Safety and the environmental impact of CCAMLR fishing vessels

In recent years, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted a number of regulations and guidelines with relevance to fishing vessels operating in the CCAMLR Area. These include requirements for safe navigation and voyage planning that will be mandatory from 1^st January 2026 and voluntary Guidelines for the safety of fishing vessels operating in polar waters. ASOC highlights the need for CCAMLR to update existing CCAMLR Resolutions 23/XXIII 34/XXXI to reflect these developments. The IMO is also engaged in ongoing work to address the threat from marine plastic litter from ships, including the marking of fishing gear and the reporting of lost or discharged fishing gear. ASOC reiterates its recommendation that CCAMLR develop an action plan to reduce sources of plastics and microplastics, including discarded fishing gear. Finally, due to the threats posed by unregulated discharges of gray water from ships, ASOC recommends that CCAMLR consider including the management of gray water from fishing vessels in the future workplan, encourage discussion of the management of gray water amongst all stakeholders, and consider the need for a prohibition on the discharge of untreated gray water into CCAMLR waters.