WG-SAM-11

The Scientific Committee established WG-SAM during CCAMLR-XXV (SC-CAMLR-XXV, paragraph 13.12), with a directed emphasis on developing, refining, and evaluating quantitative approaches for all Antarctic marine living resources managed by CCAMLR. WG-SAM serves as a flexible technical group to address quantitative issues relevant to WGFSA, WG-EMM, and ad hoc WG-IMAF (SC-CAMLR-XXV, paragraphs 13.4 to 13.8). WGSAM is to provide advice necessary for the work of these working groups and the Scientific Committee.

Working papers submitted to WG-SAM, along with presentations and analyses conducted during the meeting, will form the basis for discussion and advice.

The terms of reference for the Working Group on Statistics, Assessments and Modelling (WG-SAM) are:

To provide advice to the Scientific Committee and its working groups on:

1. quantitative assessment methods, statistical procedures, and modelling approaches for the conservation of Antarctic marine living resources; and
2. the implementation and data requirements of such methods, procedures and approaches.

Background information to the organisation of WG-SAM is available in the report of SCCAMLR-XXVI on the following topics:

1. the process for determining what is within the remit of WG-SAM (SC-CAMLR-XXVI, paragraph 2.16 (ii, iii)), and
2. the approach for structuring the future work program of WG-SAM (SC-CAMLR-XXVI, paragraph 2.16(iv)).

Welcome to participants and overview of facilities, Secretariat’s offices, computer support, Internet access and extracurricular activities.

Amendments to and adoption of the meeting agenda, assignment of working papers to agenda items, appointment of rapporteurs and procedures for the production of the report and establishment of ad hoc subgroups if necessary.

The usual agenda has been structured generally to account for the areas of work most likely to engage WG-SAM:

1. estimation of parameters,
2. development of stock and other assessment methods,
3. review of statistical and analytical methods used by SC-CAMLR and its Working Groups,
4. development of tools for modelling populations, foodwebs and ecosystems, and
5. evaluation of management procedures and strategies (data collection, assessments and decision rules) for their ability to achieve objectives.

In 2011, WG-SAM has been tasked to focus its discussion primarily on research and assessment of toothfish stocks and will not be meeting for its usual length of time.

In its discussions last year on new and exploratory toothfish fisheries, the Scientific Committee considered further the development of a research framework for data-poor fisheries. It recommended that some specific elements of the work plan be considered as a high priority focus topic for WG-SAM in the coming intersessional period with the following terms of reference (SC-CAMLR-XXIX, paragraph 3.133):

WG-SAM focus topic: work plan for implementing research proposals for data-poor exploratory fisheries. To consider:

1. methods for evaluating capability of vessels and gear types to contribute to research outcomes and for calibrating vessels and gears, including specific case studies relevant to current exploratory fisheries such as in tag-recapture programs;
2. proposed research designs and data collection protocols for estimating stock status in data-poor exploratory fisheries;
3. methods for assessing stock status in data-poor exploratory fisheries.

Members are invited to submit papers relevant to these terms of reference for consideration of this focus topic. Discussion will begin on the first day and contribute to advice provided to WG-FSA and the Scientific Committee under Agenda Items 4 and 5.