East Antarctica Planning Domain MPA Planning Reference Document #3: Draft MPA Report Part 3 – Research and Monitoring (update of SC-CAMLR-IM-I/BG/01)

This paper is Part 3 of an update of the draft MPA Report for the East Antarctica Planning Domain presented in paper WG-EMM-14/48 following advice from WG-EMM in 2014. The rationale for the three parts is provided in SC-CAMLR-XXXIII/BG/38. This paper provides a more detailed account of research and monitoring in the East Antarctica Planning Domain and how this can form the basis of a research and monitoring program to support the East Antarctica Representative System of Marine Protected Areas. It is an update of SC-CAMLR-IM-1/BG/1, which was submitted to the first intersessional meeting of the Scientific Committee in Bremerhaven, Germany in 2013. Research and monitoring in East Antarctica for the purposes of CCAMLR, at present, relates to assessing the distribution and productivity of target species - Antarctic toothfish and krill - and krill predators - penguins - in the CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program. These research activities are expected to continue. When adopted, the proposed East Antarctica Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (EARSMPA) will require the establishment of a research and monitoring plan (RM Plan) related to the management and review of the MPAs. We show how the scientific initiatives currently underway in the region could be used as a foundation for a RM Plan for the EARSMPA. All Members are invited to participate in the research and monitoring activities, particularly through these initiatives. This paper is structured to first provide the text from the draft conservation measure for the EARSMPA on the priority elements of the RM Plan. Second, summaries are provided of initiatives currently underway that could provide research and monitoring in the region. Last, we assess which parts of the RM Plan would benefit from the outcomes of the initiatives.