SC-CAMLR-40

The Chair (Dr Dirk Welsford, Australia) will open the meeting and welcome delegations of CCAMLR Members and Observers. International organisations invited to the meeting are listed in Agenda Item 6.2. The organisation of the meeting will be discussed.

The Preliminary Agenda for the 40th 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 Co-conveners of WG-ASAM (Dr X. Wang, China and Dr S. Fielding, UK) will present the 2021 WG-ASAM report. The Scientific Committee will note the report and, as appropriate, endorse its recommendations.

The Scientific Committee will advise the Commission on matters of relevance to acoustic data collection and survey methods.

The Co-conveners of WG-SAM (Dr T. Okuda, Japan and Dr C. Péron, France) will present the 2021 WG-SAM report. The Scientific Committee will note the report and, as appropriate, endorse its recommendations.

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

Data reported for the current season, as well as any updates to the notifications for krill fisheries in the 2021/22 season, will be presented.

The Convener of WG-EMM (Dr C. Cárdenas, Chile) will present the relevant sections of the 2021 WG-EMM report dealing with the ecosystem effects of krill fisheries.

The Commission has endorsed the Scientific Committee’s workplan to develop a revised krill management strategy (SC-CAMLR-38, paragraph 13.4), noting that advice on this matter is required in 2021 (Conservation Measure 51-07).

The Scientific Committee will consider the advice of WG-ASAM, WG-SAM, WG-EMM and WG-FSA on this issue.

The Scientific Committee will provide scientific advice to the Commission in respect of krill resources and CM 51-07.

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 (Mr S. Somhlaba, South Africa) will present the sections of the 2021 WG-FSA report dealing with the assessment of fish resources, including new and exploratory finfish fisheries. The Scientific Committee will note the report and, as appropriate, endorse its recommendations.

The Scientific Committee will consider the advice of WG-FSA on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and provide advice to the Standing Committee on Implementation and Compliance (SCIC) and the Commission.

The Scientific Committee will provide scientific advice to the Commission on catch limits in the 2021/22 season for assessed fisheries, new and exploratory fisheries and scientific research conducted under CM 24-01.

The Scientific Committee will consider the advice of WG-FSA and WG-SAM on scientific research conducted in the 2020/21 season under CM 24-01 and will consider proposals submitted under CM 24-01 to ensure all research proposed for the 2021/22 season is consistent with the intended purpose of the measure and is consistent with the requirements of CM 24-05.

The Scientific Committee will consider the recommendations of WG-FSA and WG-EMM relevant to by-catch in CCAMLR fisheries.

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

The Scientific Committee will consider the recommendations of WG-FSA and WG-EMM relevant to the impacts of fishing on vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs).

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.

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 Scientific Committee will consider advice from WG-SAM, WG-EMM and WG-FSA on the science required to inform management responses to climate change.

The Scientific Committee will provide relevant scientific advice to the Commission on the impacts of climate change.

All observer reports will be received as background papers and will be taken as read. The Scientific Committee will note them in its report.

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-40 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 2020/21 intersessional period will be received.

The Scientific Committee will discuss the further development of cooperation with other international organisations.

The Scientific Committee will review progress against its workplan (SC-CAMLR-38, paragraph 13.4) and revise the workplan as appropriate based on consideration of the advice from its working groups.

The priorities for the intersessional activities of the Scientific Committee in 2021/22 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 the revised terms of reference for the General Science Capacity Fund (GSCF) and provide relevant advice to SCAF.

The Scientific Committee will consider funding activities under the GSCF, including the scholarship scheme.

The Scientific Committee will consider the proposed dates of its next meeting (17 to 21 October 2022, COMM CIRC 20/23–SC CIRC 20/25) and the invitation of Observers to that meeting.

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 Scientific Committee will consider the Secretariat’s report on work in support of the Scientific Committee during the 2020/21 intersessional period and will consider priorities for future work and requirements for the 2021/22 intersessional period.

The Scientific Committee will provide advice and recommendations to the Standing Committee on Implementation and Compliance (SCIC) and the Standing Committee on Administration and Finance (SCAF).

The Scientific Committee will identify the financial implications of decisions taken during the meeting and will request that these are taken into account by SCAF in developing the budget.

At the 2021 meeting of the Scientific Committee, Dr Welsford will complete his first two-year term as Scientific Committee Chair and is eligible for re-appointment.

Last year the Committee extended the roles of the current senior Vice-Chair Dr G. Zhu (China) and Junior Vice-Chair Dr A. Makhado (South Africa). 

The Scientific Committee will consider any other business.

The Scientific Committee will adopt the report of its 40th Meeting.