SC-CAMLR-38

The Chair (Dr M. Belchier, UK) 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-eighth 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-seventh Meeting (SC-CAMLR-XXXVII).

The Co-conveners of WG-SAM (Dr S. Parker, New Zealand and Dr C. Péron, France) will present the 2019 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 advise the Commission on matters of relevance to the development of statistics, assessments and modelling.

The Convener of SG-ASAM (Dr X. Zhao, China) will present the 2019 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 advise the Commission on matters of relevance to 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 2019/20 season, will be presented, including relevant 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 C. Cárdenas, Chile) will present the relevant sections of the 2019 WG‑EMM report noting the priority issues for WG-EMM in 2019 identified in SC-CAMLR-XXXV, Table 1.

The Scientific Committee will provide scientific advice to the Commission in respect of krill resources.

Data and related information for the current season will be presented, including relevant advice from WG-FSA. 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 D. Welsford, Australia) will present the sections of the 2019 WG-FSA report dealing with the assessment of fish resources.

The Scientific Committee will provide scientific advice to the Commission on catch limits in the 2019/20 season for assessed fisheries.

Fishing activities in exploratory fisheries in the 2018/19 season and notifications for new and exploratory fisheries in the 2019/20 season will be reviewed, taking into account the advice of WG-SAM and WG‑FSA.

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

The Scientific Committee will provide scientific advice in relation to research in new, exploratory and other research fisheries.

The Scientific Committee will consider the advice of WG-FSA and WG-SAM on scientific research conducted in the 2018/19 season under CM 24-01 (noting that such research related to Dissostichus spp. will be covered under Agenda Item 3.2.3.1).

The Scientific Committee will consider proposals submitted under CM 24-01 to ensure all research proposed for the 2019/20 season is consistent with the intended purpose of the measure and is consistent with the requirements of CM 24-05.

The Scientific Committee will provide scientific advice to the Commission on research conducted under CM 24-01 and reported under CM 24-05.

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 and WG-EMM on developments in fishing methods, education and other matters relevant to by-catch in CCAMLR fisheries.

Data on incidental mortality of seabirds and marine mammals 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 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 advice on the implementation of CMs 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 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 related to the impacts, mitigation measures and limits in place relating to non-target catch in CCAMLR fisheries.

The Scientific Committee will consider scientific analysis relevant to the implementation of a representative system of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the CAMLR Convention Area, including the:

The Scientific Committee will provide scientific advice to the Commission on scientific analysis relevant to the implementation of a representative system of MPAs in the CAMLR Convention Area.

The Convener of WG-FSA will report on scientific information relevant to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activity in the Convention.

The Scientific Committee will provide scientific advice to the Standing Committee on Implementation and Compliance (SCIC) and the Commission.

The Secretariat will summarise data received in accordance with the Scheme of International Scientific Observation in the 2018/19 season. The Conveners of WG‑EMM and WG-FSA will present relevant sections of their reports.

The Scientific Committee will review recommendations for the operation of the scheme, including the scientific objectives and priorities for the deployment of CCAMLR international scientific observers during the 2019/20 season.

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 relevant scientific advice to the Commission on the impacts of climate change.

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.

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.

Invitations to attend SC-CAMLR-38 (see SC CIRC 19/56) were extended to the following intergovernmental organisations – ACAP, CCSBT, CEP, CITES, COMNAP, FAO, IATTC, ICCAT, IOC, INTERPOL, IUCN, IWC, South East Asia RPOA-IUU, SCAR, SCOR, SEAFO, SIOFA, SOOS, SPRFMO, UNEP and WCPFC and the following non-governmental organisations – ARK, ASOC, COLTO, IAATO and Oceanites Inc.

Reports of meetings of other international organisations during the 2018/19 intersessional period 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 Agenda Items 10.1 to 10.3.

The Scientific Committee will review invitations to representatives of international and non-governmental organisations to be present as observers at the next meeting of the Scientific Committee.

The financial implications of decisions taken during the meeting will be used to identify issues to be raised with the Standing Committee on Administration and Finance (SCAF) for funding during 2019/20.

This should include the costs of ongoing projects and new proposals, including expenditure from Special Funds and other monies made available to the Scientific Committee as well as from the CCAMLR General Fund. Budgetary items that have implications for longer-term funding will also be reviewed.

In developing its budget advice, the Scientific Committee will need to consider the working groups’ requirements for invited experts and review the use of 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 review its 2017–2020 strategic work plan (SC-CAMLR-XXXVI/BG/40).

The priorities for the intersessional activities of the Scientific Committee in 2019/20 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 consider its activities in light of the recommendations of the Second Performance Review and advise the Commission accordingly. 

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 next 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 invited experts and to representatives of international and non-governmental organisations to attend intersessional meetings of its working groups.

The Scientific Committee will consider the dates of its next meeting and the invitation of Observers to that meeting.

The Scientific Committee will consider the Secretariat’s report on work in support of the Scientific Committee during the 2018/19 intersessional period (see also Agenda Item 1.2) and will consider priorities for future work and requirements for the 2019/20 intersessional period.

At the 2019 meeting of the Scientific Committee Dr Belchier will complete his second two-year term as Scientific Committee Chair. In accordance with Rule 8 of the Rules of Procedure of the Scientific Committee, an election will be held for the Chair.

The Scientific Committee will consider the position of Vice-Chair in accordance with Rule 8 of its Rules of Procedure. Dr M. Santos (Argentina) was elected Vice-Chair in 2017 for the 2018 and 2019 meetings and is Senior Vice-Chair. Dr G. Zhu (China) was elected Vice-Chair in 2018 for the 2019 and 2020 meetings and is Junior Vice-Chair.

The Scientific Committee will consider any other business.

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