Multilateral Fishery Science Cooperation - Antarctic

Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) The 1982 Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) was agreed for the purpose of protecting and conserving the marine living resources in the waters surrounding Antarctica. The Convention is based upon an ecosystem approach to the conservation of marine living resources and incorporates standards designed to ensure the conservation of individual populations and species and the Antarctic marine ecosystem as a whole. The Convention established a Commission (CCAMLR) and Scientific Committee.

CCAMLR is advised by a Standing Committee on Observation and Inspection (SCOI) , a Standing Committee on Administration and Finance (SCAF), and the Scientific Committee. The Scientific Committee recommends actions to CCAMLR based upon the work of its Working Group on Fish Stock Assessment (WG-FSA), Working Group on Ecosystem Monitoring and Management (WG-EMM) and its Ad Hoc Working Group on the Incidental Mortality of Seabirds in Fishing (IMAF).

Antarctic Marine Living Resources Directed Research Program (AMLR)

The United States contributes to the work of the CCAMLR Scientific Committee through its Antarctic Marine Living Resources Directed Research Program (AMLR). AMLR is operated by the NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center Antarctic Ecosystem Research Group. Research cruises organized by AMLR program staff are aimed at gathering biological information to prevent overexploitation of Antarctic fish and krill and to protect seal, penguin, and pelagic seabird populations. The scientists also obtain vital physical information on the Antarctic marine environment.