CCAMLR

The CDS was effectively implemented in 2018 by 21 Member States, 3 Acceding States and 1 NCP. CDS reports of catches outside the Convention Area have increased in 2018. The Secretariat contacted 9 NCPs to seek their engagement in the CDS in 2018.

A collaborative research program is being undertaken by Japan and South Africa since 2013 to enhance data collection and analysis in the Subarea 48.6. In the last WG-SAM Spain has proposed to join the former proposal in order to contribute to the data acquisition and to speed up the integrated assessments of the D.mawsoni stock in this subarea.

The Working Group recommended that Spain should coordinate its research efforts with Japan and South Africa and encouraged the submission of a multi-Member proposal for consideration at WG-FSA (pargraph 6.29).

The three-member research proposal for 2018/19 season is presented to ensure continuity of previous research activities. Data and investigations about the population structure and various demographic parameters of Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) using trotline (JPN and ZAF) and Spanish longline (ESP) gears, established tagging techniques, pop-up tags and genetic analysis will provide the basis for the development of spatial population models and assessments in support of management advice. An Integrated Stock Assessment (ISA) of this species is expected to be done by 2021/22.

Additional outcomes of the research include documenting relative abundance of Antarctic and Patagonian toothfish, tagging toothfish for biomass estimation and for stock linkage studies, and collecting information on distribution, and life history of bycatch and Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs).

Efforts to engage NCPs have so far met with modest success. The Secretariat proposes to work with Members on a new approach in 2019, targeting NCPs that are important in toothfish trade with Members, and working with those Members to approach the NCPs.

In this paper, ASOC argues that the time is ripe for upgrading CCAMLR provisions on transhipments. The 2^nd Performance Review of CCAMLR identified a “significant gap” in relation to transhipments [1]⁠⁠. Members of CCAMLR are expected to act upon its recommendations. Current transhipment provisions in the CCAMLR Convention Area are not up to the highest standards when compared to those of RFMOs worldwide. ASOC builds on previous submissions [2,3] and recommends that CCAMLR adopts conservation measures with the following provisions:

• Establishment of a comprehensive and publicly available CCAMLR record of Authorized Carrier Vessels.
• Development of a comprehensive Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) package applicable to carrier vessels.
• Application to all CCAMLR fisheries.
• Requirements to report information on all transhipments to the Secretariat, which will prepare an annual report for SCIC with information on transhipments that occurred in the Convention Area.

The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) first committed to adopting a representative network of marine protected areas (MPAs) in 2009. This paper summarises CCAMLR's progress in fulfilling this commitment to date. Following recent progress with adoption and entry into force of the Ross Sea MPA, ASOC calls on CCAMLR to make swift progress towards adopting a Southern Ocean representative system of MPAs by 2020. ASOC recommends that this year CCAMLR:

• Adopts the East Antarctica MPA proposal including the MacRobertson, Drygalski and D’Urville Sea-Mertz areas.
• Adopts the Weddell Sea MPA, keeping the boundaries intact so that the MPA contains the ecological boundaries of the Weddell Sea Gyre, as previously supported by SC-CAMLR and WG-EMM.
• Takes further steps towards the adoption of the Domain 1 MPA, including the adoption of no-take zones in all critical areas.
• Continues to develop and implement research and monitoring Plans for current MPAs.

This paper provides a brief update on progress by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on the development of safety measures for non-SOLAS vessels including fishing vessels, and considers current discussions on the implementation of marine mammal avoidance measures under the Polar Code.  ASOC calls on the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) and CCAMLR Members to:

• Support the development of measures by the IMO include fishing vessels in the Polar Code.
• Ratify the Cape Town Agreement.
• Strengthen CCAMLR Resolution 20/XXII to a conservation measure requiring Members only license vessels with a minimum ice classification standard of ICE-1C or more.
• Ask SC-CAMLR to contribute to expanded cooperation between the IMO and the Antarctic Treaty System on marine mammal avoidance planning.
• Ask SC-CAMLR to provide advice on appropriate marine mammal data collection and analyses and how they may best be made available to and used by the relevant stakeholders.

This paper raises a question about CCAMLR’s capacity and commitment to regularly review and update its conservation measures in the light of emerging environmental changes, latest scientific understandings associated with those changes, and advances in prevention or mitigation technologies, including those developed by experts from outside of the ‘CCAMLR club’. Two examples were considered: the protection of VMEs and the mitigation of marine debris and plastic pollution.  This consideration concluded that both these issues require urgent review to ensure the relevant management measures reflect both current environmental conditions and are based on the latest knowledge or best available science.

ASOC recommends that CCAMLR:

• Implement a process to ensure regular review of conservation measures that are not automatically updated on a yearly or bi-yearly basis.
• Encourage broader engagement of relevant global experts in issues of interest to CCAMLR’s membership.
• Review and update urgently current VME-related CMs and processes and marine debris guidelines to reflect current scientific knowledge of impact and mitigation methodologies.

This paper highlights ASOC’s concern that research under Conservation Measure 24-01 and exploratory fishing conservation measures are not meeting the objectives of the Convention. Research and exploratory fishing activities are not increasing our understanding of the fished species and its impact on the ecosystem, putting the future of Antarctic marine living resources at risk.

The Second Performance Review and several Scientific Committee working groups have raised concerns regarding the current approach to research and exploratory fishing within the CCAMLR Area (SC-CAMLR XXXVI/01, SC-CAMLR XXXVI, WG-SAM-18). ASOC strongly supports the need to address these concerns and recommends that CCAMLR:

• Form regional high-level strategies detailing relevant area-based objectives, priorities, research plans, and reporting requirements.
• Establish clear standardised requirements for research, new, and exploratory fishing including the restriction of research fishing under CM 24-01 to non-commercial research surveys.
• Align all current and future new or exploratory fishing activities with research priorities set regionally.