Fisheries
Fisheries
There are currently three types of fisheries in CCAMLR waters. Toothfish are deep-water, slow-growing fish that live close to the seabed and can reach up to two metres in length. They are caught on bottom-set longlines. While Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) are present in the northern region of the Convention Area, Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) dwell in the southern region on the Continental shelf and slope surrounding Antarctica. They are much sought after for human consumption and the combined annual catch is about 15 000 tonnes.
Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) is a shrimp-like crustacean which lives close to the ocean surface. Its distribution extends around the entire continent. Populations of Antarctic krill are very large and in the Scotia Sea (south Atlantic sector) alone there are about 60 million tonnes. Krill is a key prey item for many marine animals in Antarctic marine ecosystems. For humans, krill is a source of oil, used as a health supplement and is eaten as canned or frozen krill tails. It is also used in aquaculture feed.
Catches of krill, taken by pelagic trawlers, are limited to a small proportion of the population size. Fishing vessels operate midwater trawls and beam trawls in depths of 0–250 m. Some vessels use a continuous fishing system which transports krill from the codend of the net to the vessel while the vessel continues trawling. In the Scotia Sea, where most of the fishing takes place, the current precautionary catch limit is 5.61 million tonnes. However, until the Commission has defined an allocation of this total catch limit among smaller management units, the current allowable catch is further limited to a trigger level of 620 000 tonnes.
There is a small fishery for mackerel icefish (Champsocephalus gunnari) around some sub- Antarctic islands. Icefish is sold as a table fish.
Catch limits are defined in Conservation Measures (series 41- for toothfish, series 42- for icefish and series 51- for krill).
Historical catches are shown in the Statistical Bulletin.
Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management
The Commission has implemented an ecosystem based and precautionary approach to fisheries management.
CCAMLR’s Regulatory Framework recognises New, Exploratory and Established fisheries. CCAMLR’s requirements for new and exploratory fisheries prioritise research and the acquisition of data, ensuring in line with the precautionary approach that fishing is not allowed to expand faster than the acquisition of information necessary to ensure that the fishery can be conducted in accordance with the principles set forth in Article II.
The Commission has agreed decision rules for determining catch limits for krill and fish that minimise the chances of recruitment impairment and ensure spawning biomass remains at high levels while taking ecosystem considerations into account. Target exploited stock levels are set higher than would be expected for single species maximum sustainable yield in order to account for the requirements of the ecosystem and the precautionary approach, as required by Article II.
CCAMLR makes decisions based on the best available scientific evidence. The Scientific Committee uses a variety of data to support its ecosystem-based approach, gathered through research projects undertaken by CCAMLR Members, from scientific observers on board fishing vessels, and from an array of research and monitoring programs. All vessels participating in CCAMLR fisheries must carry at least one scientific observer. Observers record and provide CCAMLR with information on gear configuration, including measures to reduce incidental mortality of seabirds and marine mammals; fishing operations including catch composition of target and by-catch species including size, weight and breeding condition; specific scientific data such as details of fish tagging and tag recaptures; observations on marine mammals and seabirds; and data on vulnerable marine ecosystems encountered by vessels.
Fishery Reports
CCAMLR publishes a series of reports on each fishery each year. These vary in detail from general overviews of the fishery to detailed stock assessment reports and descriptions of stock assessment methods.