CCAMLR

At CCAMLR-XXVI the Working Group on Fish Stock Assessment (WG-FSA) noted a lack of specific reference material for the identification of benthic invertebrates in areas specific to which observers carry out their activities (SC-CAMLR-XXVI: Annex 5, paragraph 6.32). To improve the standard of observer identifications and also to assist in the identification of vulnerable areas, the Scientific Committee requested that guides be prepared for the identification of benthic organisms (SC-CAMLR-XXVI: paragraph 4.190). In response to this recommendation Australia has developed the ‘Field identification guide to Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI) benthic invertebrates: a guide for scientific observers aboard fishing vessels’. This Fisheries Research and Development Commission (FRDC), Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) and industry funded production is the first of its kind for the region. It is intended for use as both a training tool, and at-sea by trained observers, to make accurate identifications of invertebrate by-catch when operating in the HIMI region. The Australian Antarctic Division has now published the first edition of the guide for distribution to the HIMI observer network, enabling them to gather invertebrate by-catch data at higher taxonomic resolutions. To encourage the development of similar guides for training purposes and at-sea use by observers in other CCAMLR designated fisheries, a copy of the guide will be distributed to each CCAMLR delegate and will be available electronically on the web.

According to recommendations of Working Group on Ecosystem Monitoring and Management (SC-CAMLR-XXVIII/3, paragraph 3.7), 2009 in Bergen, due to the results of considering Document WG-EMM-09/11, in which the uncertainty of krill amount perished while its trawling at fishery is focused, the recommendations were submitted on carrying out the experiment to determine the rate of krill ‘escape mortality’ on fishing or research vessel during Antarctic krill fishery.

When establishing the ad-hoc Technical Group for At-Sea Operations (TASO), the Scientific Committee tasked it with the development of minimum standards to facilitate accreditation of observer programs participating in the CCAMLR SISO. At its 2009 meeting, TASO requested that the TASO co-conveners outline the elements of an accreditation framework, and a workplan for it implementation, for consideration by the Scientific Committee. This paper outlines the roles and responsibilities of the Scientific Committee, the Secretariat and Members in implementing a proposed accreditation framework, and timeframes to establish an accreditation framework for observer programs participating in the CCAMLR SISO.