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Fishing in areas managed under the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) is managed according to a precautionary approach. CCAMLR aims to ensure that fisheries do not develop at a rate faster than data can be acquired to determine sustainable catch levels. Fishing in these areas is subject to the agreement of the CCAMLR Commission, and fishing by New Zealanders is authorised by the issue of permits under the Antarctic Marine Living Resources Act (AMLR Act). The Act can be viewed using the ‘search’ section on the left of the page.
Several fisheries exist in the CCAMLR area, with some located within Exclusive Economic Zones of Commission members. New Zealand has been involved in fishing for toothfish in the Ross Sea region (Sub-Areas 88.1 and 88.2) of the CCAMLR Area since 1996. Sub-Area 88.1 extends to the west of the Ross Dependency and includes waters off the Australian and French Antarctic Territories. Sub-Area 88.2 is an area which extends around two thirds of the distance to Chile.
The toothfish fisheries in Sub-Areas 88.1 and 88.2 are currently managed as exploratory fisheries. The emphasis is on data collection and research in the fisheries and all fishing vessels involved must follow agreed data collection and research plans. Fishing vessels are also required to carry CCAMLR scientific observers, who collect data at sea. In the exploratory fisheries conservative and precautionary catch limits for target and bycatch species are set.
Once sufficient data has been collected during the exploratory fishing phase to allow for a full stock assessment, a CCAMLR fishery may be managed as an “assessed” and subsequently as a commercial fishery.
The extent of New Zealand’s participation in CCAMLR fisheries is determined each year at the annual meeting of the CAMLR Commission. New Zealand can authorise fishing in the CCAMLR area at the level agreed by the CAMLR Commission. In order to fish in the CCAMLR Area, New Zealand flagged vessels must obtain a permit under the Antarctic Marine Living Resources Act from the Ministry of Fisheries.
All New Zealand participants in CCAMLR fisheries must also hold a high seas fishing permit issued under the Fisheries Act 1996.
In addition, anyone who plans to undertake any activity in the Antarctic Treaty Area (south of 60° South) must submit an Environmental Impact Assessment for the proposed activity to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in accordance with the Antarctica (Environmental Protection) Act 1994.
