WG-IMAF-2022

The meeting will start with an introduction by the Working Group Co-conveners and inform delegates of administrative, technical and organisational matters.

Procedural agenda item. The annotated agenda has been prepared to assist meeting attendees in identifying which papers are planned to be discussed under individual agenda items. Once the agenda is adopted, rapporteurs and subgroups for the consideration of particular issues will be appointed.

The Working Group will review the data on incidental mortality of marine mammals and seabirds, with emphasis on the period 2011 to 2022 during the absence of WG-IMAF .

Update on population status and trends for species occurring in the CAMLR Convention Area.

The Co-conveners will introduce the recent humpback whale by-catch issues, and refer to outcomes from the intersessional actions to engage with IWC during 2022.

The Co-conveners will refer to recent seal by-catch events reported and discuss actions to better understand causes leading to these high rates and ways to mitigate the mortality.

Review of mitigation methods to reduce the incidental mortality of pinnipeds and cetaceans. The Working Group also will give consideration to the development of move-on rules or avoidance techniques in the krill fishery, and the design of marine mammal exclusion devices.

Update on population status and trends for species occurring in or adjacent to the CAMLR Convention Area.

Discussion on emerging issues of seabird by-catch in CCAMLR fisheries. Consideration of a standard method for the extrapolation from incidental mortalities and warp/cable strikes to estimate total interactions and mortality numbers, accounting for differences between fishing methods, hauling/setting versus trawling period, time of day and season.

Consideration of bird strike trials and provision of guidance on warp/cable strike counts by observers, as well as discussion on mitigation measure designs to reduce bird strikes on trawl warps and net monitoring cables.

Discussion on matters related to data collection, observer protocols, needs and ways to refine data quality where needed.

Following the recommendation by SC-CAMLR-40, collaboration with intergovernmental organisations (namely ACAP and IWC) and the fishing industry (COLTO, ARK) is expected. The Working Group will discuss modalities to maximise collaboration with these and other organisations (including relevant regional fisheries management organisations) to reduce the incidental mortality of seabirds and marine mammals in CCAMLR and neighbouring waters.

The Working Group will identify tasks to undertake during the intersessional period, and identify Working Group participants willing to contribute on particular tasks.

The Working Group will review the Strategic Plan 2023–2027.

The Working Group will review current Working Group terms of reference and discuss the needs for updates or amendments, noting WG-IMAF is meeting after a 10-year break.