SC-CAMLR-XXXI

The Chair (Dr C. Jones, USA) will open the meeting and welcome delegations of CCAMLR Members and observers. International organisations invited to the meeting are listed in Agenda Item 10.2. The organisation of the meeting, chairing and local arrangements will be discussed.

The Preliminary Agenda for the Thirty-first Meeting of the Scientific Committee was prepared and distributed in accordance with Rule 5 of the Scientific Committee’s Rules of Procedure (SC-CIRC 12/44). This Provisional Agenda has been prepared, taking account of Members’ additions and comments in accordance with Rule 7 of the Rules of Procedure.

The Chair will report on intersessional activities undertaken since the Thirtieth Meeting (SC-CAMLR-XXX).

The Convener of WG-SAM (Dr S. Hanchet, New Zealand) will present the 2012 WG‑SAM report, noting that the outcomes of the deliberations of advice from WG-SAM to WG-EMM and WG-FSA will be further considered at the appropriate point in the Agenda.

The Scientific Committee will consider the 2012 SG-ASAM report and determine the need for a meeting of SG-ASAM in 2013 arising from the deliberations of WG-EMM.

The Scientific Committee will advise the Commission on matters of relevance to the development of statistics, assessments, modelling and survey methods.

Data reported for the current season, as well as any updates to the notifications for krill fisheries in the 2012/13 season will be presented, including advice from WG-EMM. Members will be invited to inform the Scientific Committee of updated information relating to those notifications, as well as any relevant developments and trends in krill fisheries in the Convention Area.

The Conveners of WG-EMM (Dr S. Kawaguchi, Australia, and Dr G. Watters, USA) will present the relevant sections of the 2012 WG‑EMM report, including issues relating to feedback management of the krill fishery and catch monitoring.

The Scientific Committee will provide scientific advice to the Commission.

Fishery data and related information for the current season will be presented. Members will be invited to inform the Scientific Committee of recent developments and trends in finfish fisheries in the Convention Area.

The Convener of WG-FSA (Dr M. Belchier, UK) will present the sections of the 2012 WG-FSA report dealing with the assessment of fish resources. The Scientific Committee will consider the advice of WG-FSA with respect to the assessment of target fish species.

The Scientific Committee will provide scientific advice to the Commission.

By-catch data and related information for the current season will be presented. Members will be invited to inform the Scientific Committee of recent developments and trends in by‑catch from fisheries in the Convention Area.

The Scientific Committee will consider the recommendations of WG‑FSA on developments in fishing methods, education and other matters relevant to by-catch in CCAMLR fisheries.

Fishing activities in new and exploratory fisheries in the 2011/12 season will be reviewed taking into account the advice of WG-SAM, WG‑EMM and WG‑FSA.

Notifications for new and exploratory fisheries in the 2012/13 season will be reviewed taking into account the advice WG-SAM and WG‑FSA on the research proposals associated with data-poor exploratory fisheries.

The Scientific Committee will provide advice concerning new and exploratory fisheries.

The Scientific Committee will consider relevant parts of the WG-FSA report on incidental mortality of seabirds and marine mammals arising from fisheries.

The Scientific Committee will consider the relevant parts of the WG-FSA report on the impacts of marine debris and lost fishing gear in the Convention Area.

The Scientific Committee will provide scientific advice to the Commission.

The Scientific Committee will provide scientific advice to the Commission.

The Scientific Committee will review outcomes from the three MPA technical workshops held during the intersessional period (SC-CAMLR-XXX, paragraph 5.20). The Scientific Committee will consider progress towards the implementation of a representative network of marine protected areas in the CAMLR Convention Area.

The Scientific Committee will provide scientific advice to the Commission.

The Convener of WG-FSA will report on information available to provide IUU catch estimates used for stock assessment purposes, and recent trends in IUU fishing effort as prepared by the Secretariat and considered by WG-FSA (SC-CAMLR-XXX, Annex 7, paragraph 3.24).

The Scientific Committee will provide advice to SCIC and the Commission, as appropriate.

The Secretariat will summarise data received in accordance with the Scheme of International Scientific Observation in the 2011/12 season.  The Conveners of WG-EMM and WG-FSA will present the relevant sections of their reports.

The operation of the Scheme, including the scientific objectives and priorities for the deployment of CCAMLR international scientific observers during the 2012/13 season, will be reviewed.

The Scientific Committee will consider the advice from WG‑EMM on the implementation of a comprehensive program for systematic observer coverage in the krill fishery (SC-CAMLR-XXIX, paragraphs 3.17 and 3.18).

The Scientific Committee will consider progress with the COTPAS (SC‑CAMLR-XXX, paragraphs 7.19 and 7.20).

The Scientific Committee will advise the Commission on matters of relevance to the implementation of the Scheme and its objectives.

The Scientific Committee will consider advice from WG-SAM, WG-EMM and WG‑FSA on the three key issues relating to specific advice to the Commission on appropriate management responses to climate change (SC-CAMLR-XXVII, paragraph 7.14).

The Scientific Committee will provide scientific advice to the Commission, as appropriate.

The Scientific Committee will consider the advice of WG-FSA on Members’ notifications on the scientific research surveys conducted in 2011/12 and review other information relevant to Conservation Measure 24-01. The Scientific Committee will, in particular, consider advice from WG-SAM and WG-FSA on future surveys proposed under Conservation Measure 24-01 to ensure that they are consistent with the intended purpose of the measure (SC-CAMLR-XXVI, paragraph 9.11).

The Scientific Committee will provide scientific advice to the Commission, as appropriate.

The Scientific Committee will consider the report of the CEP Observer to SC-CAMLR on the ongoing collaboration on areas of common interest between CEP and SC‑CAMLR as discussed at CEP XV held in Hobart, Australia, in June 2012.

The Scientific Committee will discuss cooperation with SCAR based on reports received from the SCAR Observer to CCAMLR.

Reports will be received from representatives of international and non-governmental organisations present as observers at the Scientific Committee meeting. Those invited include: ACAP, ASOC, ARK, CCSBT, CEP, CITES, COLTO, CPPS, FAO, FFA, IATTC, ICCAT, IOC, IUCN, IWC, SCAR, SCOR, SEAFO, SPC, UNEP and WCPFC.

Reports of meetings of other international organisations during 2011/12 will be received.

The Scientific Committee will discuss the further development of cooperation with other international organisations and consider any proposals for cooperation received by the Scientific Committee under subitems 1 to 3 above.

Progress in addressing the outcomes of the Performance Review will be considered under Agenda Item 15.1.

The Scientific Committee will receive an update on the progress of the current scholarship recipient and consider the outcomes of the selection process for the second year of the scholarship scheme.

The financial implications of decisions taken during the meeting will be used to prepare a detailed Scientific Committee budget for 2013. This budget will be based on the costs of ongoing projects and new proposals and should include expenditure from Special Funds and other monies made available to the Scientific Committee as well as from the CCAMLR General Fund. A forecast budget for 2014 will also be discussed.

In developing its budget, the Scientific Committee will need to consider the working groups’ requirements for invited experts and other contracted work, including terms of reference, costing and expected outputs and reporting. The Scientific Committee will also review the Special Science Fund and its requirements for multi-year funding, and the Science Capacity Fund.

In accordance with established practice, the Chair will provide preliminary advice to SCAF and SCIC, and will receive advice on matters of relevance to the Scientific Committee from these standing committees, which will meet concurrently with the meeting of the Scientific Committee. The Scientific Committee will provide the Commission with summaries of its recommendations to SCIC and SCAF on matters relating to their work.

The Scientific Committee will consider the Secretariat’s report on work in support of the Scientific Committee, and will consider priorities for future work and requirements for the 2012/13 intersessional period.

The Scientific Committee will consider the prioritisation process for the schedule of work for WG-EMM, WG-FSA and WG-SAM, including the recommendations from conveners on the future work of their groups. The Scientific Committee will revise its priorities and timetable for future work (SC-CAMLR-XXX, paragraph 15.5, Table 6).

The intersessional activities of the Scientific Committee in 2012/13 will be discussed and planned. This will include identifying the dates and venues for meetings of working groups and other groups, the timing of data submission to the Secretariat, and a schedule of agreed actions to be undertaken by the Chair, conveners of working groups, Members and the Secretariat.

The Scientific Committee may also wish to outline a schedule of agreed activities planned for 2012/13 and beyond.

On the basis of advice from working group conveners, and in accordance with Rule 2 of the Rules of the Scientific Committee, the Scientific Committee will consider how invitations should be extended to scientists and other experts to attend intersessional meetings of its working groups.

The next meeting of the Scientific Committee will be held at CCAMLR Headquarters in Hobart from 21 to 25 October 2013. The Scientific Committee may wish to consider the duration of its next meeting following the decision of the Commission to change the duration of its meeting.

In accordance with Rule 8 of the Rules of Procedure of the Scientific Committee, an election will be held for one of two Vice-Chairs of the Scientific Committee for a term of two regular meetings (2013 and 2014).

The Scientific Committee will consider any other business.

The Scientific Committee will adopt the report of the Thirty-first Meeting.