SCIC-2024

This paper, and its Annex, provides an updated report on the actions taken by CCAMLR in response to the Second Performance Review recommendations. The Commission and Scientific Committee are invited to approve revisions to the text.

In accordance with Conservation Measure (CM) 10-10, paragraph 2(i), and the procedure detailed in COMM CIRC 24/59, the Secretariat has prepared the Summary CCAMLR Compliance Report (Summary Report) based on the Draft CCAMLR Compliance Reports (Draft reports), responses received from Contracting Parties, and Contracting Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Mariana Cordeiro (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Approved By:
Ms Mariana Cordeiro (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Request Meeting Document

The annual review of SISO reports within the CCAMLR Compliance Evaluation Program (CCEP) has revealed inconsistencies between observed fishing gear on vessels and gear descriptions listed on the CCAMLR website. These discrepancies, noted during gear checks against Fisheries Operations Plans (FOP) and Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem (VME) assessments, complicate compliance Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Catherine Stubberfield (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Approved By:
Ms Catherine Stubberfield (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Request Meeting Document

The Secretariat regularly receives vessel sighting reports as per CM 10-02, paragraph 2. The Secretariat seeks the endorsement of a new form for the reports to be submitted on and to be advised if the Secretariat should explore options for reporting the sightings to Members.

This paper summarises information held by the Secretariat in relation to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and vessel activity relevant to CCAMLR from October 2023 to August 2024. Instances of unidentified fishing gear retrieved in the Convention Area are detailed in Annex 1. Communication to non-Contracting Parties and responses received are detailed in Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Catherine Stubberfield (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Approved By:
Ms Catherine Stubberfield (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Request Meeting Document

The Secretariat reviewed the quality and consistency of the port inspections and System of Inspection Reports received during the CCEP period of 01 July 2023 to 30 June 2024. Recommendations for the improvements for inspection reports are given.

This paper reviews the implementation of the non-Contracting Party (NCP) Engagement Strategy for 2023–2024. It is noted that the Secretariat has received a number of responses to the different engagement activities undertaken during this period. An NCP Engagement Strategy for 2025–2026 has been proposed which continues NCP engagement to include States which are involved in the harvest of any Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Mariana Cordeiro (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Approved By:
Ms Mariana Cordeiro (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Request Meeting Document

As recommended by the Commission (SCIC-2023, paragraph 32, CCAMLR-42/11), the CCAMLR Secretariat facilitated the review and renewal of search and rescue (SAR) Arrangements held between the CCAMLR Secretariat and relevant maritime rescue coordination centres (MRCCs). In addition to this work, an improved system for authorised users has been developed, with the goal of enhancing the data request Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Mariana Cordeiro (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Approved By:
Ms Mariana Cordeiro (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Request Meeting Document

The inclusion of a cross reference to a requirement within CM 41-10 and CM 41-01, Annex B, has inadvertently created inconsistencies with historic cross references between various other conservation measures (CM 41-01, Annex B, CM 41-09 and CM 41-10). A revision to CM 41-01, Annex B and CM 41-10 is suggested to re-align and clarify the respective Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Mariana Cordeiro (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Approved By:
Ms Mariana Cordeiro (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Request Meeting Document

The final catch of krill in CCAMLR Subarea 48.1 for the 2023/24 season exceeded the established catch limit by 6.22%, totalling 164,645 tonnes. This paper examines the circumstances leading to this overrun, outlining the reporting procedures and communication protocols in place regarding the fishery closure.

This paper presents an update of the expenditure from the Catch Documentation Scheme for Dissostichus spp. (CDS) Fund in 2024 and three proposals to be considered for approval by the CDS Fund Review Panel.

The Catch Documentation Scheme for Dissostichus spp. (CDS) was effectively implemented in 2023 by 15 Member States, 3 Acceding States, and 1 non-Contracting Party (NCP) cooperating with CCAMLR by participating in the CDS. The Secretariat contacted 12 NCPs Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Catherine Stubberfield (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Approved By:
Ms Catherine Stubberfield (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Request Meeting Document

Labor rights abuses and unsafe working conditions in the fisheries sector have garnered international attention, resulting in increasing calls for action to address them. While CCAMLR has previously addressed scientific observer safety, and adopted some measures to address vessel safety, it has not taken corresponding actions to ensure the safety of vessel crew. The Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Ona Hahs (United States of America)

Approved By:
Ms Ona Hahs (United States of America)

Request Meeting Document

We propose revising several conservation measures at CCAMLR-43 to improve monitoring of the krill stocks and the vessels participating in the krill fisheries. One of these proposals is to update Conservation Measure 51-06 (2019), General measure for scientific observation in fisheries for Euphausia superba, Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Ona Hahs (United States of America)

Approved By:
Ms Ona Hahs (United States of America)

Request Meeting Document

We propose revising several conservation measures at CCAMLR-43 to improve monitoring of krill stocks and vessels participating in krill fisheries. One of these proposed improvements is an update to CM 10-03 (2019), Port inspections of fishing vessels carrying Antarctic marine living resources, to Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Ona Hahs (United States of America)

Approved By:
Ms Ona Hahs (United States of America)

Request Meeting Document

We propose revising several conservation measures at CCAMLR-43 to improve monitoring of the krill stocks and the vessels participating in the krill fisheries. One of these proposals is to update CM 10-04 (2022), Automated satellite-linked Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS), to require the VMS reports Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Ona Hahs (United States of America)

Approved By:
Ms Ona Hahs (United States of America)

Request Meeting Document

The proposed amendments to CM 41-01, Annex B are based on discussions held at SCIC-2023. The objective of the proposal is to confirm a vessel may abort a research haul for the purpose of preventing gear loss, securing the safety of a vessel and those on board, or the safety of life at sea.

COLTO held a longline gear workshop for its members and interested stakeholders on 15-16 August 2024, in Oslo, Norway.  The workshop was attended by 35 participants from 14 COLTO member organisations, 13 different toothfish vessels, and 5 different toothfish vessel flag states (see Appendix).  All vessels that were represented use the demersal Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Rhys Arangio (COLTO)

Approved By:
Mr Rhys Arangio (COLTO)

Request Meeting Document

The Secretariat received fishery notifications for exploratory fisheries for toothfish and krill fisheries for the 2024/25 CCAMLR season. This paper provides a summary of all fishery notifications with full details available to authenticated users through the CCAMLR website Fishery Notifications.

As requested by WG-FSA-2022, a biennial reconciliation was undertaken for all available data between the Dissostichus spp. Catch Documentation Scheme (CDS) and monthly fine-scale catch and effort data. The analysis identified that 7.6% of the reconciliations meet the criteria for further evaluation, however, at a season level, the reconciliations had a difference Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Mariana Cordeiro (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Approved By:
Ms Mariana Cordeiro (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Request Meeting Document

In 2022, the European Union (EU) provided a grant of €60 000 (EU Project 101092707-CCAMLRSupport2022) to support CCAMLR’s continued collaborative work with INTERPOL during 2023 and 2024 to identify and deter illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities that undermine the objectives of the CAMLR Convention. This paper provides the final report submitted by INTERPOL in relation Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Mariana Cordeiro (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Approved By:
Ms Mariana Cordeiro (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Request Meeting Document

This paper provides an overview of Secretariat engagement with international and regional organisations to enhance our cooperation and collaboration to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and the trade in IUU fish products related to the CAMLR Convention Area.

In 2022 and 2024, the European Union (EU) provided grant funding to strengthen Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) data request systems and automatic data processing systems. This paper provides a report on progress and scheduled work for the remainder of the grant period. This paper also reviews VMS hosting options and security provisions in CM 10-04, Annex B.

The Secretariat receives notifications for transhipment activities within the Convention Area in accordance with Conservation Measure (CM) 10-09. The Secretariat maintains a list of all transhipment notifications on the password-protected part of the website in accordance with CM 10-09, paragraph 6. This paper summarises the transhipment notifications received between 1 Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Mariana Cordeiro (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Approved By:
Ms Mariana Cordeiro (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Request Meeting Document

The use of automated satellite-linked vessel monitoring systems (VMS) is required for vessels operating in the Convention Area as per Conservation Measure (CM) 10-04. This paper summarises the implementation of this conservation measure by Members and proposes several improvements to current procedures. 

This paper provides an update on intersessional work and planned next steps to progress the agreed Workplan on Unidentified Fishing Gear in the Convention Area.

This paper provides an overview of potential methods and opportunities to improve Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) within the Convention Area. It further provides current and planned activities by the Secretariat to improve MDA to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and identifies information and support available from the Secretariat for Members able to assist with Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Mariana Cordeiro (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Approved By:
Ms Mariana Cordeiro (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Request Meeting Document

Conservation Measure (CM) 10-08 requires that Contracting Parties shall take appropriate measures in order to verify and take action in response to nationals found responsible for, benefiting from, supporting or engaging in any activities described in CM 10-06 and CM 10-07 (i.e., illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing or related activities). As requested by the Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Mariana Cordeiro (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Approved By:
Ms Mariana Cordeiro (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Request Meeting Document

This paper summarises the status of website operations, projects and future work. In 2024 a new contractor Material+ was engaged and a new CCAMLR public web portal developed. In 2025 the major project works will include a new Members web portal as part of website redevelopment project, the access to documents and Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) project, circulars distribution project and Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Mariana Cordeiro (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Approved By:
Ms Mariana Cordeiro (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Request Meeting Document

New Zealand undertakes regular aerial surveillance patrols in the Ross Sea region in support of CCAMLR’s conservation and fisheries management objectives. This paper summarises the aerial patrol activities carried out during the 2023/24 Ross Sea toothfish fishery season.

HMS Protector, the UK Royal Navy’s ice patrol vessel, undertook routine patrols of the Antarctic Peninsula region during the 2023-24 season. This paper provides information about the inspections undertaken by HMS Protector and considers a recommendation to maximise at-sea patrols.

The inspector identification document, as required under the Text of the CCAMLR System of Inspection, has not been updated since its inception. The UK has been considering whether the development of an electronic version would facilitate easier completion. Examples of a digital version, consistent with the current template, are provided.

Within the framework of the implementation of a fisheries management strategy with an
ecosystem approach, and following the recommendations of FAO and other fisheries forums,
aimed at guaranteeing ocean´s sustainability and food security, Chile has developed since
2012 a process of diagnosis, reduction and control of discards and incidental bycatch in its
national fisheries. This Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Mariana Cordeiro (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Approved By:
Ms Mariana Cordeiro (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Request Meeting Document

In 2022, the thirty-fifth session of the FAO’s Committee on Fisheries endorsed a series of Voluntary Guidelines for Transshipment. These comprehensive Guidelines are intended to provide assistance to States, Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), and other intergovernmental organizations such as CCAMLR. During informal workshops on compliance in 2024, participants noted Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Claire Christian (ASOC)

Approved By:
Ms Claire Christian (ASOC)

Request Meeting Document

On February 6 and 7, 2024, the Republic of Korea and ASOC co-hosted an informal online workshop on improving CCAMLR’s compliance regime, with a focus on aspects of compliance related to the krill fishery. Additional follow-up sessions were held in August. The aims of the workshop were to map areas for improvement in CCAMLR’s current compliance regime, review previous Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Claire Christian (ASOC)

Approved By:
Ms Claire Christian (ASOC)

Request Meeting Document

In recent years, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted a number of regulations and guidelines with relevance to fishing vessels operating in the CCAMLR Area. These include requirements for safe navigation and voyage planning that will be mandatory from 1^st January 2026 and voluntary Guidelines for the safety of fishing vessels Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Claire Christian (ASOC)

Approved By:
Ms Claire Christian (ASOC)

Request Meeting Document

This paper provides details of the CCAMLR Scheme of International Scientific Observation deployments during the 2024 season (based on data received by the Secretariat up to 9 September 2024). In the 2024 season to date there were 31 longline trips and 13 trawl trips observed. For season 2025, changes to observer forms, updated manual and Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Isaac Forster (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Approved By:
Dr David Agnew (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Request Meeting Document

On longline vessels under the Ukrainian flag next year, it is planned to conduct photo identification of fishing gear (parts of fishing gear) to confirm that these fishing gear belong to a specific vessel.