Two scientific research voyages were undertaken on board the RRS James Clark Ross in the South Orkney Islands region during the 2015/16 austral summer. These surveys together involved scientific collaborators from 11 countries, including 9 CCAMLR Members. This major research effort will inform the further development of spatial management, including feedback management of the krill fishery, in this region.

The South Orkneys Ecosystems Studies cruise (SOES, Jan-Feb 2016) was led by the UK and Norway, and focused on the krill-based ecosystem in the main fishing area in Subarea 48.2 undertaken in the austral summer of 2015-16. It collected at-sea data on the distribution, abundance and behaviour of krill and its predators across a range of temporal and spatial scales using acoustics, nets and cameras. The research vessel data are linked to complementary studies undertaken from a commercial fishing vessel and field camps on Monroe Island, Powell Island and at Signy where satellite tracking of penguins and fur seals was undertaken. These data sets and the expected outputs will provide key information on important interactions between krill, krill predators and the commercial fishery that will be an important contribution to developing spatial management and krill feedback management strategies.

The South Orkneys State of the Antarctic Ecosystem cruise (SO-AntEco, Feb-Mar 2016) was led by the UK, and aimed to investigate the distribution and composition of the benthic communities associated with different geomorphic features both within and outside the South Orkney Islands Southern Shelf (SOISS) Marine Protected Area (MPA). The expedition used a range of scientific sampling gear and video and photographic equipment to investigate species diversity, assemblage composition, abundance and habitat zonation along the shelf break of the South Orkney Islands. The results from these investigations will enable us to ascertain whether there are characteristic indicator species prevalent in each proxy geomorphic habitat. The expedition also aimed to map the locations and distributions of all species found that were identified as VME indicator taxa.

The Delegation of Germany presents to the Scientific Committee the scientific background in support of the development of a marine protected area (MPA) in the Weddell Sea planning area. In accordance with the recommendations by WG-EMM-14 (SC-CAMLR-XXIII, Annex 6), this was done in three separate documents (Part A-C). SC-CAMLR-XXXV/BG/11 (Part A) sets out the general context of the establishment of CCAMLR-MPAs and provides the background information on the Weddell Sea MPA (WSMPA) planning area; SC-CAMLR-XXXV/BG/12 (Part B) informs on the data retrieval process and SC-CAMLR-XXXV/BG/13 (Part C) describes the methods and the results of the scientific analyses as well as the development of the objectives and finally of the borders for the WSMPA.

Earlier versions of Parts A-C were already presented at the meetings of EMM in 2015 and 2016 and SC-CAMLR in 2015. At the CCAMLR meeting in 2015 the Scientific Committee did recognise that the body of science of the background documents (SC-CAMLR-XXXIV/BG/15, BG/16, BG/17) provides the necessary foundation for developing a WSMPA proposal (SC-CAMLR-XXXIV, § 5.11), which is being submitted separately to 35th meeting of the CAMLR Commission.

Here, the Delegation of Germany presents Part C to the Scientific Committee. Part C has been further revised in the light of comments received at the above mentioned meetings and in the 2015/16 intersessional period. Chapter 1 shows a revision of the data analysis including, for example, a new data layer on the Antarctic toothfish habitat. Chapter 2 provides an update of the MPA scenario development incorporating a newly compiled cost layer.

According to the experience gained in the first phase of the research and observations made by WG-SAM-16, a new proposal is provided to determine the distribution and abundance of fish in subareas 48.1 and 48.2. In this opportunity, the study area includes the continental shelf and slope north of Elephant Island and north of South Orkney Islands, between 100 and 500 m of depth (Depth strata: 101-200 m, 201-260 m; 261-320 m, 320-380 m, 381-440, and 441-500 m). The sampling area was divided in daily stages of operation, performed with a midwater trawl, with six random spatially distributed hauls in each stratum depth. With the data obtained in each subarea, the density of fish resources will be determined using the Delta method. Additionally, in a delimited sector north of Elephant Island, the catch composition and performance of the midwater trawl will be compared with the bottom trawl previously used by the US AMLR Program, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, USA. Besides, acoustic information will be continuously recorded in magnetic archives during the whole navigation track between sampling stations, during respective trawls and at night in each sampling operation unit. Likewise, during the cruise, sampling for biological studies (stomachs, gonads and otoliths) of the main species of fish caught will continue.

The Delegation of Germany presents to the Scientific Committee the scientific background in support of the development of a marine protected area (MPA) in the Weddell Sea planning area. In accordance with the recommendations by WG-EMM-14 (SC-CAMLR-XXIII, Annex 6), this was done in three separate documents (Part A-C). SC-CAMLR-XXXV/BG/11 (Part A) sets out the general context of the establishment of CCAMLR-MPAs and provides the background information on the Weddell Sea MPA (WSMPA) planning area; SC-CAMLR-XXXV/BG/12 (Part B) informs on the data retrieval process and SC-CAMLR-XXXV/BG/13 (Part C) describes the methods and the results of the scientific analyses as well as the development of the objectives and finally of the borders for the WSMPA.

Earlier versions of Parts A-C were already presented at the meetings of EMM in 2015 and 2016 and SC-CAMLR in 2015. At the CCAMLR meeting in 2015 the Scientific Committee did recognise that the body of science of the background documents provides the necessary foundation for developing a WSMPA proposal (SC-CAMLR-XXXIV, § 5.11), which is being submitted separately to 35th meeting of the CAMLR Commission.

Here, the Delegation of Germany presents to the Scientific Committee the final version of Part B that provides a systematic overview of the environmental (chapter 1) and ecological data sets (chapter 2) acquired for the WSMPA planning. Part B has been further revised in the light of comments received at the above mentioned meetings. Final additions in the 2015/16 intersessional period include some newly acquired data sets on e.g. seabirds and demersal fish.

The Delegation of Germany presents to the Scientific Committee the scientific background in support of the development of a marine protected area (MPA) in the Weddell Sea planning area. In accordance with the recommendations by WG-EMM-14 (SC-CAMLR-XXIII, Annex 6), this was done in three separate documents (Part A-C). SC-CAMLR-XXXV/BG/11 (Part A) sets out the general context of the establishment of CCAMLR-MPAs and provides the background information on the Weddell Sea MPA (WSMPA) planning area; SC-CAMLR-XXXV/BG/12 (Part B) informs on the data retrieval process and SC-CAMLR-XXXV/BG/13 (Part C) describes the methods and the results of the scientific analyses as well as the development of the objectives and finally of the borders for the WSMPA.

Earlier versions of Parts A-C were already presented at the meetings of EMM in 2015 and 2016 and SC-CAMLR in 2015. At the CCAMLR meeting in 2015 the Scientific Committee did recognise that the body of science of the background documents provides the necessary foundation for developing a WSMPA proposal (SC-CAMLR-XXXIV, § 5.11), which is being submitted separately to 35th meeting of the CAMLR Commission.

Here, the Delegation of Germany presents the final version of Part A to the Scientific Committee. Part A has undergone final editorial corrections in the 2015/16 intersessional period and contains (i) a synopsis in terms of the establishment of MPAs (chapter 1); (ii) a description of the boundaries of the WSMPA planning area (chapter 2); (iii) a comprehensive, yet succinct, general description of the Weddell Sea ecosystem (chapter 3); (iv) and finally a guidance regarding the future work beyond the development of the scientific basis for the evaluation of a WSMPA (chapter 4).

SCAR is an interdisciplinary body of the International Council for Science (ICSU), and currently includes 43 member countries and nine ICSU unions. SCAR encourages new members with an interest in Antarctic science.

SCAR’s Mission is to advance Antarctic research, including observations from Antarctica, and to promote scientific knowledge, understanding and education on any aspect of the Antarctic region and its role in the Earth System. SCAR also provides independent and objective scientific advice and information to the Antarctic Treaty System and other bodies and facilitates the international exchange of Antarctic information within the scientific community.

SCAR and CCAMLR have a history of cooperation, and have recently met on several occasions to strengthen the relationship by identifying current questions of mutual interest. The importance of mutually beneficial interactions and information exchange was re-affirmed at meetings of the two groups at the joint CEP/SC-CAMLR Workshop on Climate Change in Punta Arenas (See SC-CAMLR-XXXV/07), and less formally at the recent SCAR Open Science Conference held in Malaysia.

While there is a diverse range of SCAR research currently underway that is relevant to SC-CAMLR, here we restrict our focus to a few key areas, with an emphasis on those that have been identified as priorities or key areas of interest. Some of the more relevant outputs and/or activities include:

-    The development of priority variables for observing dynamics and change in the Southern Ocean; -    A broad scale analyses of Antarctic animal tracking data; -    A research voyage around the South Orkney Plateau,; -    Southern Ocean ecosystem dynamics and environmental change; -    Changes in macrozooplankton populations in the West Antarctic Peninsula; and -    Analyses of past and future melting Antarctic ice sheets 6.

In the report, which is updated paper WG-EMM-16/55, we describe the season activity in the Ukrainian Vernadsky Antarctic Station area on installation CEMP cameras in penguin colonies as part of the CEMP project run by USA, Argentina, Poland and Ukraine 'Establishing a CEMP Camera Network in Subarea 48.1'. Work has been provided under support of the National Antarctic Scientific Center of Ukraine that is operating Vernadsky Station. In season 2015/2016 we installed nine cameras at penguine colonies at Petermann, Yalour and Galindez Islands to monitor pengiune nests for breeding success and chronology. Cameras have been installed in the middle of breeding season due to late arrival and hard ice conditions in Argentine Islands area. In time of cameras establishing in all colonies the penguine chicks were in the nests already. We will receive photo sequences for all breeding activity the next season in 2016/2017. The training of winterers-biologists has been provided for CEMP rules activity and for monitoring that can assist with camera data validation. Winteres will fullfill the observations of gentoo penguin activity and breeding at Galindez Island sites start from early season in October-November 2016.

This paper provides local biomass estimates for D. mawsoni and D. eleginoides in the research nlocks in Subareas 48.6 and 58.4 using the methods agreed to at WG-SAM-16. The methods used to generate the biomass estimates are fully documented from the provison of data extracts (with associated metadata) through to the final results.

Robust stock assessments and catch limits according to CCAMLR decision rules remain to be determined for Divisions 58.4.1 and 58.4.2, and precautionary management arrangements are in place as set out in Conservation Measures 41-11 and 41-05. Multiple exploratory fishing research plans are currently in place by Australia (commenced 2015/16), France (commencing 2016/17), Japan (commencing 2016/17), Republic of Korea (commenced 2012/13) and Spain (commenced 2012/13). To facilitate progress towards stock assessment for Divisions 58.4.1 and 58.4.2, WG-SAM-16 welcomed plans for increased coordination between all proponents of research in these Divisions (WG-SAM-16 para. 3.12). Accordingly, a single consolidated research plan in being developed that outlines the collective research objectives and activities of Australia, France, Japan, Republic of Korea and Spain (hereafter referred to as the participating Members). This research plan has been submitted as a companion paper to WG-FSA-16. Separate reports on the progress of data collection and/or preliminary data analyses were presented by individual participating Members to WG-SAM-16 (WG-SAM-16/09; 16/01; 16/02; 16/04; 16/05; 16/17 and 16/10). The purpose of this paper is to provide a summary of all exploratory fishing activities and the volume of data collected up to the 2015/16 season in Divisions 58.4.1 and 58.4.2, and evaluate the collective progress towards stock assessments. A total of 897 research lines were completed over 10 fishing expeditions between 3 November 2011 and 14 April 2016. Total catches of Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) and Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) were 894.5 and 2.3 tonnes, respectively. Macroscopic evaluation of maturity stage indicated that both immature and mature (gonad stage ≥ 3) D. mawsoni were present across all Research Blocks. The most commonly caught bycatch group was grenadiers (Macrourus spp.), followed by icefish (Channichthyidae), moray cods (Muraenolepis spp.) and violet cod (Antimora rostrata). Target and bycatch species were sampled for total length, whole weight, sex and gonad stage in accordance with Conservation Measure 41-01. A total of 4585 D. mawsoni and 49 D. eleginoides were tagged and released between 5 January 2008 and 20 March 2016, and 19 D. mawsoni were recaptured. The 2015/16 season also included the deployment of underwater video cameras by Australia, along with CTD recorders, to improve our understanding of toothfish habitat use along East Antarctica.