Closing the gaps in CCAMLR’s oversight of at-sea transhipments in the Convention Area

In this paper, ASOC argues that the time is ripe for upgrading CCAMLR provisions on transhipments. The 2^nd Performance Review of CCAMLR identified a “significant gap” in relation to transhipments [1]⁠⁠. Members of CCAMLR are expected to act upon its recommendations. Current transhipment provisions in the CCAMLR Convention Area are not up to the highest standards when compared to those of RFMOs worldwide. ASOC builds on previous submissions [2,3] and recommends that CCAMLR adopts conservation measures with the following provisions:

• Establishment of a comprehensive and publicly available CCAMLR record of Authorized Carrier Vessels.
• Development of a comprehensive Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) package applicable to carrier vessels.
• Application to all CCAMLR fisheries.
• Requirements to report information on all transhipments to the Secretariat, which will prepare an annual report for SCIC with information on transhipments that occurred in the Convention Area.