Recommendation | Responsible body | Activities to date | Status |
---|---|---|---|
Recommendation 19: The current practice of managing the business of the Scientific Committee through an informal executive group be institutionalised as a Scientific Committee Bureau, in order to formalise good practices to improve the efficiency and conduct of business in the Scientific Committee and its working groups. (paragraphs 72 to 75) |
Scientific Committee | (2017) SC-CAMLR-XXXVI, paragraph 16.8 and Annex 12 | Completed |
Recommendation 20: A Commission Bureau be established involving the Scientific Committee Chair, the chairs of the standing committees and the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Commission, which, along with the newly established Scientific Committee Bureau, can help coordinate the annual work plan for the Commission and the Scientific Committee and facilitate the determination and, when needed, delivery of priority requirements for the Secretariat. It is proposed that the Commission Bureau should meet on every morning of the two-week annual Commission meeting. (paragraphs 76 and 77) |
Commission | (2017) CCAMLR-XXXVI, paragraph 9.17 | Completed |
Recommendation 21: The annual work program of the Scientific Committee and its subsidiary bodies focus on delivering the requirements of Article XV.2 (provision of specific scientific advice to assist the Commission), whereas a strategy for meeting the requirements of 6 Article XV.1 (general science on Antarctic marine living resources) should be primarily developed through mechanisms other than the annual work program of the Scientific Committee. Mechanisms for delivering general science on Antarctic marine living resources could include: (i) triennial development of key scientific questions that would support the long- term development of advice to the Commission, coupled with a review of progress against previous or outstanding questions (ii) engagement with SCAR, SOOS and the Integrating Climate and Ecosystem Dynamics in the Southern Ocean (ICED) and other relevant bodies to encourage them to address those questions in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Scientific Committee. (paragraph 78) |
Scientific Committee |
(i) (2017) Scientific Committee workplan SC-CAMLR-XXXVI/BG/40 (ii) (2018) SC-CAMLR-XXXVII, paragraph 9.9; SCAR Krill Action Group SC-CAMLR-XXXVII, paragraphs 3.16 to 3.19 and CCAMLR-XXXVII, paragraph 4.12; ICED SC-CAMLR-XXXVII, paragraphs 9.5 and 9.6; SOOS ICED SC-CAMLR-XXXVII, paragraphs 10.8 to 10.10. Article XV.1 (general science on Antarctic marine living resources) delivered through collaboration. (2022) Scientific Committee developed a new Strategic Plan, including cooperation with other organisations. (2018–2022) CCAMLR agreed arrangements for exchange of information with SEAFO, SIOFA, SPRFMO, including through joint development of data sharing protocols. Discussion of further cooperation with IWC is ongoing. |
Completed and ongoing |
Recommendation 22: Meeting documents of the Commission and the Scientific Committee be made available to the public, unless a Member requests a paper to have restricted access, or data/information within the document is held by the Secretariat and has not been made available by the Commission. (paragraph 79) |
Commission |
(2017) CCAMLR-XXXVI, paragraph 9.31 and new systems introduced by the Secretariat (2021) Commission and Scientific Committee established an e group to examine new policies for access to meeting documents (SCAF-2021, paragraph 11). |
Significant progress |
Recommendation 23: The background of key issues and the history of their consideration in the Commission and the Scientific Committee be better documented and included in new induction materials to be developed for Members. (paragraph 79) |
Scientific Committee and Commission |
(2018) CCAMLR-XXXVII, paragraphs 4.4, 12.1 and 12.2 (2019–2022 Strategic Plan and brochure) CCAMLR Blogs and other public/popular material. The Secretariat has also embarked on documenting Scientific Committee procedures. |
Significant progress |
Recommendation 24: Mechanisms be considered and implemented for the participation of experts and observers in the work of the subsidiary bodies of the Commission and the Scientific Committee. (paragraph 79) |
Scientific Committee and Commission |
(2018) SCAF-2018, paragraphs 4 and 5 There is an existing procedure for inviting experts to working group meetings. The Scientific Committee has not agreed to extend a routine invitation to observers to working groups. |
Completed |
Recommendation 25: A management–science forum across the Commission and the Scientific Committee be established to facilitate open communication and dialogue between scientists and policy makers involved in CCAMLR on key topics and issues and their respective expectations for science and policy. (paragraph 79) |
Scientific Committee and Commission | One could say that this is what we do every October | Not yet considered |
Recommendation 26: The terms of reference of the working groups of the Scientific Committee be revised to take account of the priorities and emphases of the work plan being developed by the Scientific Committee since its symposium in 2016. (paragraphs 80 to 82) |
Scientific Committee |
(2017) SC workplan SC-CAMLR-XXXVI/BG/40 (2018) SC-CAMLR-XXXVII, paragraphs 2.1 and 13.1 to 13.13 (2021) WG-IMAF reconvened with revised terms of reference (SC-CAMLR-40, Annex 9). (2022) WG-SAM terms of reference revised. (2022) Working groups are developing their workplans arising from discussions at the 2022 Scientific Committee Symposium (WG-ASAM-2022/01). |
Completed and ongoing |
Recommendation 27: Steps be taken to maximise the accessibility and utility of meeting reports, and to reduce their length and associated translations costs. In giving effect to this recommendation, the Panel offered the following ideas for the consideration of the Commission: (i) for the Commission report, establish a practice of including a consolidated list of decisions regarding new or amended Conservation Measures at the front of the report (ii) establish procedures and disseminate guidance for preparing meeting reports that emphasises the importance of ensuring a clear, succinct and accurate record of meeting discussions, with a focus on the outcomes of deliberations (iii) to avoid or minimise the inclusion of attributed statements, establish a practice that such statements are not to be provided by delegations until after the draft report language has been circulated, and only then if essential to reflect an important view not already reflected in the report. (paragraphs 83 and 84) |
Scientific Committee and Commission |
(2018) Guidance on ii, iii, provided to rapporteurs by Secretariat (2019) Many of these improvements have been introduced into the conservation measures publication and the annual reports. The Commission has also agreed the need for more detailed annotated agendas to increase efficiency and engagement in meetings. All meetings strive to avoid attributed statements, except where necessary. |
Completed |