This working paper builds on the exchanges that took place at CCAMLR-40 on the proposal by the EU to amend Conservation Measures (CMs) 21-01, 21-02 and 23-05 (CCAMLR-40/22).
CCAMLR CMs currently provide for differing requirements as regards scientific observers:
- CM 21-01 (Notification of new fishery / all species) contains no observer requirements for new fisheries.
- CM 21-02 (Exploratory fisheries / all species) imposes an obligation to have a scientific observer on board for all exploratory fisheries. The CM does not specify if the scientific observer should be nominated in accordance with SISO.
- CM 24-01 (Application of conservation measures to scientific research / all species) requires the presence on board of at least two scientific observers appointed in accordance with SISO for research fisheries.
- CM 41-01 (General measures for exploratory toothfish fisheries 2019/20) imposes an obligation to have a scientific observer on board appointed in accordance with SISO for all exploratory toothfish fishery.
The EU suggests that it could be useful to amend CM 21-01 to specify that the presence of a scientific observer on board is required for new fisheries, and to amend CM 21-02 to specify that the scientific observers should be appointed in accordance with SISO.
As CM 23-05 is concerned, the EU considers that it would be useful to maintain CM 23-05 but to amend it to clarify that its data collection requirements apply only to activities of vessels that do not have on board a scientific observer appointed in accordance with the SISO. This would include situations where the Designating State and the Receiving State cannot reach agreement on the observer (it could be considered that such an observer is not appointed in accordance with the SISO). While the absence of a SISO observer would be a compliance issue, from a scientific perspective it is important to guarantee that the reporting of minimum data continues in all circumstances.