CCAMLR

A compilation of information and work pertaining to the krill fisheries in CCAMLR waters in presented, including:
• A report on catches for the last, complete season (2001/02) and an update on catches in the current season (2002/03);
• Further development of measures of overlap between the krill fishery and krill predators;
• An updated plan for the krill fishery in Area 48;
• information on the potential of krill products as aquafeeds.

As part of the preliminary analyses undertaken in preparation for the CEMP Review Workshop, the Secretariat has documented serial correlation in time series of CEMP indices. The values input to the serial correlation analysis were the ‘transformed’ annual index values reported in WG-EMM-03/24.
Serial correlation in biological indices occurred in 4, 10 and 33 % of the time series at alpha levels of 0.05, 0.10 and 0.20 respectively. Generally, serial correlation appeared more prevalent in time series from black-browed albatross and Antarctic fur seal, and from the CEMP Indices A1, A3, B1a and C2b.
Serial correlation in environmental and fishery indices occurred in 23, 38 and 55 % of the time series at alpha levels of 0.05, 0.10 and 0.20 respectively. Generally, serial correlation appeared more prevalent in time series from CEMP Indices H3b and F2c.

A series of power (sensitivity) analyses of CEMP indices was made using the DOS-based software MONITOR (J. P. Gibbs, 1995). In all, 170 time series were investigated for their power to detect change over the range –10% to +10% of a mean survey value. Each run of MONITOR involved the calculation of power for 3 survey scenarios and 3 alpha levels (0.05, 0.10 and 0.20). The 3 surveys scenarios were chosen to represent time series data from annual surveys conducted annually over periods of 5, 10 and 20 years.
Generally, time series arising from 5 annual surveys provided little power to detect change, and CEMP indices A3 (delta log transform), A8a (no transform), A8c (log odds transform), B1a (delta log transform), B1b (log odds transform) and C2b (no transform) performed poorly as indicator of change. However, changes within the range –10% to +10% can be detected in indices A1, A2, A5a, A7, A8b, C1 under the survey scenarios of 10 and 20 years and alpha levels of 0.05 or greater.

The CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program (CEMP) was established in 1985 with the aim to detect and record significant changes in critical components of the Antarctic ecosystem, and to differentiate between changes due to commercial harvesting of resources and those arising from natural variability. This paper provides general, background information on CEMP including approximate straight line distances between the main sampling sites, the location of sites with respect to small-scale management units and the matrix of data submitted to the Secretariat.

The CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program uses indices derived from data on indicator species and the environment collected by standard methods within the three Integrated Study Regions of the Convention Area. Standardised index values are re-calculated each year as new data become available, and trends and anomalies in these data are presented.

A history of development and completion of tasks put forward by WG-EMM is summarised for the period from 2001 to 2002 (SC-CAMLR-XXI, Annex 4, paragraph 6.41). This is the first set or records since the adoption by WG-EMM in 2001 of a new five-year plan of work. A history of tasks for the period from 1995 to 2001 is archived in WG-EMM-02/12.

The proposed terms of reference of the WG-EMM Advisory Subgroup on Protected areas are presented "in a manner that properly places the tasks in context" of CCAMLR decisions (SC-CAMLR- XXI, paragraph 5.15; SC-CAMLR-XXI, Annex 4, paragraph 5.15).

Krill escapement in different parts of krill trawls and their differentiated catchability have been studied. It is shown that krill possesses behavioural peculiarities representing considerable importance for catching results. It is proved that the estimation of density and size structure of fished krill swarms should be performed on the based of differentiated catchability of krill trawls. A mathematical model of krill trawling has been developed for estimating the above values.

VNIRO has carried out monitoring of sea-surface temperatures (SSTs) in Subarea 48.3 (South Georgia). Current satellite surveys provide constant information for modern appreciation of changing the mean monthly SST and SST anomalies during recent years. Daily satellite data from GOES-E and real-time data from vessels and buoy stations are processed to develop initial weekly SST maps. For quantitative analysis of variations in temperature distribution in South Georgia waters we randomly selected two grid cells (sell 1 and sell 2) on the SST map which have a resolution of 2°x2° and are centered at 54°S 41°W and 53°S 37°W respectively. This work is continuing.

Haematozoan infections cause the death of penguins in captivity, but seldom in the wild. No haematozoa were found in 89 blood smears taken from macaroni penguins Eudyptes chrysolophus or 80 smears from eastern rock-hopper penguins E. chrysocome filholi at subantarctic Marion Island between October and November 2001. Discussion centres on the possibility of vector introduction and establishment under conditions of climatic and/or anthropogenic change.