CCAMLR

The author continue to analyze krill fishery data for understanding fishery operations in Subarea 48.2 with special attention to the period 2006-2011 which is characterized by the highest values of standardized CPUE indices in the Subarea 48.2 for the last 25 years. The paper provides the analysis of spatial - temporal variability of krill fishery based on CPUE trends, trawling duration, catch per haul, fishing efforts (hours fished) and fishing vessel locations for traditional and continuous fishing methods. It was shown how fishery operated by years and month in each SSMUs with special attention to differences between national fleets.

Our results provide the evidence that ‘high CPUE’ regime’ in 2006-2011 is not associated with the changes in fishing methods and the trend in long-term fishery in Subarea 48.2 is results of the influence of changing environment. The temporal pattern of fishing locations was consistent between years and fishing methods. All national fleets preferred SSMU SOW. However; significant monthly and inter-annual variability of fishery performance in relation to fishing methods as well to national fleets has been revealed.

The author suggest that understanding fishery strategy and performance requires knowledge of krill distribution in the fishing grounds with special attention to krill aggregation patterns as the factors influencing trawl catchability. The acoustic surveys and observations onboard krill fishing vessels should be the sources of this information.

The feedback management strategy in development will require a strengthen CEMP (or similar) network for its implementation (para. 2.64 & 2.65, EMM Report 2013).

For this reason, several countries had being asked i) contribute to the CEMP program with their existing monitoring programs, even if not considered ‘official’ CMEP sites, ii) start new CEMP (or analogous) sites in new areas that complement the existing ones.

Last year, Argentina proposed the incorporation of Cierva Cove as a Reference area for comparing a relative un-fished area with other CEMP sites subjected to more intensive fishing in its surroundings (Santos et al. 2013). However, there were opposite views regarding this proposal, mainly due to the recent fishing activity in the area and the absence of krill abundance estimates to assess the potential impact of this removal on the local krill supply (para. 2.98, EMM Report 2013).

This paper provides a graphical analysis of potential reference areas for ecosystem monitoring.

As required by Conservation Measure 21-03, Annex 21-03/A, net diagrams and mammal exclusion devices included in Korean krill fishery notifications are submitted by Korea.

The main component of zooplankton in Antarctic pelagic waters, apart from copepods or salps, are specimens representing euphausiids. In fjordic areas like Admiralty Bay, data concerning krill is still scarce and fragmentary, despite the fact that those organisms are a significant element of the penguins and pinnipeds’ diet. Admiralty Bay, because of its specific hydrological conditions, is an interesting area for that kind of biological study. Moreover, King George Island, where Admiralty Bay is located, is a region of dynamic climate characterized by variable maritime conditions which make this region particularly susceptible to climate change. This area is also a breeding site of the three Pygoscelis penguin species.  The data presented here is based on samples collected during an expedition to the H. Arctowski station in the Antarctic summer 2008-2009. Biological materials were collected in the central part of Admiralty Bay, in Ezcurra Inlet and in the smaller coves of the bay using the WP2 net with a mesh size of 200 µm. Studies showed that krill was represented by species such as Euphausia superba, E. frigida, E. crystallorophias and Thysanoessa macrura. Th. macrura, compared for example to E. superba, occurred in higher numbers in Admiralty Bay and was recorded at all stations. As a result, population structure analyses were possible only for the Th. macrura individuals. The data also showed how important it is to conduct more regular analyzes in such Antarctic areas which could demonstrate more pronounced trends.

The objectives of this work are to demonstrate the unique character of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, South Shetlands (Subarea 48.1) in terms of its location, hydrology and existing numerous scientific, data archives, to compare biological, chemical and geological data with other Antarctic areas. Because of its location, semi‐closed nature, and history of intensive environmental and ecological research (hundreds of papers in various disciplines published in a variety of scientific journals). Admiralty Bay is an ideal and unique area to examine actual and further potential changes, and can be a model and possible indicator for the whole region. It would be a unique, comprehensive approach to these problems because of the availability of rich data collected two and three decades ago, as well as the multidisciplinary character of the planned monitoring program.  

At WG-EMM 2013 the Working Group agreed that it would be useful to have a consolidated summary of information related to the krill fishery in a similar format to the fishery reports that are completed for finfish fisheries in WG-FSA (www.ccamlr.org/node/75667).

The Secretariat agreed to coordinate the preparation of a draft krill fishery report for consideration at WG EMM-14 that would be similar in content to a finfish Fishery Report.

The following compilation of information on the krill fishery has been prepared by the Secretariat to provide the basis for such a Krill Fishery Report. This also includes a report on krill fishing in the current season and a list of notifications for next season.

Breeding colonies of the emperor penguin Aptenodytes forsteri are distributed throughout the Antarctic seasonal pack ice zone. One of the last colonies of emperors penguins discovered is situated on the south coast of Snow Hill Island, constituting the northernmost colony known in Antarctica. We conducted a census of adult individuals using aerial photographs taken from an aircraft flight over the colony during the 2013 breeding season. Likewise, we explored the colony by land, making an estimated counting of the number of chicks. From the previous census, the colony exhibited a population increase.   

Commercial fishing vessel has been recognized as important platform to collect useful data for the estimation of krill stock and its management. In December 2013, a trial acoustic survey was conducted by the Chinese krill fishing vessel ‘FURONGHAI' in waters around the South Shetland Islands. Krill was found in most part of the survey area. The mean Sv of krill swarm tend to be higher in inshore waters in the north of the islands; however, no such tendency was observed in the Bransfield strait. The majority of the krill swarms were found in the upper 100 m with a thickness less than 30 m. With this experience, more scientific data may be collected by the Chinese krill fishing vessels in the coming fishing seasons.

When considering establishment of MPAs, a set of criteria to properly evaluate proposals is necessary and essential to streamline and facilitate examinations.  On the basis of the discussions at the last Commission meeting, Japan is planning to propose a resolution “Standardized Procedure to Establish CCAMLR MPAs in accordance with the Conservation Measure 91-04”, hoping to contribute to constructive discussions thereon at the Commission meeting in 2014, in order for CCAMLR’s efficient and effective achievements in its leading work towards proper establishment of MPAs on the high seas.

We are submitting this paper to the WG-EMM meeting, which has competence on area management including MPA matters, in order to inform the CCAMLR members of our intention and expect to have initial inputs from the members to start dialogue.

Top predators are useful ecological indicators of changes in marine prey stocks and other ecosystem drivers. In the Ross Sea region, most south polar skuas (Catharacta maccormicki) nest near Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) colonies, feeding on fish, penguin eggs and chicks, and carrion. We estimated skua abundance at Adélie penguin colonies on Ross Island in two consecutive years and tested for a relationship between these estimates and penguin colony sizes. We used distance sampling to estimate numbers of skuas and skua breeding pairs (based on nests), at five penguin nesting areas of varying size within the three main Ross Island colonies. We considered skua populations in ice-free areas within 500-m buffers around penguin sub-colonies at Cape Bird and within 1000 m at Cape Crozier and Cape Royds, where skuas were more widely dispersed. Estimated skua numbers were highest at Cape Crozier (4054–4892 individuals) and lowest at Cape Royds (141–152). Comparison with our skua breeding population estimates suggested that most skuas at these locations were breeding or attempting to breed. We found a strong log-log linear relationship between numbers of skuas and penguin breeding pairs. Many historical paired estimates of skua numbers and penguin colony sizes in the Ross Sea fell below this regression line. We probably overestimated skua numbers at some colonies by overestimating the areas that skuas occupied. Applying our regression model to published mean Adélie penguin colony sizes at 23 locations predicted 18 000 skuas (9 000 breeding pairs) total in the western Ross Sea, which is also likely an overestimate. We plan to revise our estimates and regression model by redefining the areas surveyed and recalculating abundances. We propose to validate the model by surveying skuas at a subset of Adélie penguin colonies. The revised, validated skua population estimate can then inform ecosystem models applied to fisheries management in the Ross Sea.