Possible options for the future management of the Antarctic krill fishery in Subarea 48.2

We review the state of ecological knowledge for Subarea 48.2 and suggest that the development of any new management approach based on ecological indicators is limited by the current level of relevant ecological information. We propose that there is therefore an urgent need to improve the ecological knowledge base, but identify that this will take time. We conclude that if the krill fishery in Subarea 48.2 is to expand beyond its current level, a new experimental approach must be developed that will help provide the ecological and management information needed. This paper therefore outlines one possible framework that has the potential to provide the types of information required. We suggest that the experimental framework should be a CCAMLR community project involving as many Members as possible. This will be necessary if the experimental framework is to have a high probability of success. The proposed framework identifies some of the main data requirements, including oceanographic modelling, predator monitoring, and fisheries acoustics. We propose that the experimental framework should be evaluated periodically in order to explore initial results and to determine if the framework should be continued.