Candidate SMART criteria, with baselines and decision rules, for the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area

This document presents 46 candidate SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound) criteria for assessing the effectiveness of the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area (RSRMPA). Each criterion links to a specific objective from CM 91-05 paragraph 3, a generic objective from CM 91‑04 paragraph 2, a zone and geographic location from Annex 91-05/B, a baseline condition characterized from available data, and a decision rule that could affect the boundaries or management provisions of the RSRMPA or research relevant to it. In an attempt to be thorough, I propose at least one SMART criterion for each of the 32 combinations of specific objective and associated features or areas listed in Annex 91-05/B. I propose eleven candidates for the RSRMPA as a whole (Table 1), 29 for the General Protection Zone (GPZ, Table 2), ten for the Special Research Zone (SRZ, Table 3), and four for the Krill Research Zone (KRZ, Table 4). Eight candidates apply performance indicators that characterize the conservation statuses of animal populations occurring in the Ross Sea region, 29 apply indicators that characterize areal coverages of priority features or areas within the Ross Sea region and nine apply indicators of scientific productivity. I encourage colleagues to review the material presented here and propose revised or alternative SMART criteria for the RSRMPA. I recommend that WG‑EMM use the opportunity of its 2023 meeting to advise SC-CAMLR on SMART criteria that are applicable to the RSRMPA and endorsable in October 2023.