CCAMLR

ASOC originally compiled this compendium to assist discussions at the recent 2^nd CCAMLR Symposium. We note that at last year’s meeting CCAMLR agreed to maintain MPA papers in one place on the web site for ongoing reference. ASOC recommends that CCAMLR also place key reference documents and papers on topics of importance relevant to CCAMLR’s broader work such as those included in this compendium in one place on the CCAMLR website for ongoing use and easy reference. This will assist in the maintenance of a readily accessible record of CCAMLR’s history, progress and discussions across the fuller range of its work and ensure that earlier discussions are always available.

ASOC hopes that this compendium may be a useful contribution to such a compilation and a useful resource for CCAMLR delegates at the current and future CCAMLR meetings, supporting valuable discussions to help CCAMLR meet its objectives and continue its leading role in the conservation of marine living resources through the application of the precautionary and ecosystem approaches.

This paper presents a document written by Dr. Robert (Bob) Hofman and submitted to the 2015 CCAMLR Symposium in Santiago, Chile. Dr. Hofman was a member of the United States delegation during the negotiation of the CAMLR Convention. ASOC has provided some additional background for CCAMLR’s consideration. As a participant in the Convention negotiations, Dr. Hofman has an in-depth understanding of the reasoning behind Article II and other aspects of the Convention. Dr. Hofman notes that that Convention explicitly requires that any harvesting activities only take place if the conditions specified in Article II, paragraph 3 of the Convention are met. Further, the language of Article IX(2)(g) makes clear that area protection is one of the measures that may be used to implement the ecosystem conservation approach. Consequently, the need to “balance” the ecosystem approach and area protection with the management of CCAMLR fisheries did not - and does not - arise. They are in fact integral parts of that management. ASOC emphasizes that to resolve the uncertainties about whether fisheries are being managed in accordance with Article II, CCAMLR should assess how MPAs or other measures could be used as reference areas. This would support a more effective implementation of Article II(3).

This paper has also been submitted by ASOC in Chinese.

This paper reports on progress at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on the adoption of a Polar Code for shipping in polar waters, and sets out the initial steps for a second phase on work that will address fishing vessels and other vessels not currently covered by the Code. The paper identifies the relevance for fishing vessels of various safety matters addressed in the Polar Code, on the basis of recent incidents in the Southern Ocean. Finally, it proposes measures on ice strengthening of fishing vessels and training of fishing vessel crews, which should be introduced by CCAMLR in the interim.

The high-profile chase and sinking of the Thunder was just one of many important enforcement actions taken against vessels suspected of engaging in Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing this year. ASOC and COLTO commend the cooperation between states, organizations and NGOs that led to these successes. There are a number of additional ways that CCAMLR could enhance its ability to prevent IUU fishing and ensure compliance with CCAMLR conservation measures. These include: the development of enhanced procedures for tracking vessel movements; implementation of a modern, flexible and traceable Catch Documentation System (CDS) and adoption of additional measures for overseeing transshipments; participation in satellite enforcement initiatives; intensification of action on nationals of CCAMLR Members potentially involved in IUU fishing; and improvements in the effectiveness of the IUU vessel lists.

ASOC strongly supports the decision of ATCM XXXVIII to hold a second joint workshop between the CEP and SC-CAMLR on climate change. In this paper, we suggest some ways to ensure successful outcomes for the workshop, including:  agreeing on a scientific baseline; compiling overviews of existing efforts; basing the joint work programme on the CEP’s Climate Change Response Work Programme; determining a process for information updates and exchange; considering mechanisms for temporary protection of areas affected by rapid climate events such as the collapse of an ice shelf; considering possible measures and decisions where climate change information would be required by the ATCM and CCAMLR; and facilitating the contribution of relevant observers and experts to the workshop. Coordination on this important issue is the only way that the ATS will develop an organized, responsive approach to addressing the impacts of climate change on the Antarctic environment.

Taking into account the practice and current state of krill fishery in Area 48, Ukraine proposed to consider the Conservation Measure 51-07(2014) in order to redistribute the trigger level of catch in 620 000 tonnes between Subareas in Area 48 in a new percentage limits and to encourage vessels to produce food for human "direct" consumption from krill. This revision will still enable to follow the precaution conservation principles of the Convention and in the same time will not inflict an economic damage to the krill fishery.

Regarding the low levels of stocks of Dissostichus spp. and the high levels of IUU fishing, CCAMLR decided to close the fishery in 2002 in division 58.4.4. Since 2008 only one vessel, Shinsei maru No. 3, had conducted research fishing in accordance with a research plan submitted under CM 24-01. In 2014, WG-FSA agreed research fishing conducted in the research blocks C and D by two vessels using longlines: Shinsei Maru No. 3 (Japan) and the Saint André (France). For the season 2014/15, the catch limit for Dissostichus spp. is 25 tons for SSRU C and 35 tons for SSRU D. France notified its intention to achieve a robust stock assessment that would provide advice on a catch limit according to CCAMLR decision rules. This paper aims to present a research plan for 2015/2016 that takes into account the remarks made during the WG-FSA 2014. In SSRU 58.4.4D, tag recaptures are insufficient (the first tag recaptures were obtained in 2014), and consequently stock abundance (around 800 tonnes) has been estimated using the ‘CPUE seabed area analogy’ method. The biomass in division SSRU C was estimated during WG-FSA 2014 using a CASAL model constructed for D. eleginoides. The vulnerable biomass was estimated around 700 tonnes. CASAL model is updated with 2014 data but in the absence of an assessment using the CCAMLR decision rules, the catch limit should remain unchanged at 32 tonnes for 2015/16 to maximize the expectation of tag-recapture.

Since entered in the krill fishery in the 2009/10 fishing season, China has made every efforts to ensure maximum coverage possible and high quality scientific observation throughout Chinese krill fishing activities. The Bureau of Fisheries (BoF), Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) of P. R. China has developed a comprehensive scientific observer training program and assignment scheme. During the past six fishing seasons, training courses were provided to the crew members, company managers as well as scientific observers at least once each year; 28 scientific observers were deployed on board 19 vessels/seasons out of the total 23 vessels/seasons in the fishery; the annual vessel coverage ranged from 66%-100%, with a six year mean of 82%. Scientific observer logbooks and cruise reports were submitted to the CCAMLR secretariat.

In Division 58.4.3a, since 2012, research fishing has been conducted in the research block by two vessels using longlines: Shinsei Maru No. 3 (Japan) and the Saint André (France). The catch limit for Dissostichus spp. is 32 tonnes and the total reported catch up in 2013/2014 was 32 tonnes. France notified its intention to continue its exploratory fishery over the coming years in order to achieve a robust stock assessment that would provide advice on a catch limit according to CCAMLR decision rules. This paper aims to present a research plan for 2015/2016 that takes into account the remarks made during the WG-FSA 2014. The objective is to spread fishing effort over across the whole fishable area and to progress on the robustness of the CASAL assessment. The biomass in division 58.4.3a was estimated during WG-FSA 2014 using the Petersen estimator at 386 tonnes. In the absence of an assessment using the CCAMLR decision rules, the re-estimation of the geometric mean of Petersen biomass estimates is used as the estimate of biomass for this division in 2015. Given this analysis estimated biomass at 419 tonnes, which was similar to the 386 tonnes, the catch limit should remain unchanged at 32 tonnes for 2015/16 to maximize the expectation of tag-recapture.

Due to uncertainties in Antarctic krill stock, which do not allow scientists to develop comprehensive system of Feedback management of krill fishery and to provide work on forecast of the ecosystem changes that has been mentioned at the Warsaw 2015 Meeting of the WG-EMM, Ukraine suggest the draft of the changes to CCAMLR Conservation Measure 51-06(2014) be considered in order to make the scientific observation system in the krill fishery mandatory.