CCAMLR

During the 2014 experimental season extension in CCAMLR sub-Area 48.3 a single line caught 74 white chinned petrels, which is the most significant incidental mortality event in the fishery for over 10 years. The circumstances associated with the event were investigated and a review of seabird mortality in the fishery undertaken. The mortality event occurred on a “Spanish” system longline that was partly set after Nautical Twilight (dawn), so was in breach of CM25-02. Although the line was partly set after Nautical Twilight other factors may have contributed to this event. A review of available data indicates that, while the risk of seabird mortality is slightly higher in April, autoline vessels very rarely catch seabirds. In accordance with CM 41-02, there will not be a season extension in 2014/15. Options for possible future season extensions are discussed.

Data were collected at Bird Island and King Edward Point, South Georgia, at Signy Island, South Orkneys and at Goudier Island, Antarctic Peninsula for the period April 2013 to March 2014. Surveys of beached marine debris at Bird Island recorded a total of 252 and 376 items during winter (April to September 2013) and summer (October 2013 to March 2014) respectively. Surveys at Signy Island (operational during summer only; 26 November 2013 to 13 March 2014) recorded a total of 2 items of beached marine debris. Entanglements of 14 Antarctic fur seals were observed at Bird Island, 9 at King Edward Point and zero at Signy Island and Goudier Island. In total, 88 items of marine debris were found in association with seabird colonies at Bird Island, most commonly in association with wandering albatrosses (40 items). There were no reports of beached marine debris at Goudier Island, and one incidence of hydrocarbon soiling (Bird Island) during the reporting period. Overall, the occurrence of beached marine debris was above the long-term mean at Bird Island during both summer and winter and was the second highest ever recorded in the 24 years of summer surveys and fourth highest ever recorded in 23 years of winter surveys at Bird Island. In contrast, the occurrence of beached marine debris at Signy Island was the lowest ever recorded in 24 years of surveys. The incidence of marine mammal entanglements was below the long-term mean at Bird Island and Signy Island but equal to the mean at King Edward Point. Debris associated with seabird colonies was below the mean level for wandering albatrosses and grey-headed albatrosses but above the mean for black-browed albatrosses and giant petrels.

Germany intends to present the Scientific Committee the background document that provides the scientific basis for the evaluation of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Weddell Sea. Please note, that the current state of the background document presents a comprehensive yet incomplete first version concerning chapters that have to be (further) developed or revised. The contents and structure of the document reflect also its main objectives, i.e. (i) to set out the general background and context of the establishment of MPAs, (ii) to describe the boundaries of the Weddell Sea MPA Planning Area, (iii) to inform on the data retrieval process, (iv) to provide - for the first time- a comprehensive, yet succinct, general description of the Weddell Sea ecosystem to reflect the state of the science, and additionally to present the results of the various preliminary scientific analyses that were carried out so far within the framework of the MPA Weddell Sea project, and finally (v) to describe future work beyond the development of the scientific basis for the evaluation of a Weddell Sea MPA.

Analysis of catch data from a deepwater trawl survey conducted at South Georgia and Shag Rocks in 2003 indicate that depth and region have a marked influence over demersal fish community structure at South Georgia and Shag Rocks. Three distinct, depth stratified fish assemblages were observed.  The demersal fish assemblage found on the shelf to depths of around 400m is dominated by notothenids and is comprised largely of species endemic to the Southern Ocean and Scotia Sea. At increasing depths (400-600m) diversity increases with the presence of many benthopelagic species  including Stomiiformes, Aulopiformes and  Zoarcids.  At the greatest depths sampled the demersal fish community is dominated by gadiform fishes including members of the Macrouridae and Moridae many of which are not endemic to the Southern Ocean. Clear regional differences in the shelf community are apparent with differences observed in community structure between South Georgia and Shag Rocks to depths of around 400m. The biogeographic patterns observed in demersal fishes show similar trends to those seen in a range of other taxa such as crustaceans.

La austromerluza negra y la austromerluza antártica se comercializan a nivel internacional y son especies de gran importancia comercial para los trece países que pescan de manera activa la austromerluza para el consumo mundial. Los grandes países consumidores son los que tienen el mayor impacto sobre el comercio de austromerluza, por tanto, es importante comprender qué influencia tienen los países consumidores en las operaciones de pesca. Aunque la Comisión para la Conservación de los Recursos Vivos Marinos Antárticos (CCRVMA) regule los desembarques de austromerluza de las pesquerías, por ahora, no se dispone de procedimientos adecuados para controlar el volumen o el valor comercial que la austromerluza alcanza en el mercado internacional. Se ha llevado a cabo un análisis comercial usando los datos de importación y exportación de la Base de datos estadísticos sobre el comercio de mercaderías de la ONU (UN Comtrade) registrados entre 2007 y 2012 con el objeto de examinar las pautas mundiales comerciales de volumen y precio.

Este análisis se centró en los diez países más activos en el comercio de austromerluza durante un período de seis años. Entre 2007 y 2012 el precio medio (USD/kg) de las importaciones se incrementó en un 44% mientras que el volumen comercializado disminuyó. Los EE.UU. representan un 54% del total de las importaciones y tienen el mayor peso sobre las tendencias generales. Entre 2007 y 2012 el precio medio de las exportaciones se incrementó en un 86,8% mientras que el volumen general comercializado disminuyó. El análisis de los datos pone de manifiesto una relación sólida entre la oferta y la demanda dentro de los mercados internacionales, así como la presencia de otros factores específicos para cada país. Este análisis contribuye a un proceso constante de recopilación de datos acerca del comercio de austromerluza y se utilizará para identificar cambios a nivel mundial del mercado de la austromerluza y para contribuir a la gestión de las tareas de gestión del recurso.