SC-CAMLR-44

Based on an analysis of the legal and scientific aspects of the current situation regarding the establishment of MPAs in the Convention Area, this paper considers procedural and implementation measures to manage a single process for the scientifically based designation of MPAs and to regulate their operation by the CCAMLR Commission.
The Russian Federation deems it crucial for the Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Svetlana Kasatkina (Russian Federation)

Approved By:
Dr Svetlana Kasatkina (Russian Federation)

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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.

At CCAMLR-43, Chile presented document CCAMLR-43/BG/33 on the use of Electronic Monitoring Systems (EMS) to address discards, bycatch, and compliance. Since 2020, EMS has been applied on all industrial fishing vessels in Chilean waters and high seas, complementing human observation programs. Results indicate reductions in discards and bycatch, improved compliance, and more sustainable Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Francisco Santa Cruz (Chile)

Approved By:
Mr Juan Enrique Loyer Greene (Chile)

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The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) is pleased to report its activities to CCAMLR-44. This paper provides an overview of Antarctic tourism trends and a summary of IAATO activities from the 2024-25 season. IAATO is firmly committed to promoting the practice of safe and environmentally responsible private-sector travel. As part of this, it Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Maureen Lynch (IAATO)

Approved By:
Ms Amanda Lynnes (IAATO)

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This paper explores the concept of shifting baseline syndrome (SBS) in the context of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) and related bodies/instruments. The analysis focuses on CCAMLR’s collective actions across its history: accepted practices, consensus decision-making, the record of conservation measures, and tangible outcomes. Central to Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Claire Christian (ASOC)

Approved By:
Ms Claire Christian (ASOC)

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ASOC urges CCAMLR Members to engage in constructive discussions on the krill fishery management approach (KFMA) and the D1 MPA and find a way forward at CCAMLR-44. The concentrated fishing seen over the past season in Subarea 48.1 is extremely concerning, and CCAMLR must address this situation while maintaining high ambition on the KFMA and MPA. As discussions proceed at CCAMLR Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Claire Christian (ASOC)

Approved By:
Ms Claire Christian (ASOC)

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ASOC has submitted background papers to CCAMLR-44 on topics including: D1MPA and krill fishery management, CCAMLR’s shifting baselines on conservation and rational use, new webtools for exploring the ecological importance of Antarctic polynyas, vessel safety and environmental protection, recent changes in krill fishing patterns, a new citizen science initiative to Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Claire Christian (ASOC)

Approved By:
Ms Claire Christian (ASOC)

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To aid with review and documentation of the krill fishery management approach we have compiled details of the analyses conducted using the Spatial Overlap Analysis tool to derive candidate management units and proportional krill catch allocations to seasons and management units for approximately 50% of Subarea 48.1. Members can use this information to implement Spatial Overlap Analyses Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Martin Collins (United Kingdom)

Approved By:
Dr Martin Collins (United Kingdom)

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Following the lapse of CM51-07, which divided the 620,000-tonne krill trigger level (para 3 of CM 51-01) between four subareas (48.1-48.4), there is an urgent need to establish a replacement conservation measure to prevent the concentration of krill catches.  Whilst the UK is keen to see full implementation of a krill fisheries management approach (KFMA), harmonised with Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Martin Collins (United Kingdom)

Approved By:
Dr Martin Collins (United Kingdom)

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This document along with the document entitled First steps towards the development of the Research and Monitoring Plan of the proposed Marine Protected Area in Domain 1 (SC-CCAMLR 44/BG/06) aims to enable informed discussions for the development of a Research and Monitoring Plan (RMP) to accompany the  Read More
Submitted By:
Dr María Mercedes Santos (Argentina)

Approved By:
Dr María Mercedes Santos (Argentina)

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To inform the Krill Stock Hypothesis and facilitate the implementation of the revised Krill Fishery Management Approach (KFMA), this study presents main findings from the most recent two surveys covering all the five (5) core candidate Management Units of the KFMA in Subarea 48.1 conducted by Chinese krill fishing vessels in February 2024 and January 2025. Results from the two surveys Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Yi-Ping Ying (China)

Approved By:
Dr Xianyong Zhao (China)

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It is examined  the efficiency  of  observer’s data in the krill fishery in  the context of the Scientific Observer Manual –Krill Fisheries  for sampling 200 krill every 3 or 5 days, regardless of the number of hauls and the catch per haul and per day. It was shown that the current Scientific Observer’s Manual   and its practical Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Svetlana Kasatkina (Russian Federation)

Approved By:
Dr Svetlana Kasatkina (Russian Federation)

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The PHOCIS project (Pelagic High Seas Ocean eCoregionalisation of the Indian Subantarctic) held an in-person workshop in Cape Town, South Africa between 25 - 29 August 2025 to discuss how the systematic conservation planning (SCP) process will be applied to the pelagic Indian subantarctic ocean to define a representative system of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The workshop Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Azwianewi Makhado (South Africa)

Approved By:
Dr Azwianewi Makhado (South Africa)

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This paper presents a brief overview of catches of target species from directed fishing on toothfish, icefish and krill in the Convention Area in 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons and from research fishing under Conservation Measure (CM) 24-01. The CCAMLR fisheries catch limits and associated monthly catches in the 2024/25 season are also presented with dates of fisheries closures implemented Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Mariana Cordeiro (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Approved By:
Ms Mariana Cordeiro (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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This document summarizes the ongoing development of the revised approach to the management of the Antarctic krill fishery. The framework for the revised approach was adopted by CCAMLR in 2019 and integrates three components, namely regular updates of biomass estimates, a population projection model to estimate precautionary harvest rates, and a krill-predator spatial overlap analysis to Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Stéphane Thanassekos (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Approved By:
Ms Catherine Stubberfield (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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This paper provides a progress report on the science tasks conducted by the Secretariat during the 2024/25 intersessional period and makes recommendations on how to progress tasks requiring endorsement by the Scientific Committee.

This document presents background information on the technical, scientific, and environmental aspects of the Antarctic Cable Project, an initiative led by Chile. The project aims to deploy the first fiber-optic submarine cable between continental Chile and some places located along South Shetland Islands and the northern Antarctic Peninsula ( Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Francisco Santa Cruz (Chile)

Approved By:
Mr Francisco Santa Cruz (Chile)

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This paper provides the Committee for Environmental Protection’s (CEP) annual report to the Scientific Committee of CAMLR (SC-CAMLR) on activities relevant to the work of SC-CAMLR.  The Twenty-seventh meeting of the CEP was held in Milan, Italy between June 23-27, 2025.  Discussions on the five topics of common interest at CEP 27 included progress on: the Joint CEP/SC-CAMLR workshop Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Lauren Fields (United States of America)

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

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Domain 1, encompassing the Antarctic Peninsula and South of the Scotia Arc, represents one of the most ecologically significant regions of the Southern Oceans. Given its importance and the ongoing environmental changes it faces, a Marine Protected Area in Domain 1 (D1MPA) has been proposed. To assess the effectiveness of such conservation measures, impact evaluations Read More
Submitted By:
Dr María Mercedes Santos (Argentina)

Approved By:
Dr María Mercedes Santos (Argentina)

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Information is presented on a Workshop for Training Russian Scientific Observers and     Inspectors to work in fisheries in the CCAMLR Convention Area held at the Atlantic brunch of VNIRO ‘Atlantniro” in Kaliningrad (6-8 August 2025).

Since 1995, the Chilean National Oceanographic Committee (CONA) has been organizing the so-called Marine Scientific Research Cruises in Remote Areas, better known as CIMAR. To date, research has focused mainly on the area of fjords and oceanic islands off continental Chile.  This year, and after having carried out 30 cruises, the CONA together with the support of the Ministry of Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Francisco Santa Cruz (Chile)

Approved By:
Mr Francisco Santa Cruz (Chile)

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The CCAMLR Scheme of International Scientific Observation (SISO) is a cornerstone for monitoring and assessing the impact of fishing on the ecosystem and for evaluating conservation measures. Chile, through the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH), has maintained a long-standing commitment to SISO implementation and to the proper training of
observers. This report summarises the outcomes of Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Francisco Santa Cruz (Chile)

Approved By:
Mr Francisco Santa Cruz (Chile)

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In 2025, the Coalition of Legal Toothfish Operators (COLTO) joined the Fishing vessels Ships of Opportunity Program (FishSOOP). One Korean and two Australian toothfish vessels were equipped with 2000m depth rated Moana Temperature-Depth Recorders, joining three New Zealand toothfish vessels which were already equipped with 1000m depth rated units. Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Rhys Arangio (COLTO)

Approved By:
Mr Rhys Arangio (COLTO)

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This report summarizes activities of Oceanites since CCAMLR-43 and SC-CAMLR 43, in particular regarding monitoring of penguin population changes and important, related concerns, including both the impacts of climate change and baleen whale recovery on penguins.

The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) created the Voluntary Cetacean and Pinniped Sightings (V-CaPS) program in the 2022-23 season to collect data on cetacean presence in the Southern Ocean. At the IAATO Annual Meeting in 2025, Members approved a proposal to evolve the VCaPS program so that data would be collected through the ORCA OceanWatchers app starting in the Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Amanda Lynnes (IAATO)

Approved By:
Ms Amanda Lynnes (IAATO)

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This paper provides information on recent climate change-related research and observations in the Antarctic, building on the SCAR Antarctic Climate Change and the Environment (ACCE) Reports. The paper is not a general synthesis. Rather, it highlights recent findings. Notable among these is the synthesis work on growing evidence for abrupt changes, some of them recent, in the Read More
Submitted By:
Mrs Agnes Ganichaud (SCAR)

Approved By:
Mrs Agnes Ganichaud (SCAR)

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This Observer’s report provides a brief summary of the research activities associated with collaboration between the International Whaling Commission’s Scientific Committee (IWC-SC) and the Scientific Committee for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (SC-CAMLR) in the 2024/25 intersessional period.  

Following the review of the Rules for Access and Use of CCAMLR Data during SC-CCAMLR-41, the Scientific Committee discussed at SC-CCAMLR-42 and SC-CCAMLR-43 the development of a process diagram to outline the workflow for data requests. The current version of the workflow diagram was posted in a discussion group for comments and is provided in this paper. In addition, this Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Daphnis De Pooter (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Approved By:
Dr David Agnew (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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The CCAMLR Scientific Scholarship Scheme received two applications in 2025 (South Africa and Argentina). The panel recommended up to two scholarships could be awarded by the Scientific Committee, to Dr Tegan Carpenter-Kling (South Africa) for work on identifying priority conservation areas in the Indian Ocean sub-Antarctic, and to Dr Dolores Deregibus (Argentina) for work Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Steve Parker (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Approved By:
Dr David Agnew (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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One new proposal for the CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program (CEMP) Special Fund was submitted, proposing to install a satellite-linked cameras to monitor penguin populations in the South Orkney Islands to test a new methodology for evaluating breeding success in these remote areas. The management panel recommended funding the proposal noting it was a useful pilot study Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Steve Parker (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Approved By:
Dr David Agnew (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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This paper presents the annual report of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) to CCAMLR. SCAR reports on its recent and future activities of relevance to the Scientific Committee and the Commission. SCAR groups, such as INSTANT and AntClimNow, continue to conduct crucial scientific research on the Antarctic climate system and Antarctica’s contribution to the Read More
Submitted By:
Mrs Agnes Ganichaud (SCAR)

Approved By:
Mrs Agnes Ganichaud (SCAR)

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The 2024/25 Antarctic krill fishing season unfolded under both environmental and managerial challenges. Heavy sea-ice around the South Orkneys prevented vessels from accessing Subarea 48.2 in December–January, forcing an early start in Subarea 48.1. Despite the lapse of CM 51-07, ARK members upheld their long-standing fishing pattern and observed the precautionary Voluntary Restricted Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Javier Arata (ARK)

Approved By:
Dr Javier Arata (ARK)

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The British Antarctic Survey undertook aerial surveys of many of the penguin colonies on the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands during the 2013/14 season, with reduced coverage during the 2015/16 and 2019/20 seasons.   Photographs from the surveys are currently being analysed and results will be presented to WG-EMM in 2026.  With improvements in Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Martin Collins (United Kingdom)

Approved By:
Dr Martin Collins (United Kingdom)

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This background paper presents the report of the Inaugural Meeting of the Ross Sea region marine protected area (MPA) Research Coordination Network (RCN). SCAR and SOOS are members of this RCN and many SCAR and SOOS scientists participated in the inaugural meeting. As the meeting report shares, the Ross Sea RCN has been formed and was officially launched at the June 2025 Read More
Submitted By:
Professor Cassandra Brooks (SCAR)

Approved By:
Ms Mariana Cordeiro (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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The aim of this one-pager is to inform CCAMLR about the current status of the Weddell Sea Observatory of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Change (WOBEC) project. In its first year, WOBEC has delivered scientific outputs that support the development of a systematic ecosystem monitoring framework for the eastern Weddell Sea / Kong Haakon VII Sea, thereby contributing to Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Katharina Teschke (Germany)

Approved By:
Professor Bettina Meyer (Germany)

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This paper outlines a proposal for the initial implementation of a revised Krill Fishery Management Approach (KFMA) in Subarea 48.1, marking a transition from a fixed catch limit regime to a more dynamic and ecosystem-based management framework. The proposed approach integrates recent advancements in risk assessment frameworks and biomass estimation technologies. Subarea 48. Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Bjørn Krafft (Norway)

Approved By:
Dr Bjørn Krafft (Norway)

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The Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS) is developing an inventory of long-term monitoring programmes which will be made available via the SOOS website (https://soos.aq/community/long-term-observing-programmes). This background paper introduces the inventory, which is still under Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Alyce Hancock (SOOS)

Approved By:
Dr Alyce Hancock (SOOS)

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The options for an interim measure for spatial distribution of catches in Area 48, intended to replace the outdated CM 51-07, require scientific and legal justification (WGEMM-2025, Appendices D and E).

 The revision of krill resource management in Subarea 48.1, as well as in Subareas 48.2-48.4, should not be carried out in Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Svetlana Kasatkina (Russian Federation)

Approved By:
Dr Svetlana Kasatkina (Russian Federation)

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This paper presents two new web tools that have been developed in relation to a US NASA-funded project which sought to better understand the importance of polynyas for sustaining Antarctic marine ecosystems. The first web tool is a platform which features multi-media storytelling combined with visualizations of results from a newly developed Antarctic Ecosystem Value (AEV) Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Claire Christian (ASOC)

Approved By:
Ms Claire Christian (ASOC)

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ASOC launched a Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem (VME) identification and monitoring program, Southern Ocean Citizen Submersible Initiative (SOCSI), in 2023. This initiative partners with Antarctic tour operators already deploying crewed submersibles to document benthic biodiversity and to identify vulnerable ecosystems in need of protection. Two VMEs have been identified based on relative Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Claire Christian (ASOC)

Approved By:
Ms Claire Christian (ASOC)

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This paper develops insights about ongoing discussions, at a global level, to support the recognition of the essential character of a shared ocean observing infrastructure.This essential infrastructure, vital for research but moreover for policymaking, would integrate diverse knowledge and address fragmented interests of current oceanic stakeholders. CCAMLR's ongoing discussions are Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Alyce Hancock (SOOS)

Approved By:
Dr Alyce Hancock (SOOS)

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Scientific understanding of plastic pollution in the Southern Ocean is rapidly growing, necessitating assessments of its distribution, intensity, and local origins. Evaluating the combined effects of plastic with other stressors on Antarctic ecosystems is also crucial. While distant sources contribute, focusing on local inputs is key. Recent research has identified Read More
Submitted By:
Mrs Agnes Ganichaud (SCAR)

Approved By:
Mrs Agnes Ganichaud (SCAR)

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Three Chinese continuous krill fishing vessels, SHEN LAN, FU XING HAI, and FU YUAN YU 9199, conducted the trial on net monitoring cable/warp seabird-strike mitigation measures during the 2024/25 fishing season in accordance with CM25-03 (2024). The vessels FU XING HAI and FU YUAN YU 9199 used the continuous fishing method throughout the whole fishing season, while SHEN LAN Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Xinliang Wang (China)

Approved By:
Dr Xianyong Zhao (China)

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Here we present current progress and next steps in the development of a regular CCAMLR State of Antarctic Environment (SOAE) report. The aim is to provide the Commission, Scientific Committee, and stakeholders with a regular status report in the form of an easily accessible document, summarising environmental conditions and other data relevant to the Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Martin Collins (United Kingdom)

Approved By:
Dr Martin Collins (United Kingdom)

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This paper provides an update on progress with plans for the upcoming joint CEP/SC-CAMLR climate change and monitoring workshop. The Joint Workshop Steering Committee is organizing the event in conjunction with ATCM48/CEP28 (May 2026) in Hiroshima, Japan, based on the information presented in this paper Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Anton Van de Putte (Belgium)

Approved By:
Dr Anton Van de Putte (Belgium)

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In 2024 a group of research experts within the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) formed an Action Group focused on fish: “SCARFISH”. SCARFISH aims to bring together research communities by facilitating knowledge exchange, Read More
Submitted By:
Mrs Agnes Ganichaud (SCAR)

Approved By:
Mrs Agnes Ganichaud (SCAR)

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This paper outlines the key SOOS activities of interest to SC-CAMLR, with emphasis on how SOOS can provide information and tools to support ecosystem-based management of fisheries, and design and implementation of ecosystem monitoring systems. To see the full achievements for SOOS in 2024, see SOOS’ Annual Reports Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Alyce Hancock (SOOS)

Approved By:
Dr Alyce Hancock (SOOS)

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This paper sets out the Framework (Appendix I) and the Science (Appendix II) to support the first 10-year review of the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area (RSrMPA, Conservation Measure 91-05). 

The Commission will review the RSrMPA at its annual meeting in 2027, unless otherwise agreed. Reports and research to support the review will Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Laura Ghigliotti (Italy)

Approved By:
Dr Laura Ghigliotti (Italy)

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With the lapse of CM 51-07, the spatial and temporal dynamics of the krill fishery in Statistical Area 48 changed in the 2024/25 season and the trigger level of 620,000 t specified in CM 51-01 was reached on 1 August 2025. This paper summarises the operations in the 2024/25 season compared with recent seasons to describe how the fishery responded to the management Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Isaac Forster (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Approved By:
Dr David Agnew (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Colonies of penguins (genus Pygoscelis) have been systematically studied on Galindez, Petermann, and Yalour islands since 2015. Additional information about colonies on nearby islands (Green, Pleneau, Moot) was gathered during 2024/25 season UAV surveys. The detailed observation of bird arrival, nesting, hatch, and Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Kostiantyn Demianenko (Ukraine)

Approved By:
Dr Kostiantyn Demianenko (Ukraine)

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The lapse of CCAMLR CM 51-07 in 2024 removed limits on distributing the 620,000-tonne trigger limit krill catch across Subareas 48.1–48.4, raising concerns about concentrated fishing. Analysis of Global Fishing Watch (AIS-based) data shows a marked increase in apparent fishing effort in Subarea 48.1 during 2025 compared to 2024, particularly in predator-rich areas such as the Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Claire Christian (ASOC)

Approved By:
Ms Claire Christian (ASOC)

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This paper provides an update on the current status and known impacts of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Antarctica, based on a joint Working Paper submitted by SCAR, COMNAP, IAATO and CCAMLR to ATCM 47 (WP050 2025). HPAI is confirmed in wildlife in the Antarctic Treaty Area (ATA). Data from two Antarctic seasons indicate that the virus (HPAI H5N1) is reaching new Read More
Submitted By:
Mrs Agnes Ganichaud (SCAR)

Approved By:
Mrs Agnes Ganichaud (SCAR)

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The Canadian Antarctic Research Expedition (CARE) 2025 carried out a range of surveying and sampling activities in the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula to address scientific issues in the broad disciplines of geology and sediment sampling, oceanography, and contaminants in February and March 2025. The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), through the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), provided Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Isabelle Morisset (Canada)

Approved By:
Ms Katharine Ferri (Canada)

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The “Deep‐sea Fisheries under the Ecosystem Approach” project (DSF Project) is one of five projects in the GEF‐7 ABNJ Common Oceans Program “Global Sustainable Fisheries Management and Biodiversity Conservation in the Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ)” (GEF, 2022; FAO, 2023a). The DSF Project acknowledges the contributions from SC-CAMLR experts, including Secretariat staff, in Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Keith Reid (FAO)

Approved By:
Ms Mariana Cordeiro (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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This background paper presents an article recently published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by authors affiliated with the SCAR Krill Expert Group entitled “Adjusting management of the Antarctic krill fishery to meet the challenges of the 21st Century”. https://doi.org/10. Read More
Submitted By:
Mrs Agnes Ganichaud (SCAR)

Approved By:
Mrs Agnes Ganichaud (SCAR)

Publication:
Meyer, B. et al. 2025. Adjusting the Management of the Antarctic Krill Fishery to Meet the Challenges of the 21st Century. PNAS, 122 (37), e2412624122. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2412624122

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