SC-CAMLR-40

In accordance with a SCAF decision (SCAF-38, paragraph 48) this paper contains the Terms of Reference and Deed of Funding template for the General Science Capacity Fund (GSCF).

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 2020 to August 2021. Instances of unidentified fishing gear retrieved in the Convention Area are detailed in Table 1. Communication to non-Contracting Parties and responses received are detailed in Table 2. Proposed Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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In 2013 the Commission agreed to the discontinuation of hard-copy report production and postage (CCAMLR-XXXII, Annex 7, paragraph 9i). Since then, the Secretariat publishes the reports via Amazon. This service is no longer available in Russian and different options need to be evaluated.

At its 2019 meeting (CCAMLR-38, paragraph 12.6), the Commission tasked the Secretariat with submitting a paper to CCAMLR-39 outlining the current rules of access that apply to CCAMLR meeting documents. This document provides a brief history and details the current rules.

Over the years the Secretariat received several requests by Observers to circulate material to Members. This paper discusses options for enabling this.

The paper describes cooperation under the formal Arrangements and Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) that CCAMLR has signed with other regional organisations. The Secretariat recommends that the Scientific Committee and Commission authorise re-signing of the Arrangement with the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO) and the MOU with the Agreement on the Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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This paper reports further recent changes to the Pine Island Glacier (Amundsen Sea, Subarea 88.3). The 22% reduction in the glacier’s spatial extent means that the newly-exposed marine area has been established as a Stage 1 Special Area for Scientific Study (SASS) in accordance with Conservation Measure 24-04. We provide additional information to that included in COMM CIRC 21/76, and encourage Read More
Submitted By:
Professor Philip Trathan

Approved By:
Ms Jane Rumble (United Kingdom)

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Since 2005 a total catch of Antarctic krill in the Subarea 48 was constantly increasing, remaining, however, below the trigger level of 620 000 tons. Analysis of the catch data shows that an intensity of krill fishing was slightly growing with use of traditional (conventional) trawls (krill catch by conventional trawls in 2019 is up to 46% higher than such catch in 2008), however, the increase Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Kostiantyn Demianenko (Ukraine)

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2021 is a critical year for the management of the Antarctic krill fishery, which is expanding even as climate impacts on krill habitat increase. CCAMLR must continue its efforts to complete the agreed krill work plan and develop a new science-based CM to replace 51-07 as soon as possible, but meanwhile must prevent a situation this year in which 51-07 lapses completely. ASOC therefore Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Claire Christian

Approved By:
Ms Claire Christian

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CCAMLR must act to conserve Antarctic marine living resources and the Antarctic ecosystem, using the best scientific evidence available. The Antarctic krill fishery has dramatically increased in recent years to more than two-thirds of the trigger level in Area 48, with concerns by most Members that catches at these levels if taken from small areas could impact krill predators. Recent CCAMLR Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Claire Christian

Approved By:
Ms Claire Christian

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Noting that the most recent 5 year strategic plan for SC-CAMLR has now finished, this paper proposes a SC-CAMLR symposium to develop the next strategic plan.

This paper reviews Secretariat activities in support of the Scientific Committee over 2020 and 2021. It also provides an update on the work towards a new volume of CCAMLR Science, and recommends that in 2022 the incoming Science Manager work with the Editorial Board of CCAMLR Science to review CCAMLR’s scientific publications policy.

If, by 1 December 2021, the total allowable catch of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) in the Scotia Sea is not distributed in time and space, the objective of the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources will be jeopardized. The stated objective of the Convention is conservation (CCAMLR 1980), and the management provision that distributes krill catches Read More
Submitted By:
Dr George Watters (United States of America)

Approved By:
Dr George Watters (United States of America)

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Understanding and addressing climate change impacts in the Southern Ocean is of critical importance for managing risks to Antarctic marine living resources and falls within CCAMLR’s remit. We encourage the Scientific Committee to progress the integration of climate change considerations into its management advice to the Commission. To facilitate this, we recommend that the Scientific Committee Read More
Submitted By:
Professor Philip Trathan

Approved By:
Dr Chris Darby

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The vulnerability of the emperor penguin to ongoing and projected climate change was considered at SC-CAMLR-38. Subsequently, a group of international experts was convened under the auspices of SCAR, providing a report to ATCM XLIII - CEP XXIII. The outcomes of this work will have relevance to the ATCM, CEP and possibly CCAMLR, because of its implications for species-related conservation Read More
Submitted By:
Professor Philip Trathan

Approved By:
Dr Chris Darby

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Any spatial management units need to be clearly defined for CCAMLR fishery. To facilitate the development of the new krill management approach in Subarea 48.1, the boundaries of 5 candidate management units, including the 4 US AMLR strata adjusted for administrative purpose, and an extra stratum adjacent to US AMLR Strata to reflect proactively the need to manage the krill fishery in the Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Gangzhou Fan (China)

Approved By:
Dr Xianyong Zhao (China)

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The pre-exploitation krill biomass estimates, B₀, is essential for generating the Precautionary Catch Limit (PCL) for sound science-based krill fishery management. In 2019, a multi-member large-scale synoptic acoustic survey was conducted to provide krill biomass estimates for Area 48, whilst various mesoscale surveys were also conducted in Subarea 48.1. Krill biomass Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Xinliang Wang (China)

Approved By:
Dr Xianyong Zhao (China)

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The Delegation of Norway would like to inform the Scientific Committee that a scientific knowledge base has been compiled to enable us to progress to a workshop in early 2022 to explore and jointly develop with CAMLR members and observers a range of candidate MPAs to inform a proposal for Weddell Sea MPA Phase 2. This working paper informs the Scientific Committee on the current status of: (i Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Gary Griffith

Approved By:
Dr Bjørn Krafft (Norway)

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With this working paper the Delegation of Norway invites CCAMLR Members and Observers to participate in a Workshop within the first half of 2022. The Workshop has the following objectives: i) to bring together relevant expertise from CCAMLR Members and Observers to explore spatial planning solutions for WSMPA Phase 2 and ii) to jointly identify a range of candidate spatial planning solutions Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Gary Griffith

Approved By:
Dr Bjørn Krafft (Norway)

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          Information is presented on a Workshop for Training Russian Scientific Observers and Inspectors to work in fisheries in the CAMLR Convention Area held at the  Atlantic brunch of VNIRO ‘Atlantniro” in Kaliningrad (16-20 August 2021).

The workshop program included a wide range of aspects related to scientific observation and Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Svetlana Kasatkina (Russian Federation)

Approved By:
Dr Svetlana Kasatkina (Russian Federation)

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Fishing for Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) in Subarea 48.3 has been carried out without interruption for over 40 years, with more than 25 years under CCAMLR management.

This paper discusses the observed long-term decline in the length composition of D. eleginoides in longline catches in Subarea 48.3 (Antarctic Atlantic, FAO Area 48.3). It is noted that Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Svetlana Kasatkina (Russian Federation)

Approved By:
Dr Svetlana Kasatkina (Russian Federation)

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The scientific background in support of the Weddell Sea Marine Protected Area (WSMPA) has been discussed in the SC-CAMLR for 3 years. Some agreements has been reached in the SC-CAMLR, while substantial issues remain outstanding. China has actively engaged in those discussions and have provided serious and constructive suggestions on the issue.

Scientific data are the basis of decision-making in CCAMLR. Over the years, CCAMLR members have carried out continuous research and monitoring on key components of Antarctic living resources and ecosystems. Findings all over the world are published in journals of multiple languages. To facilitate the CCAMLR’s management on the basis of science, this paper attempts to obtain, summarize and Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Yuhao Tang

Approved By:
Mr Yuhao Tang

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China submitted its first paper (CCAMLR-XXXVII/32) in 2018 to CCAMLR on the development of research and monitoring plan for CCAMLR MPAs, which attracted lots of comments and suggestions. In order to further contribute to the discussions on this issue, China revised the paper from the scientific perspective, taking into serious consideration of inputs received last year.

The working groups and skills of the SOOS community can support the design and implementation of ecosystem monitoring systems for CCAMLR areas, existing and proposed Marine Protected Areas (MPA). SOOS has been recognised by the Scientific Committee as having an important role to play in CCAMLR ecosystem monitoring and observation; and spatial observations of impacts on ecosystems, climate Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Alyce Hancock

Approved By:
Dr Alyce Hancock

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SOOS has been recognised by the Scientific Committee as having an important role to play in CCAMLR ecosystem monitoring and observation, and spatial management of impacts on ecosystems, climate change, and data delivery and management. Reciprocally, CCAMLR is important to SOOS as an international, scientific body that advocates for and collects observational data in the Southern Ocean.

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Submitted By:
Dr Alyce Hancock

Approved By:
Dr Alyce Hancock

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Oceanites, Inc. is a US-based, nonprofit, scientific, and educational organization under U.S. law, which was founded in 1987 (https://oceanites.org). Its mission is to advance science-based conservation and to increase the awareness of climate change, its potential impacts, and climate change adaptation through the lens of Antarctic penguins.

This Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Ron Naveen

Approved By:
Mr Ron Naveen

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This paper provides a summary of the activity in special funds that are relevant to the Scientific Committee.

An international group of scientists from 11 countries and the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the French Biodiversity Agency (OFB), including those holding or having access to long-term marine mammal data and having experience of working with marine mammals in the Extended Southern Ocean region, came together for Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Marc Eléaume (France)

Approved By:
Dr Marc Eléaume (France)

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CCAMLR is in a leadership position with respect to the international community and the global biosphere when it comes to climate action in the Southern Ocean, and CCAMLR’s climate action should reflect that responsibility. In practice, there is a considerable mismatch between the urgency of addressing climate change and the pace of climate action in the Southern Ocean. In this paper ASOC makes Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Claire Christian

Approved By:
Ms Claire Christian

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Despite the global coronavirus pandemic, there is increasing political momentum to address pressing environmental issues including the protection of the Southern Ocean. In addition to major statements of support for Antarctic MPAs from global leaders, ASOC and its partners have collected 1.5 million signatures on petitions calling for the designation of Antarctic MPAs in 2021.

ASOC Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Claire Christian

Approved By:
Ms Claire Christian

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Climate change and its impacts are of much concern globally and to the Antarctic Treaty System given realised and expected impacts on global sea level rise and biodiversity.

The recent Special and Assessment Reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) provide the clearest current summaries of global climate change that has taken place, impacts that are being realised Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Susie Grant (United Kingdom)

Approved By:
Angharad Downes

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Ocean acidification is predicted to intensify in the coming decades, and is likely to disrupt physiological processes and have far-reaching consequences for marine habitats, organisms and ecosystems. Ocean acidification and warming have synergistic effects that exacerbate the risk of population declines in sensitive species.  Combined with rising temperatures, sea-level rise and more Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Susie Grant (United Kingdom)

Approved By:
Angharad Downes

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The Antarctic Environments Portal has been designed and developed to support the work of the Antarctic Treaty System by providing accurate and up-to-date information on issues of relevance to the policy community.

Since January 2020 SCAR has assumed oversight and management of the Portal.  A new website has been designed and launched with the aim of ensuring easy access to Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Susie Grant (United Kingdom)

Approved By:
Angharad Downes

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SCAR is an interdisciplinary body of the International Science Council (ISC), with a membership of 45 countries and nine ISC unions and comprising an extensive international network of scientists.  SCAR is charged with initiating, developing and coordinating high quality international scientific research in, from and about the Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.

SCAR’s Mission is to Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Susie Grant (United Kingdom)

Approved By:
Angharad Downes

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Pygoscelis papua (gentoo) penguin colonies count at GAI CEMP site has been provided during 2020/21 breeding season. The penguin count by visual observations have been performed at Galindez Island. The detailed observation of gentoo (Pygoscelis papua) birds arrival, nesting, hatch and crèche has been provided in two colonies at GAI CEMP site (GBV, GPP1, GPP2) at Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Kostiantyn Demianenko (Ukraine)

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We provide proposals on Risk assessment framework to allocate catch in Subarea 48.1 These proposals reflect the Russian Federation's position regarding the development of management strategy for krill fishery (SC-CAMLR-XXXIV/11, SC-CAMLR-XXXVI/15; SC-CAMLR-XXXV paragraphs 3.85-3.87; WS-SM-18 paragraph 3.24; SC-CAMLR-XXXVII/ BG-24)

This background document details the developing scientific data compilation and analysis to achieve the best available science for the conservation objectives of the Weddell Sea Marine Protected Area (WSMPA) Phase 2.

The incidental mortality of seabirds in longline and trawl fisheries continues to be a serious global concern, especially for threatened albatrosses and petrels. The need for international cooperation in addressing this concern was a major reason for establishing the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP). There are currently 31 species listed in Annex 1 of the Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Wiesława Misiak

Approved By:
Dr Christine Bogle

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Cooperation between the Scientific Committee of CCAMLR (SC-CAMLR) and the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) has been steadily increasing to the mutual benefit of both. In order to avoid duplicate reporting between the two committees and following discussions between the Chairs of the CEP and SC-CAMLR, the report of the CEP meeting is presented to SC-CAMLR by the CEP Observer to SC- Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Polly A. Penhale

Approved By:
Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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As the first large-scale MPA in an area beyond national jurisdiction, the Ross Sea region MPA sets a precedent for design, adoption and implementation of other MPAs on the high seas and in the Southern Ocean. This ASOC Background paper includes an article in press in Marine Policy: “The Ross Sea, Antarctica: A highly protected MPA in international waters,” which presents a detailed Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Claire Christian

Approved By:
Ms Claire Christian

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This paper summarises data collected by Scheme of International Scientific Observation observers and vessels, of incidental interactions between fishing vessels, seabirds and marine mammals during fishing activities undertaken during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. The extrapolated total of 44 seabirds caught in 2020 is the lowest on record for CCAMLR fisheries. Three humpback whales were recorded Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Isaac Forster (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Approved By:
Dr David Agnew (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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This background paper proposes the development of standardised methods for processing and reporting the results from future acoustic surveys of Antarctic krill, in particular those that produce estimates of krill biomass. Standardising the reporting of acoustic data processing and analysis will enable rapid assessment of the results of krill biomass surveys and enable more effective use of Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Gavin Macaulay

Approved By:
Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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The CCAMLR Scientific Committee and its Working Groups are tasked with providing precautionary management advice in accordance with Article II of the Convention using the CCAMLR Decision Rules as a foundation. This includes providing management advice about the krill fishery.

WG-EMM(2019) set out an approach progressing towards assessment and management of the krill stock and its Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Chris Darby

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Two proposals seeking support from the CEMP Special Fund were reviewed according to the assessment criteria. An additional proposal was referred to the panel from the General Capacity Building Fund panel. The management panel recommends that the Scientific Committee endorse the recommendations for funding totalling A$135 000 for 2021/22. In addition, the management panel made several Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Steve Parker (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Approved By:
Dr David Agnew (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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We provide an update on the implementation of the risk assessment in Subarea 48.1 resulting from discussions held during WG-EMM 2021. We have used track changes when adding textual changes incorporated since WG-EMM and all figures have been updated. In this version, we use an updated layer for winter krill density, evaluate some new scenarios and also include some sensitivity analyses.

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Submitted By:
Dr Vicky Warwick-Evans (United Kingdom)

Approved By:
Dr Chris Darby

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A summary of the intersessional work and discussion by the Risk Assessment e-group.

The Gradual contraction of Antarctic krill fishery toward islands or concentration in some localized area has caused increased concerns. To examine the potential impact of the concentration of krill fishery, acoustic data and fishery statistics were analyzed to reveal the relationship between the actual fishing sites and the underlying krill distribution; sea ice concentration is also used to Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Xianyong Zhao (China)

Approved By:
Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Request Meeting Document