At CCAMLR-38, the Delegation of the European Union and its Member States and Norway proposed that the Weddell Sea Marine Protected Area (WSMPA) should be adopted by CCAMLR in two phases: WSMPA Phase 1 and WSMPA Phase 2. A proposal to establish WSMPA Phase 1 has been submitted to CCAMLR-38. At this point, we provide brief information on the achievement of the WSMPA conservation features and their conservation targets for WSMPA Phase 1.

Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, supports a valuable commercial fishery in the Southwest Atlantic, which holds the highest krill densities and is warming rapidly. The krill catch is increasing, is concentrated in a small area, and has shifted seasonally from summer to autumn/winter. The fishery is managed by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, with the main goal of safeguarding the large populations of krill dependent predators. Here we show that, because of the restricted distribution of successfully spawning krill and high inter-annual variability in their biomass, the risk of direct fishery impacts on the krill stock itself might be higher than previously thought. We show how management benefits could be achieved by incorporating uncertainty surrounding key aspects of krill ecology into management decisions, and how knowledge can be improved in these key areas. This improved information may be supplied, in part, by the fishery itself.

The WCF was established in 2019, as approved by the Commission (CCAMLR-XXXVII, paragraph 4.5). The Secretariat is required to report each year on the activities, if any, of the WCF.

In accordance with a SCAF decision (SCAF-2018, paragraph 53), this paper lists the Special Funds that are currently dormant for consideration by the Commission.

In accordance with CM 10-10, paragraph 2(i), and the procedure detailed in COMM CIRC 20/73, the Secretariat has prepared the Summary CCAMLR Compliance Report (Summary Report) based on the Draft CCAMLR Compliance Reports (Draft reports), responses received from Contracting Parties, and the suggested preliminary compliance status. The Draft reports identified 45 potential conservation measure compliance issues in relation to 17 conservation measures affecting 12 Contracting Parties in the period 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020 (the compliance reporting period). The Secretariat circulated Draft reports on 12 August 2019 and the Summary Report containing Contracting Party responses is Annex 1 to this paper.