CCAMLR

Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources

CapMarine has a long standing working relationship with CCAMLR and since 1997 has been one of the leading observer providers for countries fishing within the CCAMLR Convention Area. Over 260 deployments have been coordinated for eight of the CCAMLR members and we currently deploy more than 40 observers per year.

The main fisheries covered are longliners targeting Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides), Antarctic toothfish (D. mawsoni) and vessels licensed to trawl for icefish (Champsocephalus gunnari).

CCAMLR trips last up to three months and observers often  work for up to 17 hours a day. Tasks include monitoring gear deployment, catch sampling and observing hauling operations to monitor by-catch and interactions with other marine fauna. All data are captured on standard CCAMLR log-sheets and a comprehensive cruise report has to be submitted to the CCAMLR secretariat at the completion of each trip.

Working down in the Antarctic can be both exhilarating and frightening. Ross Sea pictures of icebergs and ice floes stretching out to the horizon in the midnight sun are breathtaking, but weather conditions will test even the toughest seafarers.