CCAMLR

As the first large-scale MPA in an area beyond national jurisdiction, the Ross Sea region MPA sets a precedent for design, adoption and implementation of other MPAs on the high seas and in the Southern Ocean. This ASOC Background paper includes an article in press in Marine Policy: “The Ross Sea, Antarctica: A highly protected MPA in international waters,” which presents a detailed explanation of the governance of the Ross Sea region MPA, including the active and ongoing management, research and monitoring. The paper further described how and why the majority of the MPA qualifies under the new MPA Guide as a highly protected MPA. As CCAMLR moves towards establishing a network of Southern Ocean MPAs, the Ross Sea region MPA can provide valuable guidance. Currently, three additional Southern Ocean MPAs remain under negotiation – in East Antarctica, the Weddell Sea, and around the Antarctic Peninsula. The prohibitions and restrictions coordinated through CCAMLR’s Conservation Measures, and the active management, research, monitoring and enforcement of the Ross Sea region MPA illustrate that CCAMLR and its Member States can and will actively manage and enforce MPAs. The paper concludes that the Ross Sea region MPA is currently, and for the foreseeable future, highly protected from potentially destructive human activities, and is thus exemplary of a large-scale highly protected MPA.

Cooperation between the Scientific Committee of CCAMLR (SC-CAMLR) and the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) has been steadily increasing to the mutual benefit of both. In order to avoid duplicate reporting between the two committees and following discussions between the Chairs of the CEP and SC-CAMLR, the report of the CEP meeting is presented to SC-CAMLR by the CEP Observer to SC-CAMLR and the report of the meeting of SC-CAMLR is presented to the CEP by the SC-CAMLR observer to the CEP. An agreed standard reporting template, to be routinely followed by both committees, has also clarified and simplified the reciprocal reporting. Accordingly, this report provides the CEP’s annual report to SC-CAMLR-40. Due to the pandemic, both the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) and the CEP meeting were cancelled in 2020. The 2021 ATCM/CEP meetings were held virtually, with less time available for discussion than during in-person meetings.

At CCAMLR-39 (2020), the Commission agreed to establish an e-group to allow for information exchange between Members to facilitate a thorough investigation regarding the issue of allegations against the Russian-flagged fishing vessel (FV) Palmer (CCAMLR-39, paragraph 6.11). No such group was established. New Zealand understands that the Russian Federation’s investigations are ongoing.

This paper summarises, for the Commission’s reference, the information that has been tabled to date in support of those investigations including regarding activities in January 2020 that led to New Zealand’s recommendation to include FV Palmer on the CP-IUU Vessel List (COMM CIRCs 20/47, 20/76, 20/130, 20/135 and 20/149 and in CCAMLR-39/11 Rev. 1), and further investigation of the 2017 pre-season fishing activities.

The New Zealand Government undertakes regular aerial surveillance patrols in the Ross Sea region in support of CCAMLR’s fisheries management and conservation objectives. This paper summarises the two aerial patrol activities carried out during the 2020/21 toothfish fisheries season by New Zealand.

This paper provides an update of the latest considerations for the D1MPA proposal during the 2020-2021 intersessional period. It explores the proposal in the context of the expiration of CM 51-07, the new krill fishery management strategy under development, and the risk assessment framework where D1MPA provides a solid scenario for the spatial allocation of catch with a low risk to predators and the fishery (WG-EMM-21). Additionally, the paper sets up the initial stages for the development of a comprehensive and multinational Research and Monitoring Plan (RMP) that would seek to generate synergies between national Antarctic programs, multinational initiatives, NGOs and the fishing industry.

The Secretariat reviewed the quality and consistency of the port inspections and System of Inspection Reports received during the CCEP period of 01 July 2020 to 30 June 2021. Recommendations for the improvements for inspection reports are given.