In consultation with Ukraine, the Secretariat is able to provide the following information in response to clarifications sought by the Russian Federation per COMM CIRC 22/79–SC CIRC 22/81.

As announced by COMM CIRC 22/01–SC CIRC 22/01, Subarea 88.2, SSRU H, closed at 2359 UTC on 03 January 2022 and vessels were prohibited from deploying any gear after 2359 UTC on 02 January 2022.  At the time of the fishery closure in Subarea 88.2, SSRU H, the FV Marigolds (Ukraine) was the only vessel reported to be operating in the area. 

Fishery data reports received by the Secretariat indicate the following. The last setting of fishing gear by the Marigolds occurred on 02 January 2022 at 0837 UTC with two lines in the water and one partial line in the water being actively retrieved as of 2359 on 02 January 2022. All gear was retrieved from the area and fishing operations were completed at 2055 UTC on 03 January 2022.

The Marigolds began to transit out of the area at approximately 2130 UTC on 03 January 2022 and was out of SSRU H at approximately 0200 UTC on 06 January 2022.  The VMS data indicates a transit trackline.

The catch totals for SSRU H were reported based on daily catch reports received from the Marigolds and adjustments for total harvest from SSRU H were updated in fishery notices based on vessel reporting. A detailed timeline is provided below for awareness of Members:

• Fishery Notice 13 (for 02 January 2022 catch) was issued on 03 January 2022 reporting a total harvest of 91.51 tonnes for Subarea 88.2, SSRU H. 
• Fishery Notice 14 (for 03 January 2022 catch) was issued on 04 January 2022 noting one missing report and repeating a total harvest of 91.51 tonnes based on reports received by the Secretariat at the time the fishery notice was issued. 
• As required by Conservation Measure (CM) 23-07, paragraph 7, the Secretariat issued a reminder to Ukraine and the Marigolds for the missing daily report on 04 January 2022.  On 04 January 2022, the Secretariat received the missing 03 January 2022 daily report from the Marigolds with a note on the report indicating “This is preliminary version of the report. Report will be resubmitted after obtaining of the final catch data.”
• Fishery Notice 15 (for 04 January 2022 catch) was issued on 05 January 2022, including the “preliminary data” submitted by the Marigolds and reporting a total harvest of 102.62 tonnes based on reports submitted to the Secretariat. 
• No new information or reports were received on 05 January 2022 and Fishery Notice 16 was issued with a total harvest in Subarea 88.2, SSRU H, of 102.62 tonnes.
• On 06 January 2022, the Secretariat received a resubmission/corrected daily catch report for 03 January 2022 from the Marigolds. Fishery Notice 17 was issued on 07 January 2022 incorporating the corrected data and reporting the total harvest for Subarea 88.2, SSRU H, as 129.24 tonnes.

Ukraine reports that “abnormally high catches of the last 3 lines did not allow the crew to process the fish caught and provide the final CE report on time. It was adjusted as soon as the fish was processed according to CM 23-07".

There were no investigation reports or notification COMM CIRCs to all Members because none were identified as being required. No breaches of conservation measures were identified based on the information available to the Member and the Secretariat.

The Secretariat will incorporate relevant information into papers being prepared for upcoming meetings.