CCAMLR

Total numbers of Antarctic toothfish collected in the CCAMLR Conservation Zone were 600 fish which consist of 306 fish from the 58 area and 294 fish from the 88 area during February through March, 2016. Female ratios were found to be 0.49 in both areas, showing higher female occurrence with higher total length. The ratio of female among the 857 specimens of Antarctic toothfish collected from the 58.4.1 area and 88.3 area within the CCAMLR Conservation Zone during December, 2016 to March, 2017 was found to be 0.53, and displayed the tendency of increase with increase in the total length 140 cm. The type of ovarian development of Antarctic toothfish was group-synchronous type. The results in 2016 are as follows. The average gonadosomatic index of the fish was found to be 2.16, with 2.57 for female and 1.77 for male. Frequency of ovarian development stages of Antarctic toothfish showed the highest proportion with 41.9% at the mature stage, and followed by the growing stage with 40.6% and ripe stage with 17.5%. The group maturity in accordance with the total length (TL) categories of Antarctic toothfish displayed 50% for female in larger than TL 120.1 cm categories and almost 100% for male in larger than TL 180 cm categories. And the results in 2017 are as follows. The average gonadosomatic index of the fish was found to be 3.88, with 4.18 for female and 3.53 for male. Frequency of ovarian development stages of Antarctic toothfish showed the highest proportion with 62.7% at the mature stage, and followed by the ripe stage with 19.9% and growing stage with 17.5%. The group maturity in accordance with the total length (TL) categories of Antarctic toothfish displayed 50% for female in larger than TL 130.1 cm categories and almost 100% for male in larger than TL 170 cm categories. The main spawning season is estimated after May.

The paper provides a brief history and review of the CCEP as well as outlining the flow of the procedure. The paper highlights current implementational practice, historical work in development, and evolution of CM 10-10 since adoption.

The CDS was effectively implemented in 2018 by 21 Member States, 3 Acceding States and 1 NCP. CDS reports of catches outside the Convention Area have increased in 2018. The Secretariat contacted 9 NCPs to seek their engagement in the CDS in 2018.

A collaborative research program is being undertaken by Japan and South Africa since 2013 to enhance data collection and analysis in the Subarea 48.6. In the last WG-SAM Spain has proposed to join the former proposal in order to contribute to the data acquisition and to speed up the integrated assessments of the D.mawsoni stock in this subarea.

The Working Group recommended that Spain should coordinate its research efforts with Japan and South Africa and encouraged the submission of a multi-Member proposal for consideration at WG-FSA (pargraph 6.29).

The three-member research proposal for 2018/19 season is presented to ensure continuity of previous research activities. Data and investigations about the population structure and various demographic parameters of Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) using trotline (JPN and ZAF) and Spanish longline (ESP) gears, established tagging techniques, pop-up tags and genetic analysis will provide the basis for the development of spatial population models and assessments in support of management advice. An Integrated Stock Assessment (ISA) of this species is expected to be done by 2021/22.

Additional outcomes of the research include documenting relative abundance of Antarctic and Patagonian toothfish, tagging toothfish for biomass estimation and for stock linkage studies, and collecting information on distribution, and life history of bycatch and Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs).

Efforts to engage NCPs have so far met with modest success. The Secretariat proposes to work with Members on a new approach in 2019, targeting NCPs that are important in toothfish trade with Members, and working with those Members to approach the NCPs.

In this paper, ASOC argues that the time is ripe for upgrading CCAMLR provisions on transhipments. The 2^nd Performance Review of CCAMLR identified a “significant gap” in relation to transhipments [1]⁠⁠. Members of CCAMLR are expected to act upon its recommendations. Current transhipment provisions in the CCAMLR Convention Area are not up to the highest standards when compared to those of RFMOs worldwide. ASOC builds on previous submissions [2,3] and recommends that CCAMLR adopts conservation measures with the following provisions:

• Establishment of a comprehensive and publicly available CCAMLR record of Authorized Carrier Vessels.
• Development of a comprehensive Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) package applicable to carrier vessels.
• Application to all CCAMLR fisheries.
• Requirements to report information on all transhipments to the Secretariat, which will prepare an annual report for SCIC with information on transhipments that occurred in the Convention Area.