CCAMLR

This paper proposes the establishment of a protected area to the south of the South Orkney Islands (within Subarea 48.2), to contribute towards the conservation of marine biodiversity and the development of representative marine spatial protection for this region. The proposed area has been selected on the basis of analysis previously recommended by WG-EMM for consideration by the Scientific Committee (WG-EMM-09 Report, paragraph 5.23). The paper describes the processes used to identify areas of conservation importance and the selection of candidate sites for protection. In addition, the paper discusses the need for further work required to achieve a comprehensive, adequate and representative network of marine protected areas within Subarea 48.2 and across the Southern Ocean, as previously agreed by the Scientific Committee (SC-CAMLR-XXVII, paragraph 3.55).
The paper invites the Scientific Committee to:
i) Endorse the work undertaken to date and recommend the adoption of a protected area (covering the region marked in Figure 3) contributing towards the conservation of marine biodiversity in Subarea 48.2 (South Orkney Islands), for which special use restrictions including a prohibition on fishing but allowing activities such as some scientific research (to be further elaborated by the Commission) would apply;
ii) Recommend to the Commission that further intersessional work be undertaken in relation to the additional areas of conservation importance identified in this paper, with a view to finalising any further proposals for specific areas for protection around the South Orkney Islands at CCAMLR-XXIX;
iii) Discuss procedures for implementing the type of marine spatial protection proposed in this paper.

In 2008, the CCAMLR Performance Review recommended that capacity in delivering scientific advice from the Scientific Committee (SC‐CAMLR) needed to be improved through (i) an increase in participation of relevant scientists, as well as (ii) the sharing amongst Members of the burden of acquiring data, analysing the data and the development of advice.  This paper briefly synthesises discussions on these issues by the SC‐CAMLR in recent years.  Given the complexity of the issues, it is proposed that the Scientific Committee further discuss the issue during its 2009 meeting and consider the formation of an ad hoc correspondence group to “Develop options to build SC‐CAMLR capacity in science to support CCAMLR” with the aim of providing a report on the following issues to SC‐CAMLR in 2010: (1) how to rationalise and reduce the work of the working groups, particularly to reduce the time that CCAMLR Members spend preparing analyses for the meetings and attending meetings, (2) the mechanisms that could be developed for sustainably increasing participation in the work of SC‐CAMLR working groups and developing an increased awareness and understanding of the work of SC‐CAMLR, and (3) the mechanisms that might be developed for resourcing scientific activities, including field programs, to deliver outcomes for and contribute to advice of SC‐CAMLR.  It is also proposed that the ad hoc correspondence group consider, for each option, the role that the Secretariat might play and the costs and benefits associated with each option.