Managing fisheries to conserve the Antarctic marine ecosystem: practical implementation of the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)

Summary

This paper traces how ecosystem-based fisheries management developed under This paper traces how ecosystem-based fisheries management developed under CCAMLR, the first international agreement to incorporate ecosystem protection goals into fishing regulations. CCAMLR emerged from concerns that large-scale krill harvesting could harm whale and seal population recovery, following historical collapses of seals, whales, and fish species from overexploitation. The convention established three core conservation principles: maintaining steady reproduction in fished species, preserving natural relationships between different species, and ensuring any ecosystem changes could be reversed within 20-30 years.CCAMLR progressed from reactive management in the 1980s to a precautionary approach in the 1990s, creating innovative tools like the Generalized Yield Model (GYM) for determining fishing quotas when scientific data is incomplete, and establishing the CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program (CEMP) to track ecosystem responses. Two important insights emerged: effective conservation requires implementing management actions even with limited scientific knowledge, and researchers can reach agreement despite data uncertainties.While current krill fishing remains sustainable, CCAMLR faces ongoing challenges from illegal fishing that threatens stock sustainability. The convention's ultimate test will come as the krill fishery expands, demanding robust management procedures to prevent localized ecosystem impacts.

Map of the Southern Ocean displaying the CCAMLR management area boundary and its statistical zones and subdivisions (thick solid lines), the Antarctic Polar Front ocean current (dashed line), land boundaries (solid lines), and the 2000-meter depth contour lines throughout the region (dotted lines). The numbered locations indicate: 1. Antarctic Peninsula and integrated research area; 2. South Orkney Islands; 3. South Georgia Island and integrated research area; 4. Prydz Bay integrated research area; 5.1. Kerguelen Island; 5.2. Heard Island and McDonald Islands; 6. Crozet Island; 7. Prince Edward and Marion Islands.

Key Findings

CCAMLR became the first international fishing agreement to include ecosystem protection as a primary goal.

Generalized Yield Model (GYM) evaluates fishing quotas while accounting for scientific uncertainty and ecosystem impacts.

For krill: accepts only 10% risk of breeding population falling below 20% of unfished levels over 20 years.

Predator protection criterion ensures 75% of krill population remains available for ecosystem food web needs.

CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program (CEMP) tracks how predator species respond to fishing activities.

Current krill harvest (~80-100,000 tons) remains well below precautionary safety limits.

CCAMLR's ultimate challenge will be managing future krill fishery expansion to prevent localized ecosystem impacts.

Abstract

We aim to identify the important steps in the evolution of the ecosystem approach to management under the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). The first section provides the background to CCAMLR, including the formulation of the convention and its objectives, its operation, and the historical trends in fisheries. Later sections describe (i) the reasons why a precautionary approach to setting catch limits evolved, (ii) how the precautionary approach takes account of ecosystem objectives and provides for the orderly development of new fisheries, and (iii) how the use of ecosystem indicators in the setting of catch limits and for monitoring the effects of fishing is being evaluated. The final section describes the general framework being used to develop a feedback-management system that incorporates objectives, target species assessments and ecosystem assessments. The CCAMLR experience provides two important lessons. First, conservation objectives can only be achieved by implementing management measures, even when very little is known. Second, methods were found for achieving scientific consensus despite the uncertainties surrounding estimates of parameters and the behaviour of the system. CCAMLR is yet to face the real test in its ecosystem approach, the development of the krill fishery. Before this occurs, appropriate management procedures have to be developed to avoid localized effects on the ecosystem and to provide effective feedbacks on the effects of fishing through its monitoring programme.

Published in

ICES Journal of Marine Science

2000

Authors

Constable, A. J., de la Mare, W. K., Agnew, D. J., Everson, I., Miller, D.

Institutions

Australian Antarctic DivisionMarine and Ecological Research Pty. Ltd.Renewable Resources Assessment GroupBritish Antarctic SurveyMarine and Coastal Management

Methods

DataCase

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