WG-EMM-2021

To identify the dietary composition and characteristics of both Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae) and emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) at four breeding sites, we performed stable carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) isotope analysis of down of penguin chicks. Adélie penguin chicks at Cape Hallett mostly fed on Antarctic krill (Eupausia superba; 65. Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Jeong-Hoon Kim (Korea, Republic of)

Approved By:
Dr Seok-Gwan Choi (Korea, Republic of)

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As the most abundant penguin species, the diet of Adélie penguin, Pygoscelis adeliae, would be one of the most important indicators for the ecosystem conditions where they inhabit. The diet of seven Adélie penguin populations in the Ross Sea was studied using both metabarcoding and quantitative PCR (qPCR) analyses. 18Sv9 and miniFish primers provided the overall diet compositions and accurate Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Jeong-Hoon Kim (Korea, Republic of)

Approved By:
Dr Seok-Gwan Choi (Korea, Republic of)

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Information on marine predator at-sea distributions is a key component of spatial management frameworks that aim to identify regions important for conservation. Tracking data from seabirds have been widely used to define priority areas for conservation, but such data are often restricted to the breeding population. This also applies to penguins in Antarctica, where identification of important Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Chris Oosthuizen

Approved By:
Dr Azwianewi Makhado (South Africa)

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With the goal of collating, synthesizing, and working towards coordination of U.S. research and monitoring in the RSRMPA, the U.S. Ross Sea science community convened a virtual workshop on 26-27 April 2021. The workshop included 51 participants (see Appendix A) representing active U.S. Ross Sea scientists as well as representatives of major U.S. science funding institutions (National Science Read More
Submitted By:
Dr George Watters (United States of America)

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

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Based on the direction of WG-ASAM during 2021, an e-group was established to develop a method to provide estimates of krill biomass for use in the GRYM and for development of a management strategy for krill. Krill biomass densities at a variety of spatial scales are presented for consideration by WG-EMM in 2021. The mean biomass density ranges from a low of 45.54 gm m^-2 for the time Read More
Submitted By:
Dr George Watters (United States of America)

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

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We present here a summary of the euphausiid larvae collected during the summer seasons in waters off the West Antarctic Peninsula: Gerlache Strait and surroundings of South Shetland Islands in 2017-2018; Mar de la Flota (Bransfield Strait) and Elephant Island surroundings during 2019 and 2020. Euphausia superba larvae showed a very low abundance in 2017. In general terms the Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Emilce Florencia Rombolá (Argentina)

Approved By:
Dr Enrique Marschoff (Argentina)

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This report provides overview and early results of the multidisciplinary large-scale survey of the Eastern Sector of CCAMLR Division 58.4.2 conducted in February to March 2021. The survey consisted of six major acoustic line-transects to estimate krill biomass and to observe swarm behaviour across ecological and density gradients within the survey area south of 62°S between 55° and 80° E, with Read More
Submitted By:
Dr So Kawaguchi (Australia)

Approved By:
Dr Philippe Ziegler (Australia)

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SKAG was initiated in close collaboration with the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) Standing Committee on the Antarctic Treaty System (SC-ATS) to help provide the scientific information on krill needed to manage the krill fishery by improving communication between CCAMLR and the wider krill science community. In addition, the group serves as a platform for early career Read More
Submitted By:
Professor Bettina Meyer (Germany)

Approved By:
Professor Thomas Brey

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While the importance of spatial scale in ecology is well established, few studies have investigated the impact of data grain on hotpot analysis of biological resource. In this study, in order to analyze the impact of spatial scale on hotspot analysis of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) density distribution in the Southern Ocean, the krill resource density data in 1926 to 2016 by 10 Read More
Submitted By:
Professor Guoping Zhu (China)

Approved By:
Dr Xianyong Zhao (China)

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The length distribution and biological indicators (weight, sex, maturity phases and nutrition indicators) of Antarctic krill obtained  during the Russian complex survey on the RV "Atlantida" in January-March 2020 are shown. Analysis is based on 179 standard  double oblique tows with research trawl.  The length distribution and biological indicators were analyzed by strata including the South Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Svetlana Kasatkina (Russian Federation)

Approved By:
Dr Svetlana Kasatkina (Russian Federation)

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This paper discussed the krill flux indices through the Antarctic Peninsula based on the results complex survey provided by RV Atlantida in 2020 including   repeated complex acoustic surveys in the Brnsfield Strait and repeated transect across Elephant Island.  Geostrophical water masses circulations, spatial distribution of krill density, water flow intensity (m³/s) and krill Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Svetlana Kasatkina (Russian Federation)

Approved By:
Dr Svetlana Kasatkina (Russian Federation)

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The Russian  krill research in Subarea 48.1 and 48.2 under CM 24-01 paragraph 2 were carried out by  RV “Atlantida”  in the period January-March 2020  including acoustic surveys, accompanied by a wide range of ecosystem studies on the biology of  krill and its habitat (hydrometeorological, oceanological and hydrochemical data) and  bio-productivity indices  (chlorophyll, primary production, Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Svetlana Kasatkina (Russian Federation)

Approved By:
Dr Svetlana Kasatkina (Russian Federation)

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A key aim in managing the harvest of Antarctic krill is to ensure the long-term sustainability of the fishery and the marine ecosystem, including krill-dependent predators such as seals, penguins and whales. If predators are to be used as indicators in the management of marine ecosystems (e.g., CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program; CEMP), the functional responses between predators and prey (i.e Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Chris Oosthuizen

Approved By:
Dr Azwianewi Makhado (South Africa)

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In 2016 the Commission adopted Conservation Measure (CM) 91-05, establishing the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area. This paper updates the research and monitoring activities conducted by New Zealand relevant to the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area, as encouraged by CM 91-05 paragraph 16(i)–(ii). Annex B of this Conservation Measure specifies the RSrMPA specific objectives and the Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Nathan Walker (New Zealand)

Approved By:
Mr Nathan Walker (New Zealand)

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We provide a summary of the New Zealand research voyage to the Ross Sea region in 2021. The Ross Sea Life in a Changing Climate (ReLiCC) 2021 voyage on RV Tangaroa, TAN2101, was the first of two research voyages to the Ross Sea region funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) for the 2021 and 2023 austral summer seasons. The over-arching purpose Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Nathan Walker (New Zealand)

Approved By:
Mr Nathan Walker (New Zealand)

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This paper responds to a request from the Scientific Committee for the Secretariat to review the data that has been submitted for estimating the green-weight of krill, for each of the methods specified in CM 21-03, Annex 21-03/B (SC-CAMLR-38, paragraph 3.4). Results from the analysis demonstrate a good relationship between reported green-weights and the calculated krill green-weights using the Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Isaac Forster (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Approved By:
Dr David Agnew (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Results of observations of seabirds and mammals obtained during the acoustic survey in the Subarea 48.1 and 48.2 in January-March 2020 onboard the RV “ATLANTIDA” are presented  Seabirds were represented by 27 species. Marine mammals were represented by thirteen species of marine mammals.  Ten species belonged to cetaceans, three species belonged to the group of pinnipeds ( Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Svetlana Kasatkina (Russian Federation)

Approved By:
Dr Svetlana Kasatkina (Russian Federation)

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This report summarizes the spatial layers developed to date to support the development of the Weddell Sea Marine Protected Area Phase 2.  We link these spatial layers to the conservation objectives complementary to the Weddell Sea Marine Protected Area Phase 1 and preliminary specific conservation objectives for the Weddell Sea Marine Protected Area Phase 2. We include a summary of further Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Gary Griffith (Norway)

Approved By:
Dr Bjørn Krafft (Norway)

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We present initial findings from a multi-site, multi-species ecological study of pygoscelis penguins in the Bransfield Strait through the austral summer 2018-2019. Using high resolution GPS movement data in conjunction with C1 Catch and Effort data for the Antarctic krill fishery, we identify the home range distribution of chinstrap, gentoo and Adélie penguins at Baily Head (Deception Island Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Andrew Lowther (Norway)

Approved By:
Dr Bjørn Krafft (Norway)

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Fine-scale knowledge of spatiotemporal dynamics in cetacean presence and abundance throughout the Antarctic Peninsula (AP) is lacking yet essential for effective ecosystem-based management (EBM). We used cruise vessels as platforms of opportunity to investigate an important area both for migratory humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Andrew Lowther (Norway)

Approved By:
Dr Bjørn Krafft (Norway)

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Two independent lines of evidence have been presented to the working groups and SC-CAMLR that claim to demonstrate that fishery-driven localised depletion of krill around pygoscelid penguin colonies has had a deleterious effect on their performance traits and demographic trends, that are equivalent to the impacts of climate variation. One study utilises 30 years of penguin foraging and Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Andrew Lowther (Norway)

Approved By:
Dr Bjørn Krafft (Norway)

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Based on the results of RV Atlantida cruise in January - March 2020 in Subareas 48.1 and 48.2  data on the structure, quantitative indicators and spatial distribution of phytoplankton and zooplankton (species composition, abundance, biomass), primary production phytoplankton, chlorophyll concentration were obtained. Sampling stations were located above depths of 82 - 4300 m. Chlorophyll was Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Svetlana Kasatkina (Russian Federation)

Approved By:
Dr Svetlana Kasatkina (Russian Federation)

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This report summarizes the workshop sponsored by the Integrating Climate and Ecosystem Dynamics in the Southern Ocean program (ICED). The workshop, held from 17-20 May 2021, was focussed on improving our modeling of Antarctic krill and strengthening connections between the krill modeling community, the SCAR Krill Action Group (SKAG) and the scientists involved in CCAMLR (particularly WG-EMM). Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Anton Van de Putte (Belgium)

Approved By:
Dr Anton Van de Putte (Belgium)

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Ardley Island, in the Fildes Region, southwest of King George Island, South Shetland Islands, is an Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA N° 150) and is one of the few areas in Antarctica where the three Pygoscelis penguin species (Adélie, Chinstrap and Gentoo) breed sympatrically. Since the 1980s, a research group from the University of Jena, Germany, has been monitoring the breeding pairs Read More
Submitted By:
Professor Alvaro Soutullo (Uruguay)

Approved By:
Professor Oscar Pin (Uruguay)

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The SCAR Antarctic Biodiversity Portal (biodiversity.aq) is an international effort that seeks to increase our knowledge and understanding of Antarctic and Southern Ocean biodiversity. It does so by supporting the publication of Antarctic and Southern Ocean biodiversity data, integrating data flows and the development of tools for the retrieval and Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Anton Van de Putte (Belgium)

Approved By:
Dr Anton Van de Putte (Belgium)

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Antarctic krill are an important component of the Antarctic marine ecosystem, providing a key food source for many marine predator species. Additionally, krill are the target of the largest commercial fishery in the Southern Ocean, for which annual catches have been increasing in recent years. The krill fishery is managed by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Read More
Submitted By:
Professor Philip Trathan (Oceanites)

Approved By:
Dr Chris Darby

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We have applied the risk assessment framework, developed by Constable et al. (2016), to Subarea 48.1, with the aim of identifying the most appropriate management units by which to spatially distribute the local catch limit for the commercial fishery for Antarctic krill. We use the best available data for implementing the approach which was endorsed by the Commission in 2019. The framework is Read More
Submitted By:
Professor Philip Trathan (Oceanites)

Approved By:
Dr Chris Darby

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Ecosystem dynamics at the north-west Antarctic Peninsula are driven by complex interactions between physical and biological processes. For example, baleen whale populations are recovering from commercial harvesting against the backdrop of rapid climate change, including reduced sea-ice extent and changing ecosystem composition. Concurrently, the commercial demand for Antarctic krill is Read More
Submitted By:
Professor Philip Trathan (Oceanites)

Approved By:
Dr Chris Darby

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CCAMLR has now endorsed a new strategy for the management of Antarctic krill Euphausia superba. This combines outputs from a (i) Generalised Yield Model, (ii) updated krill biomass estimate, and (iii) a risk assessment, to identify catch limits and their spatial distribution for the krill fishery so that harvesting remains precautionary. The risk assessment can be used to identify how Read More
Submitted By:
Professor Philip Trathan (Oceanites)

Approved By:
Dr Chris Darby

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In this paper, we report recent changes in the spatial extent of the Pine Island Glacier. The 22% reduction in areal extent means that the newly exposed marine area has been classified as a Stage 1 Special Area for Scientific Study (SASS) in accordance with Conservation Measure 24-04.

This paper provides additional information to that included in COMM CIRC 21/76, allowing WG-EMM Read More
Submitted By:
Professor Philip Trathan (Oceanites)

Approved By:
Dr Chris Darby

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The timing of breeding is an important aspect of a species’ realised niche, a method of avoiding competition and a key determinant of breeding success. The flexibility of these strategies may structure community assemblages, particularly in highly seasonal environments such as the Polar Regions. Flexibility in timing likely determines the adaptability of species to rapid, anthropogenic Read More
Submitted By:
Professor Philip Trathan (Oceanites)

Approved By:
Dr Chris Darby

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Distribution pattern of living resources is spatial scale-dependence, therefore an inappropriate scale may produce misleading results. As a key species in the Antarctic ecosystem, distribution of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) demonstrates significant spatial-temporal heterogeneity. The distribution pattern of this species is spatiotemporal complex and cannot be predicted Read More
Submitted By:
Professor Guoping Zhu (China)

Approved By:
Dr Xianyong Zhao (China)

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To aid the development of a simple first step management approach for the Antarctic krill in Subarea 48.1, the suitable spatial scale for biomass estimate, the choice of recruitment index for the GrYM model and some considerations for the risk assessment are discussed.  

Cetacean observations were conducted onboard the Ukrainian trawler “MORE SODRUZHESTVA”, which fished Antarctic krill and was used as a platform of opportunistic research during the cruise from December 2020 till March 2021. During the Australian summer the fishing grounds were in the CCAMLR Statistical Area 48.2 (South Orkney Islands). Visual observations of marine mammals were conducted.

Parasitological study was conducted onboard the Ukrainian trawler “MORE SODRUZHESTVA”, which fished Antarctic krill during the cruise from the end of December 2020 till the end of March 2021. All fish specimens collected and examined were infected with helminths of five taxonomic groups (Nematoda, Cestoda, Trematoda, Acanthocephala or Monogeneans). Two groups of helminths dominated in the Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Kostiantyn Demianenko (Ukraine)

Approved By:
Dr Kostiantyn Demianenko (Ukraine)

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Krill play a crucial role in the transfer of energy in the marine food web, connecting primary producers and the upper trophic levels in the Terra Nova Bay polynya (TNBP), which is part of the Ross Sea marine protected area. Despite the substantial ecological importance of krill, there are few studies on their distribution and abundance in the TNBP. An acoustic survey was conducted on 7–14 Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Jeong-Hoon Kim (Korea, Republic of)

Approved By:
Dr Seok-Gwan Choi (Korea, Republic of)

Publication:
Front. Mar. Sci., 7:584550 (2020): doi: 10.3389/fmars.2020.584550

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Within the framework of the Marine Ecosystem Assessment for the Southern Ocean (MEASO), Pinkerton et al. (2021) brings together analyses of recent trends in phytoplankton biomass, primary production and irradiance at the base of the mixed layer in the Southern Ocean and summarises future projections. Satellite observations suggest that phytoplankton biomass in the mixed-layer has increased Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Nathan Walker (New Zealand)

Approved By:
Mr Nathan Walker (New Zealand)

Publication:
Ocean. Front. Ecol. Evol., 9:592027 (2021): doi: 10.3389/fevo.2021.592027

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Sea ice algae in the Southern Ocean have strong ecological and biogeochemical significance, providing a lipid rich food-resource to keystone species such as Antarctic krill. Despite their ecological importance, estimating seasonal or interannual changes in ice algal production at the Antarctic circumpolar scale is not presently possible. We show that the product of ice concentration and Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Nathan Walker (New Zealand)

Approved By:
Mr Nathan Walker (New Zealand)

Publication:
J. Mar. Sys., 221:103576 (2021): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2021.103576

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The Ross Sea, Antarctica, is amongst the least human-impacted marine environments, and the site of the world’s largest Marine Protected Area, the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area. We present research on two components of the Ross Sea benthic fauna: mega-epifauna, and macro-infauna, sampled using video and multicore, respectively, on the continental shelf and in previously unsampled Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Nathan Walker (New Zealand)

Approved By:
Mr Nathan Walker (New Zealand)

Publication:
Front. Mar. Sci., 8:629787 (2021) : doi: 10.3389/fmars.2021.629787

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The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This pathogen has spread rapidly across the world, causing high numbers of deaths and significant social and economic impacts. SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus with a suggested zoonotic origin with the potential for cross-species transmission among animals. Read More
Submitted By:
Dr Andrés Barbosa

Approved By:
Mr Roberto Sarralde Vizuete (Spain)

Publication:
Science of the Total Environment, 755:143352 (2021): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143352

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The Antarctic Peninsula is one of the most rapidly warming regions on earth, and it is likely that the abundance and distribution of marine predators will change as a result.Procellariiform seabirds are highly mobile predators, which target specific habitat characteristics associated with underlying distributions of prey and areas of increased prey availability. We use ship surveys and hurdle Read More
Submitted By:
Professor Philip Trathan (Oceanites)

Approved By:
Dr Chris Darby

Publication:
ICES J. Mar. Sci. (2021) : doi:1 0.1093/icesjms/fsab020

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Southern Ocean marine ecosystems are highly vulnerable to climate-driven change, the impacts of which must be factored into conservation and management. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) is aware of the urgent need to develop climate-responsive options within its ecosystem approach to management. However, limited capacity as well as political Read More
Submitted By:
Professor Philip Trathan (Oceanites)

Approved By:
Dr Chris Darby

Publication:
Marine Policy, 131 (2021): doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104589

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