WG-EMM-2026

Participants will be welcomed and information about various housekeeping details (e.g., schedule and breaks, restrooms, safety, meeting server, etc.) will be provided. The working group to review the Terms of Reference (SC-CIRC 23/52, https://www.ccamlr.org/en/science/working-goup-ecosystem-monitoring-and…): 
1) To provide advice to the Scientific Committee, its Members, and its working groups on: 
a) the status of krill 
b) the status and trends of dependent and related populations including the identification of information required to evaluate predator/prey/fisheries interactions and their relationships to environmental features and including the role of fish in the ecosystem 
c) environmental features and trends which may influence the abundance and distribution of harvested, dependent, related and/or depleted populations 
d) identify, recommend and coordinate research necessary to obtain information on predator/prey/fisheries interactions, particularly those involving harvested, dependent, related and/or depleted populations 
e) develop, coordinate the implementation of, and ensure continuity in the CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program (CEMP) 
f) spatial management with the aim of conserving marine biodiversity in the Convention Area 
g) management advice on the status of the Antarctic marine ecosystem and for the management of krill fisheries in full accordance with Convention Article II. 
2) To provide any other advice, within its area of expertise, to the Scientific Committee and its working groups as directed by the Scientific Committee. 
The Working group will review, modify as necessary, and adopt the agenda.

The Working Group will consider updates on the biology and ecology of key components of the Antarctic marine ecosystem as well as ecosystem impacts arising from predator/prey/fisheries interactions. The Working Group will also consider the acquisition of environmental data at appropriate spatial and temporal scales to identify potential drivers of variation in monitored ecological parameters, the effects of climate change and communication of management-relevant results (e.g., SOAE reports).

The Working Group will consider advice from WG-ASAM and papers submitted on the krill stock hypothesis, krill life history parameters, and krill population status and dynamics.

The Working Group will consider papers on the status and trends of krill predators, including updates on CEMP data submissions.

The Working Group will consider papers on climate change and related impacts on the Antarctic ecosystem, including development of the State of the Antarctic Environment reporting, relevant outcomes from the Joint CEP/SC-CAMLR workshop on Climate Change and Monitoring, and communication of management-relevant results.

The Working Group will discuss impacts on the marine ecosystem arising from other impacts, including disease, marine debris, and pollutants.

The Working Group will consider progress made by the six CEMP review teams toward an enhanced CEMP: Analysis of existing data, Sentinel species monitoring, Analysis of tracking data, Cetacean monitoring, External data of Relevance, and Krill Fishery and at-sea Data Collection.

The Working Group will consider updates on fishing activities, catches, CPUE, by-catch, and estimation of conversion factors.

The Working Group will consider updates on krill catches, their spatial and temporal distribution, fishery dynamics, and necessary data reporting.

The Working Group will consider reports from Scientific Observer data collection such as krill biological sampling, by-catch sampling, IMAF data collection, and other biological sampling.

The Working Group will formulate advice for future management of the krill fishery, taking account of advice from other working groups. In particular, the Working Group will discuss issues related to the spatio-temporal allocation of catch limits from the Spatial Overlap Analysis, the regional-scale estimate of krill biomass, and precautionary harvest rates (gamma) estimated using the GRYM. Papers that advance the three components of the KFMA, its implementation, and coordination with the D1MPA planning are welcome.

The Working Group will consider papers that summarise the development of the KFMA or provide material updates to the KFMA, including updated spatial overlap analyses, krill biomass estimates, harvest rate estimates, and incorporation of the krill stock hypothesis. The Working Group will discuss coordination of the KFMA and the D1MPA proposal, including relevant outcomes from the workshop on Harmonisation in Subarea 48.2. Papers describing the development of the KFMA for Area 58 are also welcome.

The WG will discuss papers and generate advice on the implementation of the KMFA in Area 48, including advice on small-scale management units, the distribution of spatial and temporal catch limits, and integration with the D1MPA proposal and relevant outcomes of Subarea 48.2 Workshop and the SHIFT discussion group.

The Working Group will discuss and generate data collection plans and timelines to support CCAMLR ecosystem monitoring needs to implement the KFMA, including via enhancements to CEMP, SISO, and other at-sea observations.

The Working Group will review developments on spatial management issues, including the review of MPAs, updates to MPA proposals, development of RMPs, and any other spatial management approaches.

The Working Group will review proposals for new Marine Protected Areas, and papers on the development and implementation of Research and Monitoring Plans.

The Working Group will consider papers and data on existing MPAs and mandated reviews of MPAs.

The Working Group will consider papers related to other spatial management approaches (e.g., VME, ASPAs, Special Areas for Scientific Study).

The Working Group will discuss any other business raised by Members, as needed.

The Working Group will review and propose updates to the EMM work plan, which was updated during SC-43 an incorporated into the overall scientific Committee workplan: https://meetings.ccamlr.org/en/p/sc-strategic-workplan.

Relevant advice generated by the Working Group for the Scientific Committee will be collated from the report.

The Working Group will adopt a consensus report detailing necessary steps toward progress if consensus on particular elements of the report cannot be reached.