The Convention on the Conversation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. Presentation from Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety, Trade Consultation Meeting, 29 May 2014

1. Proposed Legislation forProposed Legislation forProposed Legislation forProposed Legislation for
Implementing theImplementing theImplementing theImplementing the
Convention on the Conservation ofConvention on the Conservation ofConvention on the Conservation ofConvention on the Conservation of
AntarcticAntarcticAntarcticAntarctic MarineMarineMarineMarine Living ResourcesLiving ResourcesLiving ResourcesLiving Resources
(CCAMLR)(CCAMLR)(CCAMLR)(CCAMLR)
in Hongin Hongin Hongin Hong KongKongKongKong

2. Convention on the Conservation ofConvention on the Conservation ofConvention on the Conservation ofConvention on the Conservation of
Antarctic Marine Living ResourcesAntarctic Marine Living ResourcesAntarctic Marine Living ResourcesAntarctic Marine Living Resources
2
• The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic
Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) entered into
force in 1982
• To conserve* Antarctic marine living resources,
which cover the populations of fin fish, molluscs,
crustaceans and all other species of living organisms,
including birds, found south of the Antarctic
Convergence
* the term “conservation” includes rational use

3. 3
Argentina
South
Africa
Australia
New Zealand
Convention AreaConvention AreaConvention AreaConvention Area
South of 60 South
latitude and between
that latitude and the
Antarctic Convergence
which form part of the
Antarctic marine
ecosystem
(Red boundary)

4. CCAMLR MembershipCCAMLR MembershipCCAMLR MembershipCCAMLR Membership
4
Members (25)
Argentina India Russia
Australia Italy South Africa
Belgium Japan Spain
Brazil South Korea Sweden
Chile Namibia Ukraine
China New Zealand United Kingdom
European Union Norway United States
France Poland Uruguay
Germany

5. • 11 states have acceded to the CCAMLR without
joining the Commission
5
CCAMLR MembershipCCAMLR MembershipCCAMLR MembershipCCAMLR Membership
Acceding States (11)
Bulgaria Greece Panama
Canada Mauritius Peru
Cook Islands Netherlands Vanuatu
Finland Pakistan

6. AboutAboutAboutAbout ToothfishToothfishToothfishToothfish
• Vulnerable to overfishing : longevity, large size, slow
growth and late maturation
• Highly sought after in the world fish market
• Experiencing significant levels of exploitation and
illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing
6
Source: weekendsportfishermen.blogspot.comSource: http://www.itsnature.org

7. ToothfishToothfishToothfishToothfish Trade in Hong KongTrade in Hong KongTrade in Hong KongTrade in Hong Kong
• Market names: Patagonian toothfish, Chilean white
seabass, Antarctic toothfish, white seabass, white cod
• Retail price : $15-70/100g
• Hong Kong becomes one of the major importing
economies of toothfish (1 017 tonnes imported into HK
in 2013)
• Accounts for less than 0.5% of the total consumption of
fisheries produce in Hong Kong
7

8. ProposalProposalProposalProposal
• To better protect the Antarctic marine living resources
• Contribute to the international concerted efforts in
the protection and sustainable use of marine
resources
• Introduce a control scheme for the trading of toothfish
by way of a new piece of legislation for the
implementation of the CCMALR in HK*
*HK has no fishing vessels engaged in harvesting activities in the Convention
Area
8

9. Catch Documentation SchemeCatch Documentation SchemeCatch Documentation SchemeCatch Documentation Scheme
9
• The Commission established under the CCAMLR adopted a
conservation measure (CM) entitled “Catch Documentation
Scheme for Dissostichus spp.” (CDS) in 2000 to protect toothfish
from IUU fishing internationally
• Each landing and transshipment of Dissostichus spp. shall be
accompanied by a completed valid Dissostichus catch document
• Each shipment of Dissostichus spp. to be imported, exported or
re-exported shall be accompanied by valid export/re-export
document
• All catch, export and re-export documents will be available to the
CCAMLR Secretariat and any Member who has had a role in the
completion of such documents

10. 10
Conservation MeasuresConservation MeasuresConservation MeasuresConservation Measures
The following CMs are relevant to HK:
Port Inspections of Fishing Vessels Carrying Antarctic Marine
Living Resources (CM 10-03)
Automated Satellite-linked Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS)
(CM 10-04)
Catch Documentation Scheme (CDS) for Dissostichus spp.
(CM10-05)
Scheme to Promote Compliance by Contracting Party Vessels
with the CCAMLR CMs (CM 10-06)
Scheme to Promote Compliance by Non-Contracting Party
Vessels with the CCAMLR CMs(CM 10-07)
Scheme to Promote Compliance by Contracting Party nationals
with the CCAMLR CMs(CM 10-08)

11. 11
Key Elements of the Legislative ProposalKey Elements of the Legislative ProposalKey Elements of the Legislative ProposalKey Elements of the Legislative Proposal
• Prohibit the landing, importation or transshipment of toothfish
without catch documents;
• Prohibit the export or re-export of toothfish without valid
documents;
• Empower the enforcement agency to obtain relevant information
for validation of export/re-export documents for toothfish, search
vessels, inspect, seize or confiscate consignments without valid
catch or export/re-export documents, and dispose of the
confiscated items;
• Require fishing vessels carrying Antarctic marine living resources
to provide advance notice of entry into Hong Kong, and
conducting inspections on these vessels;
• Request for verification of VMS reports of fishing vessels engaged
in fishing in the Convention Area;

12. 12
Key Elements of the Legislative ProposalKey Elements of the Legislative ProposalKey Elements of the Legislative ProposalKey Elements of the Legislative Proposal
• Issue and validate catch and export/re-export documents for
toothfish;
• Deny port access of IUU fishing vessels and prohibiting the
resupplying of these fishing vessels;
• Communicate the information of fishing vessels suspected to be
engaged in IUU activities and CDS related information to
relevant overseas authorities e.g. the Commission Secretariat
and the Contracting Parties; and
• Provide the enforcement agency other powers for carrying out
their duties effectively, e.g. to stop, search and detain vessels
and persons in connection with contravention of the legislation.

13. The EndThe EndThe EndThe End
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