SC-CAMLR-XXXIV

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-fourth Meeting of the Scientific Committee was prepared and distributed in accordance with Rule 5 of the Scientific Committee’s Rules of Procedure. 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 Thirty-third Meeting (SC-CAMLR-XXXIII).

The Convener of WG-SAM (Dr S. Parker, New Zealand) will present the 2015 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 Convener of SG-ASAM (Dr X. Zhao, China) will present the 2015 SG-ASAM report, noting progress with further consideration of the use of fishing vessels to collect acoustic data for use in estimating krill biomass and in understanding the distribution and patterns of occurrence of krill. The outcomes of the deliberations of SG-ASAM from WG-EMM will be further considered at the appropriate point in the Agenda. The Scientific Committee will determine the need for a meeting of SG-ASAM in 2016.

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

Data reported for the current season, as well as any updates to the notifications for krill fisheries in the 2015/16 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 Convener of WG-EMM (Dr S. Kawaguchi, Australia) will present the relevant sections of the 2015 WG-EMM report, including issues relating to feedback management of the krill fishery, catch monitoring and estimation of green weight.

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 2015 WG-FSA report dealing with the assessment of fish resources. The Scientific Committee will consider the advice of WG-FSA with respect to the assessments for Dissostichus spp. and C. gunnari.

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.

The Scientific Committee will provide scientific advice to the Commission.

Fishing activities in exploratory fisheries in the 2014/15 season will be reviewed taking into account the advice of WG-SAM and WG-FSA.

Notifications for new and exploratory fisheries in the 2015/16 season will be reviewed, including the advice of WG-SAM and WG-FSA in relation to proposals for research in data-poor exploratory fisheries.

The Scientific Committee will review advice from WG-SAM and WG-FSA on the progress towards assessments in data-poor exploratory fisheries and research in other areas (including research conducted under Conservation Measure 24-01) designed to provide future assessments of Dissostichus spp.

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

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

The Scientific Committee will consider the occurrence and impact of marine debris, including any advice from WG-FSA in respect of reports of lost fishing gear in the Convention Area.

The Scientific Committee will provide scientific advice to the Commission.

The Scientific Committee will consider advice on the implementation of Conservation Measures 22-05, 22-06, 22-07, 22-08 and 22-09 and other matters pertaining to CCAMLR’s actions in respect of bottom fishing and vulnerable marine ecosystems.

The Scientific Committee will provide scientific advice to the Commission.

The Scientific Committee will consider scientific analysis relevant to the implementation of a representative system 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 scientific information relevant to IUU fishing activity in the Convention Area, including the analysis of trends in IUU fishing activity as prepared by the Secretariat and considered by WG-FSA.

The Scientific Committee will provide scientific advice to SCIC and the Commission.

The Secretariat will summarise data received in accordance with the Scheme of International Scientific Observation in the 2014/15 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 2015/16 season, will be reviewed.

The Scientific Committee will review progress on the implementation of the recommendations of the CCAMLR SISO Review (SC-CAMLR-XXXII paragraphs 7.9 and 7.10) and the implementation of the CCAMLR Observer Training Program Accreditation Process (COTPAS) (SC-CAMLR-XXXIII, paragraph 6.5).

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 science required to inform management responses to climate change (SC-CAMLR-XXVII, paragraphs 8.1 to 8.10).

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

The Scientific Committee will consider the advice of WG-FSA and WG-SAM on scientific research conducted in 2014/15 under Conservation Measure (CM) 24-01 (noting that such research related to Dissostichus spp. will be covered in Agenda Item 3.4.3).

The Scientific Committee will consider proposals submitted under CM 24-01 to ensure all research proposed for 2015/16 is consistent with the intended purpose of the measure.

The Scientific Committee will provide scientific advice to the Commission.

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, including the proposal for a second Joint CEP–SC-CAMLR Workshop, as discussed at CEP XVIII held in Sofia, Bulgaria, in June 2015.

The Scientific Committee will discuss cooperation with SCAR as well as the 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, ARK, ASOC, CCSBT, CEP, CITES, COLTO, COMNAP, FAO, IATTC, ICCAT, IOC, IUCN, IWC, RPOA-IUU, SCAR, SCOR, SEAFO, SIOFA, SPRFMO, UNEP and WCPFC.

Reports of meetings of other international organisations during 2014/15 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 10.1 to 10.3 above.

The financial implications of decisions taken during the meeting will be used to prepare a detailed Scientific Committee budget for 2015/16. 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.

In developing its budget, the Scientific Committee will need to consider the budgetary aspects of working groups’ requirements for invited experts and review the science-related special funds.

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.

The Scientific Committee will consider the prioritisation process for its work, including the schedule of work for SG-ASAM, 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.

The intersessional activities of the Scientific Committee in 2015/16 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 during the intersessional period by the Chair, conveners of working groups, Members and the Secretariat.

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

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 relevant experts and observers to attend intersessional meetings of its working groups.

The Scientific Committee will consider the dates of its next meeting.

The Scientific Committee will consider the Secretariat’s report on work in support of the Scientific Committee during 2014/15 (see Agenda Item 1.2), and will consider priorities for future work and requirements for the 2015/16 intersessional period.

In accordance with Rule 8 of the Rules of Procedure of the Scientific Committee, an election will be held for the Chair and one of the two Vice-Chairs of the Scientific Committee for a term of two regular meetings (2016 and 2017).

The Scientific Committee will consider any other business.

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