COLTO Chairman, Martin Exel, read the following intervention on behalf of COLTO to the CCAMLR Commission in Hobart on 31st October 2012:
COLTO would like to thank CCAMLR for the opportunity to again participate as observers. Our 39 members represent over 80% of all legal toothfish catches, and are from 11 countries.
This past year has seen some significant progress and successes in toothfish fisheries. These include:
– Continued very low by-catch of seabirds in CCAMLR fisheries;
– Production of a DVD titled “Seabird Safe Fishing – A Collaborative Effort” by Southern Seabird Solutions Trust;
– Continued very low IUU activities focussed on Patagonian toothfish;
– Independent recognition of 4 toothfish fisheries as sustainable and well managed by the Marine Stewardship Council, and a further two fisheries undergoing full assessment. This is very positive recognition of CCAMLR’s successes in managing toothfish.
COLTO remains concerned at the last vestiges of IUU fishing for Antarctic toothfish, with several IUU boats sighted inside CCAMLR waters off the Antarctic continent in Division 58. COLTO will continue to work with CCAMLR to restrict these IUU activities yet further, and provide a deterrent to IUU activities in regions where our boats are operating.
COLTO supports the establishment of Marine Protected Areas, provided they serve a clear and scientifically justified purpose, without unduly prejudicing sustainable fishing. COLTO would like to ensure that CCAMLR makes every attempt to minimise negative impacts on existing fisheries, while maximising biodiversity benefits through MPAs.
I would draw attention to our paper CCAMLR-XXXI/BG/35, and encourage CCAMLR to consider carefully the need for balance between rational use and biodiversity conservation.
In particular, there is a need to consider unintended consequences if MPA proposals result in overly large impacts on existing legal fishing operations. For example, fishing effort may be forced into smaller areas which could have impacts on stocks, economics and safety of fishing as boats race to get to the limited known fishing grounds; localised depletion; and the need to have new surveillance and compliance measures to prevent IUU vessels moving into known fishing grounds that may be closed under proposed new MPAs.
We encourage all parties to work together to achieve a positive outcome on MPAs, and remain willing to participate and provide expert inputs from a legal fishing perspective.
COLTO members provide access to our vessels for research that is integral to CCAMLR science, and we are deeply involved in scientific work to assist the Commission. Research in these remote areas is expensive, and COLTO members have been willing to provide cost-effective platforms for research and scientific programs, and will continue to do so, to improve our understanding of fisheries and the ecosystems they form a part of.
The Scientific Committee asked for our inputs on how to encourage the return of tags. I am pleased to announce that COLTO will provide a cash prize of $1,000 AUD next year for a CCAMLR-wide tag lottery, to encourage increased tag returns in 2013. We will refine this approach with the support of the Secretariat and Scientific Committee, in time for the 2013 season.