Recommendation 6: The Scientific Committee evaluate options for ecosystem-based management of all CCAMLR fisheries, taking into account ecosystem and climate change and the types of data that can be reliably obtained.

These evaluations could include the following approaches:

(i) evaluate the spatial extent of stocks, along with the implications of fishing in each CCAMLR area, subarea and division for the management of other areas

(ii) assess the risk of each fishery impacting on Antarctic marine living resources broadly to determine the degree to which attention may need to be given to managing direct and indirect effects in the harvest strategies

(iii) identify the type of data needed to achieve precautionary ecosystem-based fishery management, including with a changing environment, and to develop a strategic plan to collect such data

(iv) develop approaches to identify whether the productivity, structure and/or function of the ecosystem is changing, in order to inform how to achieve the conservation objective of the Convention

(v) evaluate harvest strategies for their robustness to achieve the objective of the Convention given plausible scenarios for ecosystem change and the need to not impede the recovery of depleted populations.

(paragraphs 33 to 35) 

(2018) SC-CAMLR-XXXVII,  paragraph 13.16.

These elements are held under continuous review in the standing agenda items of Management of marine resources and Climate change. WG-IMAF was re-convened in 2022 with revised terms of reference, in particular to address concerns of interaction between the krill fishery and seabirds, seals and whales (SC-CAMLR-40, Annex 9). Climate change is considered in the context of MPAs and within the revised terms of reference for all Scientific Committee Working groups. Changes to ecosystem dynamics arising from climate change and the recovery of whale populations are increasingly discussed in the context of the design of the new krill management strategy (see WG EMM-2021).

(2021) Collection of data on krill and krill predator abundance and distribution (WG-EMM-2021, paragraphs 2.66 and 2.67) and the development of monitoring indicators such as through a revised CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program (WG-EMM-2021, paragraph 3.4), are regularly the focus of WG-EMM discussions.

(2023) A workshop to focus on krill fishery observer tasking and data collection plan held in 2023 (WS-KFO-2023). A workshop on climate change held by the Scientific Committee to develop mechanisms to identify and respond to the effect of climate change (WS-CC-2023).

Reviews of the harvest strategy decision rules for fish (SC-CAMLR-41, paragraph 2.17) and krill (SC-CAMLR-41, paragraph 3.9).

(2023) Further development of the trend analysis rules for data limited toothfish stocks, risk assessment approaches for skates and macrourids and develop of an agent based modelling framework for toothfish management strategy evaluations (WG-SAM-2023). Focus discussion on the expansion of the CEMP to inform ecosystem management and the krill management approach (WG-EMM-2023). 

Recommendation 8: CCAMLR implements practical mechanisms to coordinate and deliver research activities among Members to deliver the long-term research required by the Commission to achieve its objective, including better targeted fish stock research to ascertain productivity and yield of stocks across their ranges, and analyses of status and trends of those stocks and Antarctic marine living resources more generally.

Mechanisms and approaches for co-ordinating research could include the following:

(i) better target fish stock research in exploratory fisheries at stock distribution and productivity and co-ordinate such research across related multiple management areas, rather than fragmented within each management area

(ii) seek mechanisms to assure resources for collecting and analysing data needed to support advising the Commission

(iii) focus on research needed to assist the Commission in meeting the objective of the Convention and determine how general research may be undertaken (see Chapter 7)

(iv) establish a working mechanism to coordinate research activities among Members to deliver data needed to support the work of the Commission

(v) establish research plans in conservation measures for mandatory fishery- independent data collection where data are essential for advising the Commission (see Chapter 5.1)

(vi) in cooperation with SCAR, the Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS) and other international bodies, establish mechanisms for accessing data useful to the work of the Commission, but which are not part of CEMP.​

(paragraphs 37 and 38)

(2018) SC-CAMLR-XXXVII, paragraph 13.16.

Range of mechanisms have been introduced that facilitate Member engagement in science, e.g.

(i) multi-Member research plans in exploratory fisheries in Subarea 48.6 (SC-CAMLR-XXXVII, paragraphs 3.129 to 3.132), 58.4 (SC-CAMLR-XXXVII, paragraphs 3.134 and 3.135) and 88.3 (SC-CAMLR-XXXVII, paragraphs 3.189 to 3.192).

(ii) Development of the GCSF and CEMP fund (e.g. WG-EMM-2019, paragraphs 5.16 to 5.19).

(iii) Excellent examples of coordination between Members, e.g. 2019 Area 48 krill survey (WG-EMM-2019, paragraphs 2.45 to 2.47).

(iv) The 5-year summary of the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area established coordinated research and monitoring by 20 CCAMLR members (SC-CAMLR-41paragrpah 6.15).

(v) challenge is to find a mechanism to make non-fishery-dependent data collection mandatory – Commission.

(vi) Given the priority of the Scientific Committee for work on krill, a good example here is the support for formation of SCAR Krill Expert Group (SKAG)

From 2019 through 2022, the Scientific Committee working groups coordinated their work to develop the elements of the new krill management framework (e.g. see SC-CAMLR-40, paragraph 3.24).