SC/69B/EM/03  

Document Number

SC/69B/EM/03

Full Title

Considering the contribution of cetacean science to CCAMLR?s Ecosystem Monitoring Programme (CEMP)

Author

Nat Kelly, Martin Collins, Steve Parker, Claire Waladu

Authors Summary

To come

Publisher

IWC

Keywords

Publication Year

2024

Abstract

The CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Programme (CEMP) was established in 1985 with the aim to: a) detect and record significant changes in critical components of the ecosystem, to serve as a basis for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources; and b) to distinguish between changes due to the harvesting of commercial species and changes due to environmental variability, both physical and biological. A review of CEMP, exploring how the programme can inform the revised krill fishery management approach, commenced in 2023 and included discussion of cetacean science. In recognition of the importance of considering cetaceans in CCAMLR?s revised krill fishery management approach, the current review of CEMP provides an opportunity for IWC-SC and SC-CAMLR to further collaborate on developing advice on data, survey design, and subsequent analyses and syntheses, and to develop research networks to contribute to this work. Collaboration and provision of advice to the review of CEMP could be facilitated by IWC-SC nominating scientists with appropriate expertise to attend the upcoming CCAMLR WG-EMM meeting (also requiring nomination via national delegations) or to contribute to intersessional discussions via CCAMLR discussion groups or an IWC-SC intersessional correspondence group. Establishment of a mechanism for collaboration between IWC-SC and SC-CAMLR at the 2024 meeting of IWC-SC would ensure work would continue throughout the IWC-SC intersessional period.