Antarctic Marine Living Resource Permits

The United States is a member of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, the organization responsible for conserving marine life south of the Antarctic Convergence. CCAMLR applies an ecosystem approach to the conservation of marine living resources, with standards designed to conserve individual populations and species, as well as the Antarctic marine ecosystem as a whole. The United States implements CCAMLR’s conservation measures through the regulations set forth in 50 CFR 300 Subpart G.

Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish, also referred to as Chilean sea bass, are harvested in and beyond waters subject to CCAMLR’s measures. CCAMLR implemented a catch documentation scheme (CDS) for toothfish in 2000, significantly reducing the trade of toothfish caught in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. The CDS allows for monitoring the international trade of toothfish, tracking the origins of imports, and determining if imports caught in the area CCAMLR protects follow CCAMLR conservation measures. It also provides catch data for stock assessments. Currently, 30 contracting parties of CCAMLR have fully implemented the CDS. NOAA Fisheries implements the CDS in the United States.