 29 were made in 2008/09 and 24 have been made so far in 2009/10. No notification has arisen from exploratory fisheries in Divisions 58.4.1, 58.4.2, 58.4.3a and 58.4.3b. Fifteen VME-indicator notifications reported  10 VME-indicator units recovered from single line segments. These notifications were made in Subareas 88.1 and 88.2, and resulted in the declaration of 15 risk areas. In addition, three VME fine-scale rectangles have been identified in these subareas.

Seven Members submitted notifications for a total 15 vessels for krill fisheries in Subareas 48.1, 48.2, 48.3 and 48.4 and Divisions 58.4.1 and 58.4.2 in 2010/11. There was no notification submitted for exploratory fisheries for krill in 2010/11. The total notified, expected level of catch of krill in 2010/11 is 410000 tonnes.

So far this season (2009/10), ten of the 11 krill fishing vessels licensed by Members (China, Japan, Korea, Norway, Poland, Russia) have fished in Area 48. The total catch reported to May 2010 was 108550 t, most of which has been taken from Subareas 48.1 and 48.2 between February and May. Approximately 40% of the catch has been taken by two vessels using the continuous fishing system. The forecast total catch of krill for the season is 150000-180000 t . In 2008/09, five Members fished for krill in Area 48 and reported a total catch of 125826 t; two vessels used the continuous fishing system. The largest catch of krill was taken from SSMU SOW (South Orkney West) in Subarea 48.2 (89184 t), and the remainder of the catch was taken predominantly in Subarea 48.1, notably 19691 t from SSMU APBSE (Antarctic Peninsula Bransfield Strait East) and 2745 t from SSMU APE (Antarctic Peninsula East). This is only the second time that fishing was reported from SSMU APE; previously, 25 t of krill was taken in 1995/96. The daily catching capacity of vessels in the fishery has increased markedly since 2003/04, with vessels using conventional trawls now capable of catching and processing up to 400 t of krill per day, and some vessels using the continuous fishing system have exceeded 800 t of krill per day.

This paper presents a time series of relevant data reported from scientific observations in the CCAMLR krill fishery: 1999/2000 to 2008/09.