Aligning toothfish fishery status with the CCAMLR regulatory framework

The nomenclature or status assigned to individual toothfish fisheries in the CAMLR Convention Area is intended to be guided by CCAMLR’s regulatory framework. However, the status of toothfish fisheries and the regulatory framework has become increasingly disconnected in many fisheries throughout the Convention Area, particularly in relation to what is considered closed, exploratory and established fisheries. This disconnect has led to confusion within the Scientific Committee, Commission, and stakeholder communities. To mitigate this confusion, there is a need to realign the fishery status to be more consistent with the regulatory framework. This can be accomplished through developing and adopting a suite of triggers that specify both clear definitions and mechanisms or triggers for assigning or reassigning fishery status based on their stage of development. Here, specific examples of toothfish fisheries with a status of closed and exploratory as set out in conservation measures, and that of the regulatory framework are highlighted, along with the need to review the status of these fisheries. Some recommendations to initiate discussions on changing specific toothfish fishery status, and mechanisms to trigger this change, are provided.