Developing research on Antarctic krill to facilitate the development and updating of feedback management procedures

Antarctic krill fisheries have the potential to be in the top 10 fisheries of the world in terms of biomass production. The expansion of the fishery from current levels appears inevitable given the demand for protein and the efficiencies now being developed in the fishery.  CCAMLR is developing a feedback management procedure for these fisheries. Implementation of such a feedback management approach requires an appropriate level of understanding of (i) the structure, function and change of the Antarctic marine ecosystem, (ii) the possible interactions of the fishery with the ecosystem, and (iii) the types of data that can be realistically obtained and monitored on the productivity of the ecosystem and the impacts that fishing may have on the ecosystem.  WG-EMM last reviewed these in workshops between 2002-2004.  Since that time, there have been shifts in the behaviour and methods of the krill fishery enabling expansion, further research in a number of international programs and recognition of substantial change occurring in Antarctic marine ecosystems, all of which are likely to continue.  Currently, there remain a number of major gaps in our understanding of the basic biology and dynamics of krill populations and of other important food web connections. These are major elements of the ICED programme (www.iced.ac.uk).  Here we report on planned and proposed ICED activities that are relevant to krill that will be of interest to CCAMLR scientists and suggest that development of future joint activities would be of value to both the CCAMLR and ICED communities.  We invite CCAMLR engagement in these planned ICED activities, particularly to help these activities target the critical problems being addressed by CCAMLR and to help CCAMLR benefit in the long term from the scientific community involved in ICED.