Reports from ACAP Observers at international meetings. 6.1.1 The Chair noted that ACAP observer reports from some meetings had been discussed in the meeting of the Seabird Bycatch Working Group (SBWG) and discussed in their report (AC5 Doc 14 Rev1). These reports were not discussed further by the Committee.
6.1.2 The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) observer thanked the Committee for the opportunity to attend and address AC5. He noted that CCAMLR shared ACAP's commitment to the conservation of albatrosses and petrels, as well as other Southern Ocean seabirds. CCAMLR has been successful in mitigating seabird bycatch in fisheries it manages, such that its WG on Incidental Mortality Associated with Fishing now only meets biennially. However, CCAMLR remained committed to taking action to improving seabird conservation and the level of co-operation between ACAP and CCAMLR. In this respect, CCAMLR welcomed the recent conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding between CCAMLR and ACAP as evidence of that shared interest and looked forward to working with ACAP to implement it.
6.1.3 CCAMLR was pleased that ACAP had participated at CCAMLR Working Group, Scientific Committee and Commission meetings. CCAMLR would welcome advice from ACAP on how best it could participate in ACAP meetings and help in meeting ACAP‘s objectives as this would assist in organising CCAMLR‘s work programme and budget. Advice from ACAP that is relevant to CCAMLR's risk assessment processes, on matters such as population status and changes to the internationally accepted taxonomy, would also be welcomed.
6.1.4 CCAMLR would be particularly interested in ACAP‘s assistance in assessing and exchanging data on the mortality of seabirds that breed and forage inside the CCAMLR Convention Area and are killed in fisheries outside that Convention Area. CCAMLR has encouraged its Parties to submit relevant data to ACAP.
6.1.5 The AC thanked the CCAMLR observer and confirmed the need to work with CCAMLR on issues of common interest. The Committee noted that some of the matters raised would be addressed by the WGs, including the SBWG. The AC considered that CCAMLR need only attend relevant meetings of ACAP on an ad-hoc basis as the issues and ACAP work plan required. The Committee shared CCAMLR's desire to constructively interact with RFMOs to promote improved awareness of the need to avoid or mitigate seabird bycatch and improve exchange of data about seabirds and effective bycatch mitigation measures.
6.1.6 The Cha...
Reports from ACAP Observers at international meetings. 7.1.1 New Zealand presented a report (AC7 Inf 07) on the Thirty-first Annual Meeting of CCAMLR held in Hobart, Australia, from 23 October to 1 November 2012. In accordance with previous CCAMLR meetings, the assessment and avoidance of incidental mortality was included as an agenda item. No documents were submitted to the Commission or Scientific Committee in relation to this agenda item, but the Scientific Committee considered advice on this issue from the Working Group on Fish Stock Assessment. While there is a continued low level of seabird bycatch in some parts of the Convention Area, the Commission welcomed efforts by France to address seabird bycatch issues within the French EEZs in Subarea 58.6 and Division 58.5.
1. During the meeting, it was noted that significant issues exist for seabirds that breed in the Convention Area but forage in fisheries to the north. It was also noted that opportunities for collaboration with regional initiatives on conservation of seabirds with distributions that span management areas. The CCAMLR Commission commended ACAP´s work in reducing incidental mortality of seabirds in fishing and recommended strengthening the links between CCAMLR and ACAP.
Reports from ACAP Observers at international meetings. 8.1.1 This item was considered under agenda item 5.1.
Reports from ACAP Observers at international meetings. 7.1.1 Reports from observers at international meetings were addressed in the reports of the working groups (AC6 Doc 14 Rev2 and AC6 Doc 11 Rev4).
Reports from ACAP Observers at international meetings. 7.1.1 The Executive Secretary also reported on this matter under agenda item 5.1.
7.1.2 The Co-convenors of the Seabird Bycatch Working Group reported on meetings that they, and the Secretariat, had attended on behalf of ACAP during the intersessional period. These included meetings held by IOTC, WCPFC, IATTC, CCAMLR, and workshops held in support of the Common Oceans Tuna Project seabird bycatch assessment initiative. Summary reports of these meetings are provided in SBWG9 Doc 07 Rev 1.
7.1.3 The AC Chair reported that he had represented ACAP at a workshop convened by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council to review seabird bycatch mitigation measures for Hawaii's pelagic longline fisheries. The workshop provided an opportunity to discuss bycatch mitigation approaches for these fisheries with mitigation experts. A summary report of the workshop was presented in SBWG9 Inf 01.
7.1.4 Uruguay reported progress on a collaborative RFMO engagement process currently underway to assess the impact of fisheries on seabirds in the Atlantic and Indian oceans. The AC welcomed the initiative, and supported the suggestion by Uruguay to work towards a more harmonised approach to bycatch and mitigation issues in which bycatch and mitigation are considered across multiple taxa.
7.1.5 Peru reported that they are in the process of discussing with other members the possible revision of IATTC's seabird conservation measure (Resolution C- 11-02) to bring it more in line with ACAP advice on reducing seabird bycatch in pelagic longline fisheries.
7.1.6 The USA expressed appreciation to Peru for initiating steps that could lead to a proposal to revise IATTC’s Resolution C-11-02 on seabird bycatch mitigation measures.
