CCAMLR

Data on beach surveys, debris associated with seabird colonies, marine mammal entanglements and hydrocarbon soilings were received for 2014 from South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay. Non-fishing items such as plastics, packaging materials and wood remain the most common type of debris items found in beach surveys. The fishing items found were mostly from longline and trawl origins. Plastic packaging bands continue to be found in beach surveys, with an unfortunate increase in closed bands found at King George Island. Overall, the amount of debris in colonies of grey-headed albatrosses, wandering albatrosses and black-browed albatrosses at Bird Island continues to decrease, with the major category of items found being plastics. The amount of fishing related items (fishing lines and hooks) found in wandering albatross colonies remains the most frequent debris item found in each season. The number of marine mammal entanglements has remained relatively constant at Bird Island but continues to decrease at King Edward Point. Packaging bands and fishing gear remain the main entangling materials. There was only one new hydrocarbon soiling reported from Bird Island in 2014. The results of the ongoing monitoring of marine debris in the Convention Area suggest that while the type and amount of debris varies annually there have been no long-term trends over the past decade. Extrapolation of these findings to areas outside Area 48 are limited by the absence of data on long-term monitoring of marine debris and Members with opportunities to engage in such monitoring are encouraged to submit data to the Secretariat.

Japan and South Africa initiated a multi-year research plan in Statistical Subarea 48.6 as outlined in CM 41-04 (2012 & 2013) during the 2012/13 fishing season. Progress achieved during the 2012/13 season and the first seven months of the 2013/14 season are reported. This paper updates and replaces WG-SAM-14/10.

Over the first 19 months of the Research fishery a total of 279 Dissostichus eleginoides and 2161 D. mawsoni have been tagged and released, and 42 tagged toothfish have been recaptured. Even though almost 50% of the recaptures are within season the progress in the northern section of Subarea 48.6 is encouraging. By the end of the 2014/15 fishing season there should be sufficient data to undertake tag-based assessment of the Dissostichus resource in the north of Subarea 48.6.

We express concern over the rise of IUU activity in Subarea 48.6 and the possible negative consequences for the resource and the research being undertaken.

This paper summarises the data collected by Scientific Observers operating in the Convention Area on board longline and finfish trawl vessels during the 2014 season (based on data received by the Secretariat up to 01 Oct 2014).

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

This paper is Part 3 of an update of the draft MPA Report for the East Antarctica Planning Domain presented in paper WG-EMM-14/48 following advice from WG-EMM in 2014. The rationale for the three parts is provided in SC-CAMLR-XXXIII/BG/38. This paper provides a more detailed account of research and monitoring in the East Antarctica Planning Domain and how this can form the basis of a research and monitoring program to support the East Antarctica Representative System of Marine Protected Areas. It is an update of SC-CAMLR-IM-1/BG/1, which was submitted to the first intersessional meeting of the Scientific Committee in Bremerhaven, Germany in 2013. Research and monitoring in East Antarctica for the purposes of CCAMLR, at present, relates to assessing the distribution and productivity of target species - Antarctic toothfish and krill - and krill predators - penguins - in the CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program. These research activities are expected to continue. When adopted, the proposed East Antarctica Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (EARSMPA) will require the establishment of a research and monitoring plan (RM Plan) related to the management and review of the MPAs. We show how the scientific initiatives currently underway in the region could be used as a foundation for a RM Plan for the EARSMPA. All Members are invited to participate in the research and monitoring activities, particularly through these initiatives. This paper is structured to first provide the text from the draft conservation measure for the EARSMPA on the priority elements of the RM Plan. Second, summaries are provided of initiatives currently underway that could provide research and monitoring in the region. Last, we assess which parts of the RM Plan would benefit from the outcomes of the initiatives.

This paper is Part 2 of an update of the draft MPA Report for the East Antarctica Planning Domain presented to WG-EMM in 2014 (WG-EMM-14/48). The draft MPA Report for the East Antarctica Planning Domain submitted to WG-EMM in 2014 was regarded as a suitable synthesis of papers previously submitted and reviewed by the Scientific Committee, Working Groups and workshops since 2010. It has been updated following advice from Members of WG-EMM in 2014.  This updated report is provided in three parts: Part 1 - The planning domain and seven candidate MPAs (WG-EMM-14/48, Sections 1, 2, and 3), Part 2 - Descriptions of the proposed EARSMPA, the four highlighted MPAs and Activities in the Planning Domain (WG-EMM-14/48, Sections 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8), and Part 3 - Research and Monitoring (WG-EMM-14/48, Sections 1 and 9). Parts 1 and 3 are presented in SC-CAMLR-XXXIII/BG/38 and SC-CAMLR-XXXIII/BG/40 respectively.