CCMLR s ecosystem approach to managing ntarctic fisheries ndrew Wright Eecutive Secretary CCMLR Secretariat
This presentation bout CCMLR History of ntarctic fishing The role of data Institutional structure Current fisheries The regulatory framework Setting catch limits The krill resource in the SW tlantic Marine protected areas Ecosystem monitoring the CCMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Programme
bout CCMLR () Responsible for the conservation of ntarctic marine ecosystems, including the sustainable management of fisheries in the Southern Ocean Pioneered the ecosystem-based and precautionary approaches Multi-lateral organisation (not a RFMO ) Established by international treaty in 1982 25 Member countries
CCMLR Members
CCMLR s Convention rea the Southern Ocean tlantic 45 o S Indian Pacific 60 o S reas 48: Southern tlantic 58: Southern Indian 88: Southern Pacific
Ecosystem-based fishery management (EBFM) Rational utilisation of resources while maintaining ecological relationships Maintain ecosystem processes + Manage sustainable fishing
Harvesting up to the early 1980s (pre-ccmlr) 1800s sealing (1790-1950) 1900s whaling (peak 1930s) 1970s fisheries for rockcods, icefish, krill 1980s fisheries for toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) 1982 CCMLR established by an international Convention
Millions of tonnes The pristine wilderness a myth 0.2 Fur Seal 0 Elephant Seal 3 2 1 Whales 0 1 0.5 0 1 0.5 0 Fish Krill 1800 1850 1900 1950 2000
Catch (tonnes) Catch history Marbled rockcod Notothenia rossii 400000 rea 48 rea 58 rea 88 300000 200000 100000 0 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2002 2007 CCMLR Season CCMLR Notothenia rossii
Catch (tonnes) Catch history Mackerel icefish Champsocephalus gunnari 100000 151940 187376 rea 48 rea 58 rea 88 75000 50000 25000 0 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 CCMLR CCMLR Season Champsocephalus gunnari
The CMLR Convention 3. ny harvesting shall be conducted in accordance with the following principles of conservation: (a) prevention of decrease in the size of any harvested population to levels below those which ensure its stable recruitment. (b) maintenance of the ecological relationships between harvested, dependent and related populations and the restoration of depleted populations and (c) prevention or minimisation of the risk of changes in the marine ecosystem which are not potentially reversible over two or three decades,
The CMLR Convention, and the institutional structure, provide for decision-making based on best available science...data supports the science
Fishery data requirements The requirements for collecting and submitting data to the Data Centre are generally described in the Schedule of Conservation Measures in Force (annual publication available from the CCMLR website). Standard forms capture data from: Fisheries in the Southern Ocean Scientific observations on board fishing vessels Fishery-based research Research surveys and ecosystem monitoring Compliance activities and processes.
Data requirements The types of data required by CCMLR include: Fishery data Catch and effort real-time reports Haul-by-haul data for catch and effort, biological data and VME-indicator taxa STTLNT catch and effort data (public domain) Scientific observer data Cruise report Logbook data (e.g. fishing operations, biological data, mitigation, tag-release data, fish condition and hooking injuries) Survey data Fishery survey data (surveys and research fishing)
Data requirements (continued ) Compliance data Vessel information (including movements) Licensing Inspectors and inspections Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Catch Documentation Scheme (CDS) Transhipments Fishery Notifications (new, exploratory, krill)
Organisation and Structure Policy Commission Standing Committee on dministration and Finance (SCF) Standing Committee on Implementation and Compliance (SCIC) Secretariat Other Organisations Scientific Committee Working Groups (WG) -Fish Stock ssessment (WG-FS) -Ecosystem Monitoring and Management (WG-EMM) -Statistics, ssessments and Modelling (WG-SM) -Incidental Mortality ssociated with Fishing (WG-IMF) Science Other scientific groups/workshops
Current CCMLR-regulated fisheries Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) Dissostichus eleginoides Dissostichus mawsoni bottom fisheries (usually longline) in 800-1800 m in sub-antarctic waters ntarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) bottom fisheries (longline) in 800-1800 m in antarctic waters Mackerel icefish (Champsocephalus gunnari) bottom and mid-water fisheries (trawl) in sub-antarctic waters ntarctic krill (Euphausia superba) mid-water fisheries (trawl) in 20-200 m sub-antarctic and antarctic waters
Catch (tonnes) Catch history Patagonian toothfish Dissostichus eleginoides 12000 rea 48 rea 58 rea 88 9000 6000 3000 0 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 CCMLR Season CCMLR Dissostichus eleginoides
Catch (tonnes) Catch history ntarctic toothfish Dissostichus mawsoni 4000 rea 88 rea 58 rea 48 3000 2000 1000 0 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 CCMLR Season CCMLR Dissostichus mawsoni
Catch (tonnes) Catch history ntarctic krill Euphausia superba 400000 rea 48 rea 58 rea 88 300000 200000 100000 0 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 CCMLR Season CCMLR Euphausia superba
Regulatory framework for fisheries fishery is not allowed to expand faster than the acquisition of information necessary for achieving CCMLR s management objectives. There are 5 types of fisheries: New fishery notification, no recent information Exploratory fishery notification, fishery-based research Established fishery Lapsed fishery Closed fishery comprehensive stock assessment, notification (krill) operation has ceased due to commercial considerations, assessment no longer current directed fishing on the target species is prohibited
Regulatory framework for fisheries New fishery biological data (including species distribution and abundance) and fishery data are not available, or data from the two most recent fishing seasons have not been submitted to CCMLR notification is required prior to fishing (Measure 21-01) becomes an exploratory fishery after the first year of fishing.
Regulatory framework for fisheries Exploratory fishery not allowed to expand faster than the acquisition of information necessary for managing the fishery within CCMLR s management objectives notification and permission are required prior to fishing (Measure 21-02) remains an exploratory fishery until sufficient information is available on appropriate catch and effort levels, and on the potential impacts on dependent and related species.
Regulatory framework for fisheries Established fishery appropriate time series of data to support a comprehensive stock assessment and evaluation of a management strategy notification and permission are required prior to fishing for krill (Measure 21-03), and are optional for other target species.
Regulatory framework for fisheries Lapsed fishery fishing operations have ceased due to commercial considerations and assessments are no longer current/valid. Closed fishery directed fishing on the target species is prohibited.
Setting catch limits CCMLR sets catch limits using a set of decision rules to determine what proportion of the stock can be fished while still achieving the objective of the Convention. To do this the population of the harvest species is projected forward in time using a population model to allow the effects of different catch levels to be simulated.
Setting catch limits Two population levels have been agreed as the basis of the decision rules. These levels are the fractions of the population that can be taken by the fishery each year so that the spawning biomass (i.e. the population of the target species old enough to spawn): 1) only drops below 20% of the pre-fishing median on 1 in 10 years during the projected period of fishing (shown by the red dot) 2) after projected period of fishing, is 75% (krill and icefish) or 50% (toothfish) of the median before fishing started (the right hand blue distribution)
Setting catch limits In the case of krill the size of the stock is estimated from acoustic surveys. For icefish, a species that shows very highly variable population size, a short-term projection is made using a biomass estimate provided by a survey of the population every one or two years. For other fish species (e.g. toothfish) a range of approaches, including surveys, tag-recaptures and catch statistics are used.
nnual fishing season CCMLR fisheries are managed on an annual cycle (Measure 32-01) Starts 1 December each year Ends 30 November of the following year. This period is referred to as the fishing season, and fisheries may operate throughout this period or during shorter, defined intervals within the period.
DIRECTED FISHING SUBJECT TO SESONL LIMITS ND CLOSURES IN 2012/13 Directed fishing subject to seasonal limits Directed fishing for icefish (Champsocephalus gunnari ), toothfish (Dissostichus spp. ) and krill (Euphausia superba ) in the Convention rea subject to conservation measures (CMs) in force and seasonal closures. 48.3 B C 48.2 MP 48.4 B * C D* 48.6 G* E* F B 58.4.2 58.7 B C 58.4.4 C B C D 58.6 88.3 48.1 D C B 48.5 G* D E * B 58.4.3a 58.5.2 B C * C 58.4.3b D E 58.5.1 88.2 I F* E* D* H* C* B L* M K* J* I* H* F G* D E C* B* 88.1 H* G * F E * D 58.4.1
South tlantic precautionary catch limits for krill Estimate of krill population - 60.3 million tonnes
South tlantic precautionary catch limits for krill Estimate of krill population - 60.3 million tonnes Catch limit of 5.61 million tonnes/year (9.3%)
South tlantic precautionary catch limits for krill Estimate of krill population - 60.3 million tonnes Catch limit of 5.61 million tonnes/year Trigger level: 620,000 t (total fishery cannot exceed this level in any season) (0.25%)
South tlantic catch limits for krill 48.1 => 155 000t When reached the fishery will be closed for the remainder of the year 155 000 t is 2.8% of the precautionary catch limit and 0.3 % of the krill population
Distribution of krill fishing
rea closures (prohibition of directed fishing) 1800s sealing 1900s whaling 1970s finfish, krill 1982 CCMLR 1984 introduction of area closures protect individual species 1990 protect finfish generally 88.3 closure D C B 88.2 I MP G* H* F* E* D* C* L* M J* H* B 58.4.2 48.5 58.4.3a 48.1 (finfish) long term 5 58.5 (icefish) D 48.6 * 48.4 G* 48.3 (selected species) long term C B B C D* E* F 48.2 48.2 (finfish) long term B K* I* H* G* C* B* F E 88.1 D G * C 58.7 E * B 58.4.4 F E * B C B C * D short term C 58.4.1 B 58. D
rea closures (small-scale research units) 1800s sealing 1900s whaling 1970s finfish, krill 1982 CCMLR 1984 introduction of area closures 1990s IUU fishing 1997 exploratory fisheries targeting D. mawsoni bottom longlines open/closed SSRUs fishing permitted > 550 m 88.3 B 48.1 D C B 88.2 I C MP (also management units developed for other fisheries) 48.3 48.2 G* H* 48.4 F* 48.5 E* D* C* B B * 48.6 G* C D* E* F L* M K* J* I* H* F G* D E C* B* 88.1 H* B 58.4.2 G * C 58.7 D E * B 58.4.4 F E * B C 58.4.3a B C * D C 58.4.1 B C D 58.5.2 58.4.3b D E 58.6 58.5.1 closure
CCMLR s general framework for establishing MPs 1800s sealing 1900s whaling 1970s finfish, krill 1982 CCMLR 1984 introduction of area closures 1990s IUU fishing 1997 exploratory fisheries 2002 WSSD 2006 UNG Resolution 61/105 2008 priority areas for MPs 2009 South Orkneys MP 2011 General framework for establishing MPs CONSERVTION MESURE 91-04 General framework for the establishment of CCMLR Marine Protected reas
General framework for establishing CCMLR MPs (objectives) Establish MPs based on the best available science, and under rticle II (conservation includes rational use), in order to: protect representative examples of marine ecosystems, biodiversity and habitats at an appropriate scale to maintain their viability and integrity protection key ecosystem processes, habitats and species, including populations and life-history stages establish reference areas to monitor natural variability and change, or monitor the effects of harvesting and other human activities on ntarctic marine living resources protect areas vulnerable to impact by human activities, including unique, rare or highly biodiverse habitats and features protect features critical to the function of local ecosystems; protect areas to maintain resilience or the ability to adapt to the effects of climate change
General framework for establishing CCMLR MPs (components) MP components include: specific objectives spatial boundaries list of activities that are restricted, prohibited, or managed management plan, including administrative arrangements, research and monitoring plan, and research and monitoring arrangements period of designation
MP planning domains
CCMLR s first MP 1800s sealing 1900s whaling 1970s finfish, krill 1982 CCMLR 1984 introduction of area closures 1990s IUU fishing 1997 exploratory fisheries 2002 WSSD 2006 UNG Resolution 61/105 2008 priority areas for MPs 2009 South Orkneys MP
CONSERVTION MESURE 91-03 (2009) Protection of the South Orkney Islands southern shelf Contributes to the conservation of marine biodiversity of the high seas Located in the Southwest tlantic, between 61.5 to 64.0 o S Total area of 94 000 km 2 No-take MP providing protection of the South Orkney Islands southern shelf ll types of fishing activities are prohibited (except scientific fishery research) No discharges or dumping of any type of waste by fishing vessels No transhipment activities that involve fishing vessels In emergencies relating to safety of life at sea, these restrictions may be waived
ntarctic Treaty ntarctic Specially Managed reas (SMs) ntarctic Specially Protected reas (SPs) SMs SPs ssist in planning and coordination of activities Entry by permit only
rea closures (vulnerable marine ecosystems) 1800s sealing 1900s whaling 1970s finfish, krill 1982 CCMLR 1984 introduction of area closures 1990s IUU fishing 1997 exploratory fisheries 2002 WSSD 2006 UNG Resolution 61/105 regulate bottom fishing in the high seas prevent significant adverse impacts on VMEs CCMLR Conservation Measures Restrictions on bottom trawling (22-05) Regulation of bottom fishing (22-06) Encounters with potential VMEs (22-07) (including seamounts, hydrothermal vents, cold water corals and sponge fields)
rea closures (vulnerable marine ecosystems) VMEs VME risk areas
CCMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program (CEMP) To detect significant changes in critical components of the ecosystem To distinguish between changes due to harvesting and changes due to environmental variability
CEMP species and sites Network monitoring sites Monitored predatory species #S #S #S #S #S #S #S #S #S #S #S #S #S #S#S
Why seabirds and seals? High profile Sensitive to change Ecosystem barometer Relatively easy to monitor
Long-term colony monitoring Breeding population size dult arrival mass Foraging trip duration Provisioning rate Diet Offspring mass Breeding success
weeks months year multi-year Scales of monitoring 10 100 1000 10000 1 10 100 Space (km) Species 1 Species 2
Relationship between krill abundancermance indices South Georgia 32 performance indices from 4 species 11 ntarctic fur seal 6 Gentoo penguin 8 Macaroni penguin 7 Black-browed albatross 20 Summer 6 Winter 6 Multi-year 5 showed significant linear response to krill abundance 13 showed significant non-linear response to krill abundance
Further information ccamlr@ccamlr.org
Thank you!