CCAMLR

The interim distribution of the trigger level in the fishery for Antarctic krill (CM 51-01) will be revised in 2016. The trigger level is not related to the status of the krill stock and the predators that depend on it. Progressing the development of an operational FBM system in accordance with the Convention has been set as a high priority by CCAMLR. There are currently three FBM proposals tabled to CCAMLR, all of which require refinements. In particular, clarity about the data required to ensure their proper functioning is lacking. This paper restructures and synthesizes information from existing proposals presented at the two preceding WG-EMM meetings, and discussions during the respective intersessional periods. Similar to the currently-tabled FBM strategies, the proposal we present here is reliant on data from the fishing fleet, highlighting the critical importance of engaging fully with the fishing industry. Presenting the industry with clearly defined data requirements for the successful implementation of a FBM strategy will likely stimulate them to cooperate and coordinate as needed. Here we outline a FBM strategy proposal for subarea 48.1, primarily enacted though a combination of time and space restriction to the fishery, an approach that can be adjusted as needed to fit similar challenges in other sub-areas. The paper describes priorities in the proponents’ work in the near future to support the approach and invite other initiatives to cooperation. This paper further highlights that interactions and coordination among existing proposals that recognize the differences and similarities among Sub-Areas are needed.

Preliminary assessment of the potential for proposed bottom fishing activities to have significant adverse impacts on Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems(VMEs) submitted by Republic of Korea.

According to the recommendations of the Scientific Committee and Commission (SC-CAMLR-XXXIII, paragraphs 3.231 и 3.232; СС-CAMLR-XXXIII, paragraph 5.67; CCAMLR-XXXIV, paragraphs 3.86-3.87) Russia provided comprehensive examination  of the fishing vessel «Yantar 35» activity   during researches  conducted in the Weddell Sea (Subarea 48.5) based on the  previously provided analysis.

At WG-SAM-16, the Working Group discussed the implications of toothfish moving long distances after the Chilean research survey for Dissostichus spp. in Subarea 48.2 recaptured one tagged fish in 2016 that had been released in Subarea 48.6 in 2011 (WG-SAM-16/20). The Working Group noted that to date the majority of tagged toothfish movements were very restricted in distance and requested that the Secretariat update its previous meta-analysis of the long distance movement of tagged fish throughout the CCAMLR area for consideration by the WG-FSA (WG-SAM-16, paragraphs 4.46 – 4.48). Analyses of toothfish movements have been recently conducted for release and recapture data within Subarea 48.3 (WG-FSA-14/49), within Subareas 88.1 and 88.2 (WG-FSA-15/37) as well as within Division 58.5.2 (WG-FSA-14/43). This paper analyses toothfish tag-recapture data (2006 – 2016) from across the whole Convention Area to assess long distance movements and behaviour by species, location and sex with a focus on movements between management areas.

This paper summarises the data collected by Scientific Observers operating in the Convention Area on board longline and finfish trawl vessels during the 2016 season (based on data received by the Secretariat up to 19 September 2016). Information on observer coverage, incidental mortality (including the implementation of mitigation related CMs), tagging, and fish sampling is presented.

This paper discusses the two current marine protected area (MPA) proposals, for East Antarctica and for the Ross Sea, and assesses their potential economic impact on commercial fishing for Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) and Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba). The paper concludes that the proposed MPAs will have a minimal impact on current overall catch limits for the target stocks when new catch spread scenarios are taken into account. For example, the Ross Sea Antarctic toothfish stock total catch limit would remain unchanged by the fishing effort being reallocated away from the sensitive continental shelf. The East Antarctic MPA proposal would permit fishing where the fishing will not impact the specific objectives of the MPA. In both of these MPAs, biodiversity and scientific gains could be substantial, while having little impact on current fishing as effort can either be relocated or would not be affected.

The MPA proposals in waters governed by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) have been developed to protect representative aspects of biodiversity, for research, and as a baseline and comparison for monitoring the impacts of climate change. It is important to note that the fisheries currently operating in these waters represent a small fraction of the total reported catch by tonnage and value of the global catch of the participating Members.

This paper presents the outcomes from the application of the risk assessment framework for distributing the krill trigger level in Area 48, which was described in Part 1 of this work (WG-FSA-16/47). This second part has two additional components of work: (i) results of the analyses using the data within the risk assessment framework, and (ii) a discussion of the implications of this work, including consideration of the matters raised by WG-EMM in 2016.  The framework presented in Part 1 is shown to enable assembling relevant data on krill, predators, management and the fishery to assess the risks of disproportionate local effects of the krill fishery.  It can be used to readily explore the potential consequences of different fishing scenarios given the state of knowledge.  The results presented here provide the input needed for the review of CM51-07 and the means by which further scenarios may be explored in that review.  The assessment primarily uses two factors to underpin the index of risk – the potential for fishing effects in areas with higher proportions of young krill (source areas) and predation pressure which is a measure of the potential for competition in local areas.  Given the scenarios here, Subarea 48.1 and, some of its SSMUs in particular, are potentially exposed to disproportionate effects of fishing, which may be occurring at present because of the much larger catch possible under CM51-07 than the baseline would indicate would be appropriate.   This is consistent with the earlier findings of Watters et al (2013) in which FOOSA was used to explore the consequences of different harvest strategies on SSMUs in Area 48.