The orderly development of the krill fishery

During deliberations at CCAMLR XXV on revising the precautionary catch limit for krill in Statistical Division 58.4.2 Australia noted that while the scientific data supported an increase, such a large increase required the inclusion of other elements in the conservation measure to facilitate the orderly and precautionary development of the fishery. Australia has this year submitted papers to the WG-EMM and SCIC which outline the scientific and compliance requirements that Australia considers critical to the orderly and precautionary development of the krill fishery. In summary Australia recommends that: o Krill stock surveys be undertaken in areas with no precautionary catch limits in order to establish a catch limit before fishing is prosecuted in these areas. o Small-scale management units be established to minimise localised impacts on krill predators prior to a threshold being reached. o A threshold capacity be established for the fishery relative to the catch limits (small or large scale spatial limits). o A program to monitor and observe krill catch and by-catch be developed. o Vessels carrying krill be subject to port inspections by amending CM 10-03 so that it applies to the krill fishery. o Transhipment operations be overseen by the flag State, similar to the unloading of catches at port in CM 10-03. o Krill fishing vessels be required to carry a VMS device onboard and automatically report their positions by amending CM 10-04 to apply to the krill fishery. o Components of CM 21-02 be applied to CM 21-03 so that more rigorous assessment of notifications of intent to fish for krill can be achieved. Australia considers that CCAMLR cannot meet its objective, nor can the orderly development of the krill fishery be achieved, unless the scientific and compliance requirements listed above are adopted as integral components of managing the krill fishery.