Following SC-CIRC 23/52 and the Scientific Committee strategic workplan (SC-CAMLR-41, Annex 4), the Scientific Committee agreed terms of reference for its working groups.
Working Group on Acoustic Survey and Analysis Methods (WG-ASAM)
The purpose of the Working Group on Acoustic Survey and Analysis Methods (WG-ASAM) is to provide expert advice to the Scientific Committee, its Members, and its working groups on issues relating to research using hydro-acoustic technologies, including, where relevant, consideration of the impacts of climate change on its advice. To achieve this, WG-ASAM will address the following terms of reference:
- To provide advice to the Scientific Committee, its Members, and its working groups on:
- new and standard acoustic methodology and protocols for the research and monitoring of Antarctic marine living resources, including survey design
- acoustic survey biomass estimates of Antarctic marine living resources
- technical advice for the collection of acoustic data on board fishing vessels
- analyses of acoustic data collected from CCAMLR-nominated transects and submitted to the Secretariat.
- To provide any other advice, within its area of expertise, to the Scientific Committee and its working groups as directed by the Scientific Committee
Working Group on Statistics, Assessments and Modelling (WG-SAM)
The purpose of the Working Group on Statistics, Assessments and Modelling (WG-SAM) is to provide expert advice to the Scientific Committee and its working groups on issues relating to quantitative methods associated with the application of statistics, assessments and modelling, including consideration of the impacts of climate change on its advice. To achieve this, WGSAM will address the following terms of reference:
- To provide advice to the Scientific Committee and its working groups on:
- quantitative assessment methods (including stock assessment methods and management strategy methods), statistical procedures, and modelling approaches for the conservation of Antarctic marine living resources
- the implementation and data requirements for such methods, procedures and approaches
- review of research plans and proposals
- sampling design of research fishing and surveys.
- To provide any other advice, within its area of expertise, to the Scientific Committee and its working groups as directed by the Scientific Committee.
Working Group on Ecosystem Monitoring and Management (WG-EMM)
The purpose of the Working Group on Ecosystem Monitoring and Management (WG-EMM) is to contribute to the conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources through the provision of expert advice to the Scientific Committee and its working groups. The Working Group will provide advice on issues relating to the maintenance of ecological relationships within krill-centric ecosystems as well as other ecosystems, between harvested, dependent and related populations, the restoration of depleted populations, and the minimisation of the risk of irreversible changes in the Antarctic marine ecosystem including consideration of the impacts of climate change on its advice. To achieve this, WG-EMM will address the following terms of reference:
- To provide advice to the Scientific Committee, its Members, and its working groups on: (i) the status of krill
- the status and trends of dependent and related populations including the identification of information required to evaluate predator/prey/fisheries interactions and their relationships to environmental features and including the role of fish in the ecosystem
- environmental features and trends which may influence the abundance and distribution of harvested, dependent, related and/or depleted populations
- identify, recommend and coordinate research necessary to obtain information on predator/prey/fisheries interactions, particularly those involving harvested, dependent, related and/or depleted populations
- develop, coordinate the implementation of, and ensure continuity in the CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program (CEMP)
- spatial management with the aim of conserving marine biodiversity in the Convention Area
- management advice on the status of the Antarctic marine ecosystem and for the management of krill fisheries in full accordance with Convention Article II.
- To provide any other advice, within its area of expertise, to the Scientific Committee and its working groups as directed by the Scientific Committee.
Working Group on Fish Stock Assessment (WG-FSA)
The purpose of the Working Group on Fish Stock Assessment (WG-FSA) is to contribute to the conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources through the provision of expert advice on the status and management of fish stocks, including consideration of the impacts of climate change on its advice. To achieve this, WG-FSA will address the following terms of reference:
- To provide advice to the Scientific Committee, its Members, and its working groups on:
- the status and management of fish stocks in the Convention Area, including ecological risk assessments
- the status and management of other Antarctic marine living resources (as defined in Article I of the Convention) as requested by the Scientific Committee
- To identify further research and data collection which would be required for improved stock assessment and/or other assessments
- To review and provide advice on research plans and proposals as required by the Scientific Committee.
- To provide any other advice, within its area of expertise, to the Scientific Committee and its working groups as directed by the Scientific Committee.
Working Group on Incidental Mortality Associated with Fishing (WG-IMAF) as updated in SC-CIRC 23/52 and Annex 16 of SC-CAMLR-42
1. The purpose of the Working Group on Incidental Mortality Associated with Fishing (WG-IMAF) is to contribute to the conservation of Convention Area seabirds and marine mammals through the provision of advice to the CCAMLR Scientific Committee and its working groups, including consideration of the impacts of climate change on its advice. To achieve this, WG-IMAF will address the following terms of reference:
(i) the level and significance of direct impacts of interactions and incidental mortality associated with fishing
(ii) the efficacy of mitigation measures and avoidance techniques currently in use, and improvements to them, taking into account experience from both inside and outside the Convention Area
(iii) the level and significance of direct impacts of marine debris originating from fishing activities on seabirds and marine mammals within the Convention Area
(iv) improvements to the reporting and data collection requirements regarding incidental mortality
(v) approaches to improve the conservation status of seabirds and marine mammals directly impacted by fishing outside the Convention Area, by collaborating and coordinating with relevant organisations that the Commission has a cooperative arrangement with, including with invited experts as required.
2. To provide any other advice, within its area of expertise, to the Scientific Committee and its working groups as directed by the Scientific Committee.
A list of the meetings (including reports) is available here.