WG-ASAM-2025

The Working Group will review the Terms of Reference and the workplan set out in SC-CAMLR-43, Table 6.

The Working Group will consider progress in recommending appropriate methods and procedures for calibration of non-EK80 echosounders on vessels used for acoustic data collection and review the existing calibration documentation with the aim to streamline and minimise complexity and data reporting requirements.

The Working Group will review guidance for conducting surveys (WG-ASAM-2024 Appendices D, E and F). The Working Group will recommend transects structure and sampling frequency and reporting requirements for transects in Subarea 48.1. The Working Group will consider transect designs for other areas, including the skills and equipment needed by those collecting the data on board fishing vessels.

The Working Group will consider the timing (i.e. summer vs winter), annual (i.e. degree of transects repeated) of data collection inside and outside the core management units. The Working Group will also consider a process to prioritise the required data for non-core management units.

The Working Group will review and recommend the data collection requirements to support krill biomass estimation from vessels undertaking acoustic surveys for krill including the skills and equipment needed by those collecting the data on board fishing vessels.

The Working Group will review protocols for the collection of CTD data, including the attachment of CTDs to the sampling net. The Working Group will also recommend metadata required and the skills and equipment needed by those collecting the data on board fishing vessels.

The Working Group will review the acoustic survey metadata form and requirements and acoustic data submission guidelines and formats.

The Working Group will review analytical procedures to update krill biomass estimates in Subarea 48.1.

The Working Group will consider different methods for the development of stratified biomass estimates and recommend appropriate methods.

The Working Group will review the methods and quality assurance required for dedicated acoustic surveys to deliver krill biomass estimates to CCAMLR for use in management, including the use of benchmarked datasets.

The Working Group will revise biomass estimates in Subarea 48.1 based on the management units agreed in 2024, ideally based on papers submitted. The Working Group will identify information needs and analytical workflow and timing for periodic updating of the estimates of krill biomass in the core krill management units identified by WG-EMM-2024 (Figure 10).

The Working Group will review any survey results for biomass estimates from East Antarctic surveys.

The Working Group will consider design and analysis methods to examine temporal and spatial variability of krill distribution by observations from various sources (e.g., gliders, moorings, and acoustic data collected during routine fishing activities).

The Working Group will consider papers submitted regarding the design, analysis or results of biomass surveys for finfish such as mackerel icefish.

The Working Group will consider the workplan in SC-CAMLR-43 Table 6 and identify any reprioritisation or revision for discussion by the Scientific Committee.

The Working Group will consider any other business, including acoustic survey data from research conducted under CM 24-01.