CCAMLR-XXXI

The meeting will open at 0900h on Tuesday, 23 October 2012.

The Chair of the Commission (Mr Terje Løbach, Norway) will welcome delegates from CCAMLR Members as well as observers from CCAMLR Acceding States. The Chair will also welcome observers from non-Contracting Parties and international organisations invited in accordance with the decision taken last year (CCAMLR-XXX, paragraphs 17.1 to 17.4) and further considerations in COMM CIRCs 12/71 and 12/86.

The Chair will introduce His Excellency the Honourable Peter Underwood AO, Governor of Tasmania, who will address the meeting.

Directly following the opening of the meeting, the Chair will deal with procedural matters before adjourning the Commission to allow the Scientific Committee, SCAF and SCIC to carry out their work.

The Preliminary Agenda for the Thirtieth-first Meeting of the Commission was prepared and distributed in accordance with Rule 15 of the Commission’s Rules of Procedure. This Provisional Agenda has been prepared, taking account of Members’ additions and comments in accordance with Rule 17 of the Rules of Procedure.

The Chair will report on intersessional activities.

Agenda Item 3 will be facilitated by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Implementation and Compliance (SCIC).

The Secretariat will present a summary of reports received from Members on the implementation of compliance-related provisions of conservation measures in force during 2011/12, including licensing of vessels, the System of Inspection, transhipment reports, the operation of C-VMS reporting, new and exploratory notifications and environmental and mitigation measures.

The Secretariat will also present a summary of at-sea inspections undertaken, the results of these inspections and comments received from Flag States. Flag States will be invited to present additional information, if any, with respect to inspections undertaken. The Commission will review the operation of the System of Inspection and consider any proposals received on the improvement of the System.

The Commission will review and assess Contracting Parties’ implementation of, and compliance with, conservation measures adopted by the Commission.

The Convener for the Development of a Compliance Evaluation Procedure (DOCEP) group will report on intersessional work undertaken during 2011/12 on the further development of a compliance evaluation procedure. The Commission will review the results of the intersessional work undertaken and consider options in respect of future work (CCAMLR-XXX, paragraph 8.9).

The Commission will consider any proposals for the revision of current compliance-related conservation measures or the adoption of any new measures.

The Commission will consider reports from the Secretariat and WG‑FSA on current levels of IUU catches in the Convention Area. The Commission will review the estimates and trends in IUU fishing activities in the Convention Area (CCAMLR-XXX, paragraphs 9.1 to 9.7).

The Commission will review reports submitted by Contracting and non-Contracting Parties on measures they have taken to avoid any undermining of the effectiveness of CCAMLR conservation measures resulting from activities of their vessels included in the IUU Vessel Lists adopted in 2011. 

The Commission will review information received on any vessels included in the Provisional List of IUU vessels for 2012 in accordance with Conservation Measures 10-06 and 10-07.

The Commission will review information in respect of any vessels to be retained on the Proposed List of IUU Vessels for 2012 and for any vessels which may be considered for removal from the IUU Vessel Lists adopted in 2011.

The Commission will consider the operation of the CDS during 2011/12. 

Agenda Item 4 will be facilitated by the Chair of the Standing Committee on Administration and Finance (SCAF).

The Commission will decide on the acceptance of the audited Financial Statements for 2011 in accordance with Financial Regulation 12.1.

The Commission will consider various financial and administrative matters affecting the Secretariat since CCAMLR-XXX.  These will include:

• Report from the Executive Secretary on the implementation of the Secretariat’s Strategic Plan (CCAMLR-XXX, Annex 5, paragraphs 9 to 21)
• Staff Regulations and Staff Contract Review (CCAMLR-XXX, Annex 5, paragraph 21).

The Commission will consider proposed changes to the adopted budget for 2012, adopt the budget for 2013 and note a forecast budget for 2014.  Issues associated with the Commission’s Contingency Fund, Special and Other Funds, including fees for new and exploratory fisheries applications, will be included in these considerations. Finalisation of the budget for 2012 and the forecast budget for 2014 will be done under Agenda Item 10 to accommodate issues with financial implications raised elsewhere in the agenda. 

Consistent with past practice, the Commission will consider the application of Financial Regulation 5.6 concerning the timing of Members’ contribution payments.

The Commission will review intersessional work undertaken by the SCAF Correspondence Group (SCAF-CG) in relation to the Financial Regulations (CCAMLR-XXX, paragraph 3.2).

The Chair of the Scientific Committee will introduce the report of the Thirty-first Meeting of the Scientific Committee containing advice and recommendations to the Commission in accordance with the Convention’s objectives.

In addition to a summary of catches in 2011/12 and management advice for 2012/13 the Commission will consider the following advice and recommendations of the Scientific Committee:

Catch uncertainty and estimating the green weight of krill caught (CCAMLR-XXX, paragraph 4.13), the collection and use of acoustic data from krill fishing vessels (CCAMLR-XXX, paragraph 4.5), recruitment variability and decision rules for management of the krill fishery (CCAMLR-XXX, paragraph 4.16), deployment of scientific observers in the krill fishery (CCAMLR-XXIX, paragraphs 4.20 to 4.23) and feedback management procedures for the krill fishery (CCAMLR-XXX, paragraph 4.17).

Catches of Dissostichus eleginoides outside the Convention Area (CCAMLR-XXIX, paragraph 4.36), further development of an assessment model for D. eleginoides in Division 58.5.1 (CCAMLR-XXX, paragraph 4.23) and biological research and management advice in respect of Champsocephalus gunnari in Subarea 48.3 and Division 58.5.2 (CCAMLR-XXX, paragraphs 4.29 to 4.31).

The Commission will:

• review the operation of exploratory fisheries in 2011/12 for toothfish in Subareas 48.6, 88.1 and 88.2, and Divisions 58.4.1, 58.4.2, 58.4.3a and 58.4.3b (CCAMLR-XXX, paragraph 2.26, Tables 1 and 2).
• consider notifications from Members for exploratory fisheries in the 2012/13 season, received in accordance with Conservation Measure 21‑01.
• consider the Scientific Committee’s advice and recommendations relating to exploratory fisheries, including the detailed research plans included in notifications for exploratory fisheries for Dissostichus spp. in Subareas 48.6 and 58.4 (CCAMLR-XXX, paragraphs 11.10 to 11.12).

The Commission will consider notifications from Members for new fisheries in the 2012/13 season, received in accordance with Conservation Measure 21-01.

The Commission will consider the advice and recommendations of the Scientific Committee on the outcomes of, and proposals for, research fishing in accordance with Conservation Measure 24-01.

The Commission will consider advice from SCIC and the Scientific Committee on incidence of marine debris, the incidental mortality of seabirds and marine mammals associated with fisheries and issues related to the compliance with relevant conservation measures.

The Commission will consider advice provided by the Scientific Committee and SCIC on the implementation of measures to avoid and mitigate significant adverse impacts on vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs), including issues arising from the implementation of Conservation Measures 22-06 and 22-07 (CCAMLR-XXX, paragraphs 5.1 and 5.2).

The Commission will consider progress towards a representative system of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) within the Convention Area (CCAMLR-XXX, paragraph 12.38).

The Commission will review the outcomes of the Scientific Committee’s consideration of the three key issues relating to appropriate management responses to climate change (SC-CAMLR-XXVII, paragraph 7.14; CCAMLR-XXIX, paragraph 13.8).

The Commission will receive advice from the Scientific Committee in relation to the CCAMLR General Science Capacity Fund and the CCAMLR Scientific Scholarship Scheme (CCAMLR-XXX, paragraphs 15.2 and 15.6 to 15.8).

The Commission will consider advice from the Scientific Committee and any other available information on the implementation of the Scheme, including recommendations to ensure that the Scheme continues to meet its objectives in an efficient and effective way.

The Commission will review conservation measures in force in light of the advice received under Agenda Item 3 and from the Scientific Committee in relation to experiences implementing measures during the 2011/12 season. Particular attention will be paid to:

• review of the catch limits in the exploratory fisheries in Divisions 58.4.1 and 58.4.2 (CCAMLR-XXX, paragraph 12.33)
• review of research plans for vessels participating in exploratory fisheries for Dissostichus spp. in Subareas 48.6 and 58.4 and general measures for exploratory fisheries for Dissostichus spp. (CCAMLR-XXX, paragraph 12.9)
• general measure for scientific observation in krill fisheries (CCAMLR-XXX, paragraph 12.15).

Where appropriate, the Secretariat will report on proposals for the revision of existing measures which were prepared intersessionally in consultation with Members.

Conservation measures not already addressed in the course of the Commission’s deliberations under other agenda items will be discussed under this subitem.

Since 1996 the Commission has agreed that specific reflection on the objectives of the Convention continues to be an important requisite of each annual meeting. The Commission will consider proposals submitted for discussion under this item. It will also consider any progress made with respect to the various strategic discussions at CCAMLR-XXIV (as a consequence of the 2005 CCAMLR Symposium – CCAMLR-XXIV, paragraphs 16.11 to 16.18), CCAMLR-XXV (CCAMLR-XXV, paragraphs 17.1 to 17.5) and arising from the CCAMLR Performance Review at CCAMLR-XXVI (CCAMLR-XXVI, paragraphs 17.1 to 17.20), CCAMLR-XXVII (CCAMLR-XXVII, paragraphs 17.1 to 17.18), CCAMLR-XXVIII (CCAMLR-XXVIII, paragraphs 16.1 to 16.25), CCAMLR-XXIX (CCAMLR-XXIX, paragraphs 15.1 to 15.9) and CCAMLR-XXX (CCAMLR-XXX, paragraphs 15.1 to 15.12).

The Commission will consider the status of recommendations arising from the CCAMLR Performance Review undertaken in 2008 (CCAMLR-XXVI, paragraph 17.20 and Annex 7; CCAMLR-XXVII, paragraphs 17.9, 17.10, 17.14 and 17.18; CCAMLR-XXVIII, paragraphs 16.2 to 16.20; CCAMLR-XXIX, paragraphs 15.1 to 15.9 and CCAMLR-XXX, paragraphs 15.1 to 15.12). The Commission has tasked the Secretariat with providing a progress report on matters (papers, activities and actions) arising from the Performance Review Report (CCAMLR-XXIX, paragraph 15.7 and Report of the CCAMLR Performance Review Panel).

CCAMLR was represented at the Thirty-fifth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Party Meeting (ATCM-XXXV) (11 to 20 June 2012, Hobart, Australia).  The Executive Secretary will report on the meeting. CEP collaboration with SC‑CAMLR will be covered in the SC‑CAMLR report.

Future cooperation between CCAMLR and other parts of the Antarctic Treaty System will be discussed along with participation in the meetings of the ATCM and CEP in 2013.

In addition, the CCAMLR Observer to SCAR and the SCAR Observer to CCAMLR will be invited to report briefly on recent SCAR initiatives of interest to CCAMLR.

Future cooperation and participation in the meetings of SCAR and its relevant subsidiary bodies will be discussed. 

The Commission will consider the Scientific Committee’s advice on assessment of any draft management plans for protected areas with a marine area component proposed under the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty and submitted to CCAMLR for approval. 

The following international organisations have been invited to attend CCAMLR-XXXI as observers: ACAP, CCSBT, CEP, CITES, CPPS, FAO, FFA, IATTC, ICCAT, IOC, IUCN, IWC, SCAR, SCOR, SEAFO, SPC, UNEP and WCPFC.

The following non-governmental organisations have also been invited to attend CCAMLR-XXXI: ASOC and COLTO.

Their reports will have been tabled. Representatives of these and other organisations present at the meeting will be invited to present key items from their reports. A maximum of five minutes will be allocated to each such report. The reports from the CEP and SCAR Observers will have been received by the Scientific Committee.

Reports from CCAMLR representatives at the 2011/12 meetings of various international organisations (CCAMLR-XXX, paragraph 14.7) will be received.

The Commission will review cooperation between CCAMLR and ACAP. The ACAP Observer will be invited to present a short report.

The Commission will review any further developments regarding cooperation between CCAMLR and CCSBT, CCAMLR and WCPFC and potential cooperation between CCAMLR and SPRFMO.

Taking into account discussion arising during Agenda Item 4(iii), the advice of the Scientific Committee and other budgetary-related matters agreed during the meeting, the Commission will adopt a budget for 2013 and a forecast budget for 2014.

The Executive Secretary’s first four-year term will conclude in April 2014. He is eligible for reappointment. CCAMLR-XXXI is invited to consider the process to support selection of an Executive Secretary at CCAMLR-XXXII, if necessary.

The current Chair, Mr Terje Løbach, will complete his first two-year term as Chair at the conclusion of CCAMLR-XXXI. In accordance with Rule 8 of the Commission’s Rules of Procedure, a Commission Chair must be elected to serve from the end of CCAMLR-XXXI until the conclusion of the Commission’s 2014 meeting. Mr Løbach is eligible for re-election for one additional term.

The Commission will consider the selection of a Chair and Vice-Chair for SCIC for the next two years to facilitate discussion under Agenda Item 3.

Since 1994 the Commission has addressed the invitation of observers to its next meeting under this agenda item (CCAMLR-XIII, paragraph 13.7). Acceding States, non-Contracting Parties and international organisations to be invited to CCAMLR-XXXII will be identified.

The Thirty-second Meeting of the Commission will be held at the CCAMLR Headquarters building (181 Macquarie Street) in Hobart from 22 to 31 October 2013.

The report of the Thirty-first Meeting will be considered and adopted.

The meeting is scheduled to close at 1600 h on Thursday, 1 November 2012.