WG-IMAF-11

Amendments to and adoption of meeting agenda, assignment of working papers to agenda items, appointment of rapporteurs and procedures for producing the report.  Review requirement for subgroups and establish such groups as necessary.

 

Convener to report on intersessional work undertaken by WG-IMAF since 2009 as identified by WG-IMAF and the Scientific Committee.

 

WG-IMAF will consider a summary of estimates of overall by-catch and by-catch rates of seabirds (by vessels and by statistical area) during regulated fishing in the Convention Area and highlight issues of particular concern to WG-FSA and the Scientific Committee.  

WG-IMAF will also undertake a review of the progress made to reduce seabird by catch in the French EEZs (SC-CAMLR-XXIX, paragraph 4.8).

 

Incidental mortalities of marine mammals associated with fishing operations in the Convention Area will be reviewed.

Information relating to the implementation of Conservation Measures 25-02, 25-03, 26-01, 24-02 and 51-01.

WG-IMAF will discuss issues of the implementation and performance of Conservation Measures 25-02, 25-03, 24-02, 26-01 and 51-01 since 2010.  A summary of information submitted on the matter by scientific observers will be available to the group.  This will provide background information relevant to SCIC’s consideration of compliance with these conservation measures.

 

Review of mortality of seabirds during longline and trawl fishing outside the Convention Area based in information submitted by Members.  South Africa indicated that it planned to submit a paper on incidental mortalities of seabirds in its fisheries outside the Convention Area for the meeting (SC-CAMLR-XXVIII, paragraph 5.16).

WG-IMAF will consider the findings of the ACAP SBWG with respect to seabird by catch rates in other fisheries.

 

The Scientific Committee requested that Members submit reviews on the potential for gillnets to capture marine mammals and birds, based on experience in other domestic and international operations (SC-CAMLR-XXVIII, paragraph 5.18).

 

WG-IMAF will review new information relating to methods for mitigating seabird and marine mammal by-catch in fisheries, with special emphasis on those aspects and topics covered by Conservation Measures 25-02 and 25-03.

The Ad Hoc Technical Group for At-Sea Operations (TASO) recommended that research be undertaken to see how electronic technologies can be used to monitor by catch and wildlife interactions (SC-CAMLR-XXIX, Annex 7, paragraph 4.32).  The group will review any work carried out by Members with a view to providing advice to the Scientific Committee on the appropriateness of using this technology.

WG-IMAF will consider the findings of the ACAP SBWG with respect to mitigation measures used in other fisheries.

 

WG-IMAF will review its priorities for data collection and any implementation issues identified by scientific observers, including the utility of current data collected by observers on oiled birds (SC-CAMLR-XXIX, Annex 7, paragraph 4.3).

 

Following a request from the Scientific Committee, WG-IMAF will review the appropriateness of season extensions as outlined in Conservation Measure 42-02, particularly with regard to climate change and its potential impact on breeding phenology (SC-CAMLR-XXVIII, paragraph 5.25).

 

The Scientific Committee requested that WG-IMAF and WG-FSA review whether the prohibition on offal and discarding of dead fish in Subarea 88.1 and exploratory fisheries south of 60°S continues to be required, given the risk status of those areas and the much improved compliance (SC-CAMLR-XVIII, paragraph 5.12).

 

The future of WG-IMAF