A PROPOSAL TO AMEND CONSERVATION MEASURE 21-03 WITH REGARDS TO THE USE OF NEW FISHING GEAR IN THE KRILL FISHERIES (AND SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENT TO CONSERVATION MEASURE 21-01)

At CCAMLR XXVI there was significant discussion in the Commission regarding a notification to conduct pair trawling operations in the krill fisheries in the 2007/08 season. During the discussion it was suggested that as the pair trawling method had not previously been used in the CCAMLR Area and there were no established data collection and analysis methods, the use of pair trawling in the CCAMLR Area constituted a new fishery. To clarify the CCAMLR requirements with regards to new fishing gear, and to ensure a clear and consistent approach to all CCAMLR fisheries, Australia proposes that a footnote be attached to the section on “Fishing technique” in Annex A of Conservation Measure 21-03 such that a krill fishing notification using new fishing gear should be notified under Conservation Measure 21-01.