CCAMLR

In 2016 the Commission adopted Conservation Measure (CM) 91-05, establishing the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area. This paper updates the research and monitoring activities conducted by New Zealand relevant to the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area, as encouraged by CM 91-05 paragraph 16(i)–(ii). Annex B of this Conservation Measure specifies the RSrMPA specific objectives and the Management Plan. In addition, Annex C specifies the Priority Elements for Scientific Research and Monitoring, including research and monitoring priorities and research and monitoring questions that should be addressed. We also recall the objectives of the RSrMPA and the research questions for research and monitoring for the RSrMPA. In 2016 the Commission adopted Conservation Measure (CM) 91-05, establishing the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area. This paper updates the research and monitoring activities conducted by New Zealand relevant to the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area, as encouraged by CM 91-05 paragraph 16(i)–(ii). Annex B of this Conservation Measure specifies the RSrMPA specific objectives and the Management Plan. In addition, Annex C specifies the Priority Elements for Scientific Research and Monitoring, including research and monitoring priorities and research and monitoring questions that should be addressed. We also recall the objectives of the RSrMPA and the research questions for research and monitoring for the RSrMPA.

A key aim in managing the harvest of Antarctic krill is to ensure the long-term sustainability of the fishery and the marine ecosystem, including krill-dependent predators such as seals, penguins and whales. If predators are to be used as indicators in the management of marine ecosystems (e.g., CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program; CEMP), the functional responses between predators and prey (i.e., the relationships between predators foraging rate and prey abundance) is a critical. Current CEMP predator response variables, however, show variable relationships with estimates of krill abundance and those associated with monitoring foraging behaviour makes poor use of modern telemetry technology. Our primary objective is to develop monitoring indices that can quantify and characterize functional responses of penguins to changes in their prey field, as a precursor to developing additional CEMP monitoring parameters that will improve ecosystem-based Feedback Management (FBM). Here we present exploratory analyses of chinstrap penguins Pygoscelis antarctica foraging behaviour at two sites in the Bransfield Strait (Deception Island, Kopaitic Island) as a first step towards developing alternate monitoring indices of the functional relationships between predator foraging behaviour and prey abundance.

The Russian  krill research in Subarea 48.1 and 48.2 under CM 24-01 paragraph 2 were carried out by  RV “Atlantida”  in the period January-March 2020  including acoustic surveys, accompanied by a wide range of ecosystem studies on the biology of  krill and its habitat (hydrometeorological, oceanological and hydrochemical data) and  bio-productivity indices  (chlorophyll, primary production, phyto-, zoo- and ichthyoplankton).  This krill research was carried out in accordance with the CCAMLR Survey 2000 formats and CCAMLR recommendations.  The study area in Subarea 48.1 and 48.2 was about 480 thousand km².  Survey provides up-to-date information on krill biomass distribution and environments at varies spatial scales.  The total krill biomass estimated at the survey area was 39, 29 mln.t , CV=9,29%.  Statistical characteristics of krill biomass by stratum are shown. An analysis of oceanological conditions in January-March 2020 confirmed the main patterns of krill  distribution depending on the structure and dynamics of waters. Krill concentrations were observed in the zone of interaction between the waters of high latitude modification (Weddell Sea waters) and the waters of the southern periphery of the ACC  as well as in the marginal (shadow) zones, with eddies and gyres characteristic of shelf and slope areas. The krill length compositions are characterized by spatial heterogeneity, which is demonstrated by its distribution across strata and in different modifications of water masses (ACC  and the Weddell Circulation ).   The latter primarily relates to the content of the recruitment share. In the long term, the distribution patterns of krill and their habitat environment in Subarea 48.1 and 48.2 practically did not undergo significant changes

This paper discussed the krill flux indices through the Antarctic Peninsula based on the results complex survey provided by RV Atlantida in 2020 including   repeated complex acoustic surveys in the Brnsfield Strait and repeated transect across Elephant Island.  Geostrophical water masses circulations, spatial distribution of krill density, water flow intensity (m³/s) and krill biomass (g/m³) transported by water flow , variability of krill length compositions are shown.  There was no krill fishing in the Bransfil Strait during the research surveys as well as between these surveys. The latter provided favorable conditions for understanding the effect of krill flux on krill  distribution and biomass in context of krill fishery management.

The length distribution and biological indicators (weight, sex, maturity phases and nutrition indicators) of Antarctic krill obtained  during the Russian complex survey on the RV "Atlantida" in January-March 2020 are shown. Analysis is based on 179 standard  double oblique tows with research trawl.  The length distribution and biological indicators were analyzed by strata including the South Shetland Islands stratum (SSI), the Bransfield Strait stratum (BS), the Elephant Island and the Joinvile Island strata (EI), the Scotia Sea stratum (SS).   The catch basis was formed by mature and post-spawning krill individuals, females of stage IIIA and IIIE, males of stage-IIIB.

This report summarizes the spatial layers developed to date to support the development of the Weddell Sea Marine Protected Area Phase 2.  We link these spatial layers to the conservation objectives complementary to the Weddell Sea Marine Protected Area Phase 1 and preliminary specific conservation objectives for the Weddell Sea Marine Protected Area Phase 2. We include a summary of further considerations from expert discussions at and since the WSMPA Phase 2 International Scientific Workshop (digital) 10-12 May 2021. A summary report of this workshop is provided as supplementary material.

While the importance of spatial scale in ecology is well established, few studies have investigated the impact of data grain on hotpot analysis of biological resource. In this study, in order to analyze the impact of spatial scale on hotspot analysis of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) density distribution in the Southern Ocean, the krill resource density data in 1926 to 2016 by 10-year period was interpolated into ten spatial scales, i.e., 10′×10′, 20′×20′, 30′×30′, 40′×40′, 50′×50′, 1°×1°, 2°×2°, 3°×3°, 4°×4°, and 5°×5°, respectively, and linear, logarithmic, exponential, power-law, and polynomial functions were used to calculate the relationship between the global krill resource density, krill resource density in hotspot (coldspot) areas and the spatial scale, and the variations in centroid and hotspot (coldspot) areas at different spatial scales were also analyzed. The results showed that there was a significant scaling relationship between the maximum, skewness, kurtosis, Coefficient of Variation (CV) of global krill resource density and the spatial scale. Significant scaling relationship between the maximum, skewness, kurtosis, third quartile (Q3), and CV of the krill resource density in hotspot area and the spatial scale was found. A significant scaling relationship were also found between the maximum, mean, standard deviance (SD), skewness, kurtosis, Q3, CV and spatial scale for the coldspot area. The size of the hotspot (coldspot) area increased with the increasing of the spatial scale, and the offset of centroid indicated the locations of the hotspot (coldspot) area were greatly affected by the spatial scale. Significant shift of centroid for hotspot (coldspot) areas occurred when the spatial scale was greater than 1°×1°. Therefore, it is recommended to use spatial scale that less than 1° × 1° to identify the local spatial pattern for hotspot analysis of krill resource density.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This pathogen has spread rapidly across the world, causing high numbers of deaths and significant social and economic impacts. SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus with a suggested zoonotic origin with the potential for cross-species transmission among animals. Antarctica can be considered the only continent free of SARS-CoV-2.  Therefore, concerns have been expressed regarding the potential human introduction of this virus to the continent through the activities of research or tourism to minimise the effects on human health, and the potential for virus transmission to Antarctic wildlife. We assess the reverse-zoonotic transmission risk to Antarctic wildlife by considering the available information on host susceptibility, dynamics of the infection in humans, and contact interactions between humans and Antarctic wildlife. The environmental conditions in Antarctica seem to be favourable for the virus stability. Indoor spaces such as those at research stations, research vessels or tourist cruise ships could allow for more transmission among humans and depending on their movements between different locations the virus could be spread across the continent. Among Antarctic wildlife previous in silico analyses suggested that cetaceans are at greater risk of infection whereas seals and birds appear to be at a low infection risk. However, caution needed until further research is carried out and consequently, the precautionary principle should be applied. Field researchers handling animals are identified as the human group posing the highest risk of transmission to animals while tourists and other personnel pose a significant risk only when in close proximity (< 5 m) to Antarctic fauna. We highlight measures to reduce the risk as well as identify of knowledge gaps related to this issue.

SKAG was initiated in close collaboration with the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) Standing Committee on the Antarctic Treaty System (SC-ATS) to help provide the scientific information on krill needed to manage the krill fishery by improving communication between CCAMLR and the wider krill science community. In addition, the group serves as a platform for early career reserachers (ECR) to network with established krill researchers.The first phase of SKAG (2018-2020) resulted in a paper (Meyer et al. 2020) that identified knowledge gaps in krill ecology which are important for krill fishery management. The paper also outlined the data and methods needed by the scientific community, in collaboration with the krill fishery, to fill these knowledge gaps.

The priorities which Meyer et al (2020) identified for krill research to support ecosystem-based management of the krill fishery are; (i) unravelling the controls on krill recruitment, (ii) pinpointing spawning hotspots that merit protection,(iii) identifying seasonal overlaps between the fishery and contributing spawning stock, and (iv) future-proofing fishery management for climate change.

In the second SKAG phase (2021-2023), we aim to engage the broader science community to evaluate the key research priorities and suggest ways forward. The first step in this direction was a one-week online workshop (26-30 April) organized in cooperation with the WWF. This workshop was attended by around 100 participants each day from 19 countries representing a large portion of the world’s krill expertise. The workshop was closely linked with the following workshop of the SCAR Program Integrating Climate and Ecosystem Dynamics of the Southern Ocean (ICED). For details of the ICED workshop see their report submitted to WG-EMM 2021.

This report provides overview and early results of the multidisciplinary large-scale survey of the Eastern Sector of CCAMLR Division 58.4.2 conducted in February to March 2021. The survey consisted of six major acoustic line-transects to estimate krill biomass and to observe swarm behaviour across ecological and density gradients within the survey area south of 62°S between 55° and 80° E, with a single fine-scale krill box acoustic survey off the Mawson coast. The voyage successfully estimated mean areal biomass for the region. Along with acoustic survey we conducted net sampling, deployed swarm study system, deep-sea camera and light trap, deployed Krill Observational Moorings for Benthic Investigation (KOMBI)  on the seafloor that will record the behaviour of krill throughout a full year to understand the dynamics and use of habitat in the surface layer as well as at seafloor. Comprehensive oceanographic (CTDS, XBTs, ARGSO floats) and biological (plankton) sampling were also conducted to understand the habitat environment of krill and its predators. Predator observation was undertaken throughout the voyage to improve our understanding on predator abundance, distribution, and its relationship with krill distribution and their habitat environment. The information gathered contributes to the design of tractable and sustainable long-term monitoring plan and to evaluate spatial management of the krill fishery.