Following SC-CIRC 23/52 and the Scientific Committee strategic workplan (SC-CAMLR-41, Annex 11), the Scientific Committee agreed terms of reference for its working groups.

Working Group on Ecosystem Monitoring and Management (WG-EMM)

The purpose of the Working Group on Ecosystem Monitoring and Management (WG-EMM) is to contribute to the conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources through the provision of expert advice to the Scientific Committee and its working groups. The Working Group will provide advice on issues relating to the maintenance of ecological relationships within krill-centric ecosystems as well as other ecosystems, between harvested, dependent and related populations, the restoration of depleted populations, and the minimisation of the risk of irreversible changes in the Antarctic marine ecosystem including consideration of the impacts of climate change on its advice. To achieve this, WG-EMM will address the following terms of reference:

1. To provide advice to the Scientific Committee, its Members, and its working groups on:
   
   1. the status of krill
   2. the status and trends of dependent and related populations including the identification of information required to evaluate predator/prey/fisheries interactions and their relationships to environmental features and including the role of fish in the ecosystem
   3. environmental features and trends which may influence the abundance and distribution of harvested, dependent, related and/or depleted populations
   4. identify, recommend and coordinate research necessary to obtain information on predator/prey/fisheries interactions, particularly those involving harvested, dependent, related and/or depleted populations
   5. develop, coordinate the implementation of, and ensure continuity in the CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program (CEMP)
   6. spatial management with the aim of conserving marine biodiversity in the Convention Area
   7. management advice on the status of the Antarctic marine ecosystem and for the management of krill fisheries in full accordance with Convention Article II.
       
2. To provide any other advice, within its area of expertise, to the Scientific Committee and its working groups as directed by the Scientific Committee.

A list of the meetings (including reports) is available here.