WG-FSA-14

The 2014 meeting of WG-FSA will be convened by Dr M. Belchier (UK). The agenda of the meeting will be discussed and adopted, and the provisional agenda herein covers items to be considered by WG-FSA in plenary sessions. The Secretariat will outline local arrangements for the meeting.

WG-FSA will undertake assessments for specific stocks and areas (Table 1) as required to provide the Scientific Committee with advice on precautionary catch limits and other issues relevant to the management of CCAMLR’s fishery resources.

Review and advice is provided annually in most fisheries, and biennially in the fisheries for Dissostichus eleginoides in Subarea 48.3 and Division 58.5.2 and Dissostichus spp. in Subareas 88.1 and 88.2 (SC-CAMLR-XXVI, paragraph 14.6).

The Working Group will undertake the majority of the work identified in the adopted agenda in subgroups. Progress reports will be given from each subgroup to plenary sessions, with the opportunity for additional discussion and consideration. The prioritisation and scheduling of subgroups will be directed by the Convener.

Subgroup conveners will be responsible for reporting the subgroup discussions to the plenary and providing draft text for the WG-FSA report.

Subgroups and subgroup activities will provisionally consist of the following:

• Subgroup on assessments – review preliminary assessments and further develop stock assessments and estimation of precautionary catch limits of target species, noting the need to consider an assessment for D. eleginoides in Division 58.5.2 and options for the assessment of Dissostichus spp. in Subarea 88.2 need to be reviewed (Agenda Item 4).
• Subgroup on research to inform current or future assessments – review information from exploratory fisheries from the past season, and review and evaluate plans for research fishing for toothfish to inform current or future assessments in data-poor exploratory fisheries, closed fisheries and fisheries with zero catch limits (Agenda Item 5.3)
• Subgroup on the scientific observer program – review and further develop the observer sampling protocols, the CCAMLR Scientific Observers Manual and priorities for scientific observers including recommendations relating to tagging arising from discussion at WG-SAM (Agenda Item 7)
• Subgroup on non-target catch in CCAMLR Fisheries – review catches of fish and non-VME invertebrates taken as by-catch, as well as incidental catches of seabirds and marine mammals in longline and trawl fisheries (Agenda Item 8)
• Subgroup on biology, ecology and fish-based ecosystems – review ecological and ecosystem considerations relevant to the management of CCAMLR fisheries (Agenda Item 9).

Table 1: CCAMLR fisheries and schedule of advice for consideration by WG-FSA.

* require additional consideration in 2014 

WG-FSA will review data submitted to the CCAMLR Secretariat from commercial fisheries and fishery-based research in 2013/14, including information relevant to stock assessments, including inter alia:

• catch and effort data
• estimates of IUU fishing
• catches of D. eleginoides in waters adjacent to the Convention Area
• scientific observer information
• incidental mortality arising from fishing.

WG-FSA will review inputs to stock assessments, particularly those that have changed since the last assessments, and submitted papers that summarise preliminary stock assessments. Authors of preliminary stock assessments should prepare brief presentations (5–10 minutes) which summarise the methodologies, model assumptions, fits and diagnostics, projections and estimates of precautionary yield.

WG-FSA will evaluate the information available and the preliminary assessments and determine which stocks will be assessed.

Assessments and management advice will be developed for those fisheries identified in Agenda Item 4.1. Guidelines for the review process were set out in WG-FSA-06/6 (paragraphs 6.1 to 6.3). In cases where no new assessments will be undertaken, Fishery Reports will be updated with current information. Subject to Working Group discussions, management advice may be updated, revised or carried forward.

For each established fishery (Table 1), the Fishery Report will be updated with current information, and may include the assessment method used, the input data, results of the assessments and WG-FSA’s advice to the Scientific Committee. Copies of last year’s Fishery Reports, with initial updates and edits, will be available from the Secretariat prior to the meeting.

WG-FSA will review available information on the operation of exploratory fisheries carried out in 2013/14.

The Secretariat will summarise information contained in Members’ notifications for proposed exploratory fisheries in 2014/15 (no new fishery has been notified for next season). WG-FSA will review these notifications and formulate management advice for consideration by the Scientific Committee. The research plans in these notifications will be considered in Agenda Item 5.3.

WG-FSA will review research plans designed to inform current or future assessments for Dissostichus spp. in data-poor exploratory fisheries, closed fisheries and other areas in respect of research on toothfish conducted under Conservation Measure (CM) 24-01. This review will include consideration of advice provided by WG-SAM-14. WG-FSA will also review research in exploratory fisheries with assessments, including consideration of advice provided by WG-SAM-14.

For each exploratory fishery (Table 1), the Fishery Report will be updated with current information, including additional management advice, such as precautionary catch limits and management of those catch limits.

WG-FSA will consider any new information on direct and indirect interactions between bottom fisheries and VMEs including, inter alia, the following sub-items.

WG-FSA will review potential encounters with VMEs notified under Conservation Measure (CM) 22-07 and VME risk areas declared in 2013/14. The Working Group will also consider information on additional mitigation measures to reduce risk of significant adverse impacts on VMEs and advice that resulted from the deliberations of WG-EMM-14.

WG-FSA will review the Report on Bottom Fisheries and VMEs.

WG-FSA will review scientific observer information, consider observer requirements and refine sampling protocols (if needed) for scientific observation on board fishing vessels (including during research fishing) in the Convention Area. WG-FSA will also consider the implementation plan for the recommendations of the 2013 SISO review.

WG-FSA will review available information on catches and potential mitigation measures related to fish and non-VME invertebrates taken as by-catch in longline and trawl fisheries (including fish by-catch in the krill fishery).

WG-FSA will review incidental catches and associated mortality of marine mammals and seabirds in trawl and longline fisheries.

WG-FSA will review fish-based ecological and ecosystem information relevant to the management of CCAMLR fisheries. WG-FSA may also review WG-EMM’s consideration of fish-based ecosystem interactions (WG-EMM-14, paragraph 2.109).

WG-FSA will review its multi-year work plan (SC-CCAMLR-XXX, Table 6) and develop further advice as needed. The Working Group may also consider the format of future meetings.

The Working Group will consider reports form Members of upcoming research in the CCAMLR Convention Area (including research under Conservation Measure (CM) 24-01 not considered in Agenda Item 5), particularly where there may be potential for collaboration between Members in that research, and advise the Scientific Committee as required.

WG-FSA may wish to consider and provide advice on matters which are not included elsewhere in the agenda, including reports from other meetings and research activities.

WG-FSA will collate, summarise and organise advice, items of interest and concern, and requests for information and guidance that were agreed at the meeting.

The process of the production of the report will be outlined by the Convener at the start of the meeting. The report will be adopted in plenary on the final day of the meeting.