The Commission

The Commission is charged with the conservation of Antarctic marine living resources, where conservation includes rational use in accordance with the objectives of the CAMLR Convention.

The Commission’s function is to give effect to the objective and principles set out in Article II of the Convention. It does this in a number of ways, including:

• formulating, adopting, and revising conservation measures based on the best scientific evidence available
• facilitating research into Antarctic marine living resources and the Antarctic marine ecosystem
• compiling, analysing, and publishing data on the status and changes of Antarctic marine living resources and the factors affecting the distribution, abundance and productivity of harvested species and dependent, or related, species or populations
• gathering, analysing, and publishing catch and effort statistics on harvested populations
• identifying conservation needs and analysing the effectiveness of conservation measures
• implementing the Scheme of International Scientific Observation and System of Inspection established under the Convention
• monitoring compliance with the conservation measures to ensure that fishing is conducted sustainably, to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Convention Area and to maintain strong market controls to prevent trade in IUU fish.

The Commission is advised by the Scientific Committee and two Standing Committees, one on Implementation and Compliance and one on Administration and Finance. Each October, the Commission and its committees meet at CCAMLR Headquarters in Hobart, Australia. The four official languages of the Commission are English, French, Russian and Spanish. Decision-making is based on consensus. 

The Standing Committee on Implementation and Compliance reviews the implementation of CCAMLR’s conservation measures and CCAMLR’s work to eliminate IUU fishing. It oversees the operation of the System of Inspection and the CCAMLR Scheme of International Scientific Observation alongside the Scientific Committee. 

The Standing Committee on Administration and Finance reviews budgetary matters and the work of the Secretariat. It maintains and implements the Financial Regulations. 

Aside from the Convention itself, which is the cornerstone of Antarctic marine protection, the Commission is guided by a number of binding basic documents.