At CCAMLR-40, due to a lack of consensus, the Commission was unable to re-adopt conservation measure (CM) 41-02, which should have established catch limits for Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) in Subarea 48.3 for the 2021/2022 fishing season. However, vessels flying the flag of the United Kingdom carried out fishing operations in this subarea despite the absence of this CM that would have enabled fishing.
This document analyses why such fishing activities for Dissostichus eleginoides in Subarea 48.3 contravenes CM 31-01 “Regulation of fishing around South Georgia (Statistical Subarea 48.3)” which applies to said subarea. These fishing activities are illegal as they infringe CCAMLR regulations, the spirit and purpose of the CAMLR Convention, as well as the organization's practice over the last four decades.