CCAMLR-XIX COMMISSION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF ANTARCTIC MARINE LIVING RESOURCES REPORT OF THE NINETEENTH MEETING OF THE COMMISSION HOBART, AUSTRALIA 23 OCTOBER – 3 NOVEMBER 2000 CCAMLR PO Box 213 North Hobart 7002 Tasmania AUSTRALIA _______________________ Telephone: 61 3 6231 0366 Facsimile: 61 3 6234 9965 Email: [email protected] Chairman of the Commission Website: www.ccamlr.org November 2000 ________________________________________________________________________________________ This document is produced in the official languages of the Commission: English, French, Russian and Spanish. Copies are available from the CCAMLR Secretariat at the above address. Abstract This document is the adopted record of the Nineteenth Meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources held in Hobart, Australia from 23 October to 3 November 2000. Major topics discussed at this meeting include: review of the Report of the Scientific Committee; illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the Convention Area; assessment and avoidance of incidental mortality of Antarctic marine living resources; new and exploratory fisheries; current operation of the System of Inspection and the Scheme of International Scientific Observation; compliance with conservation measures in force; review of existing conservation measures and adoption of new conservation measures; management under conditions of uncertainty; and cooperation with other international organisations including the Antarctic Treaty System. The Reports of the Standing Committee on Administration and Finance and the Standing Committee on Observation and Inspection are appended. ISSN 1031 - 3184 CONTENTS Page OPENING OF THE MEETING ORGANISATION OF THE MEETING Adoption of the Agenda Accession to the Convention Statement by New Zealand FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION Examination of Audited Financial Statements for 1999 and 2000 Member Contributions Review of Budget for 2000 Budget for 2001 Forecast Budget for 2002 Management Review of the Secretariat Terms of Tenure of Executive Secretary SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE Intersessional Activities Fishery Status and Trends Dependent Species Harvested Species Krill Resources Finfish Resources Ecosystem Monitoring and Management Research Exemption CCAMLR Data Management Publications Activities of the Scientific Committee during the 2000/01 Intersessional Period Scientific Committee Budget Chair of the Scientific Committee ILLEGAL, UNREPORTED AND UNREGULATED FISHING IN THE CONVENTION AREA Catch Documentation Scheme for Dissostichus spp. Rules for Access to CDS Data Implementation of Other Measures aimed at the Elimination of IUU Fishing Cooperation with Non-Contracting Parties and the Provision of Landing and Trade Statistics ASSESSMENT AND AVOIDANCE OF INCIDENTAL MORTALITY OF ANTARCTIC MARINE LIVING RESOURCES Marine Debris Incidental Mortality of Marine Animals during Fishing Operations Regulated Longline Fisheries in the Convention Area IUU Longline Fishing New and Exploratory Fisheries International and National Initiatives relating to Incidental Mortality of Seabirds in Longline Fishing Incidental Mortality in Trawl Fisheries NEW AND EXPLORATORY FISHERIES New and Exploratory Fisheries in 1999/2000 New and Exploratory Fisheries in 2000/01 Catch Limits OBSERVATION AND INSPECTION Operation of the System of Inspection and Compliance with Conservation Measures Actions by Flag States Operation of the Scheme of International Scientific Observation SCOI Working Arrangements CONSERVATION MEASURES Timing of the Season for Longline Fishing Review of Existing Conservation Measures Lapsed Measures Measures remaining in Force Revised Measures Catch Documentation Scheme for Dissostichus spp. Compliance with Conservation Measures CEMP Sites Research Exemption Minimisation of Incidental Mortality of Seabirds Data Reporting Euphausia superba New Conservation Measures Assessed Fisheries Champsocephalus gunnari Dissostichus eleginoides Electrona carlsbergi By-catch Species Exploratory Fisheries for Dissostichus spp. General Measure Exploratory Fisheries Other Fisheries Chaenodraco wilsoni and Other Species Martialia hyadesi Paralomis spp. Other Measures and Related Matters General MANAGEMENT UNDER UNCERTAINTY IUU Fishing Regulatory Framework Trigger Levels in the Management of the Krill Fishery (ii) COOPERATION WITH OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE ANTARCTIC TREATY SYSTEM Third Meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection of ATCM (CEP-III) Assessments of Proposals for Antarctic Specially Protected Areas which include Marine Areas Cooperation with SCAR COOPERATION WITH OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS Reports from Observers from International Organisations Reports of CCAMLR Representatives at 1999/2000 Meetings of Other International Organisations Nomination of CCAMLR Observers to 2000/01 Meetings of International Organisations CONSIDERATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OBJECTIVE OF THE CONVENTION ELECTION OF CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION REPLACEMENT OF EXECUTIVE SECRETARY NEXT MEETING Invitation of Observers to Next Meeting Date and Location of Next Meeting OTHER BUSINESS Competency of Fishing by Members of the European Community Scientific Acknowledgement Twentieth Meeting of CCAMLR ADOPTION OF THE REPORT CLOSE OF THE MEETING Annex 1: List of Participants Annex 2: List of Documents Annex 3: Agenda for the Nineteenth Meeting of the Commission Annex 4: Report of the Standing Committee on Administration and Finance (SCAF) Annex 5: Report of the Standing Committee on Observation and Inspection (SCOI) (iii) Annex 6: Conservation Measures and Resolutions Adopted at CCAMLR-XIX Annex 7: Procedures for the Appointment of the Executive Secretary to CCAMLR (iv) REPORT OF THE NINETEENTH MEETING OF THE COMMISSION (Hobart, Australia, 23 October to 3 November 2000) OPENING OF THE MEETING 1.1 The Nineteenth Annual Meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources was held in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, from 23 October to 3 November 2000. The Executive Secretary conveyed the apologies of the Chair, Dr A.E. Muthunayagam who was not available for the opening of the meeting due to unforeseen circumstances and Mr V. Brukhis (Russia), Vice-Chair, assumed the Chair in his absence. Mr Brukhis then opened the meeting. 1.2 The Chair of the Commission took over his responsibilities after the first two agenda items were dealt with. 1.3 Twenty-two of the 23 Members of the Commission were represented: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, European Community, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Russian Federation, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Island, United States of America and Uruguay. Poland was not represented. 1.4 Other Contracting Parties, Bulgaria, Canada, Finland, Greece, Namibia, Netherlands and Peru, were invited to attend the meeting as observers. Bulgaria, Netherlands, Namibia and Peru attended. 1.5 The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC), the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP), the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT), the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (I-ATTC), the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), the Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission (IOFC), the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the International Whaling Commission (IWC), the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) the South Pacific Commission (SPC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) were invited to attend the meeting as observers. ASOC, CEP, FAO, IUCN, IWC, SCAR and SCOR attended. 1.6 Belize, China, Panama, Portugal, Mauritius, Seychelles and Vanuatu who were known to have an interest in fishing for, or trade in, Dissostichus spp. were also invited to attend as observers in accordance with CCAMLR-XVIII, paragraphs 16.2 and 16.5. Mauritius was represented. 1.7 The List of Participants is given in Annex 1. The List of Documents presented to the meeting is given in Annex 2. 1.8 The Vice-Chair welcomed all Members and introduced His Excellency the Honourable Sir Guy Green, AC, KBE, Governor of Tasmania. 1.9 His Excellency extended a warm welcome to all delegates to Tasmania. In his address he highlighted the CCAMLR 2000 Krill Synoptic Survey of Area 48 (CCAMLR-2000 Survey) undertaken early in January–February by CCAMLR Member States as a major scientific achievement. The survey had contributed a unique set of data that enabled the Scientific Committee and CCAMLR to take a well-informed assessment of the status of krill. This had also provided a significant contribution to the general body of scientific knowledge. 1.10 He acknowledged the widespread concern about seabird by-catch, particularly in relation to albatrosses and petrels, and noted CCAMLR’s involvement in a meeting to develop an agreement on the conservation of these taxa. He suggested that, due to its unique role and standing, CCAMLR was well placed to make significant contributions to the development of an agreement and action plan. 1.11 His Excellency noted that an important issue for CCAMLR-XIX was the review of the Catch Documentation Scheme for Dissostichus spp. (CDS) which had been established last year. He was impressed by the resolute and practical approach that CCAMLR was taking with