WG-FSA-14

Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish are traded internationally and considered to be of great commercial importance to the 13 nations that actively harvest toothfish for global consumption. The major consuming nations have the most influence over toothfish trade and it is important to understand how these consumers drive commercial fishing operations. Although toothfish fisheries, by landings, Read More
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Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Suggestion and comments on changes in basic documents for scientific observers (logbook, cruise report etc.) produced during the inter-session SISO work are presented in the paper. Position of the Russian Federation on development of centralized preparation and accreditation scheme for scientific observers and CCAMLR member countries is amplified here.

To explore the potential effects of the toothfish fishery on the population dynamics of Antarctic toothfish and its main prey, grenadiers (Macrouridae) and icefish (Channichthyidae), we develop a spatially explicit model using a predator-prey suitability model for the Ross Sea Region. We model the age-based population dynamics of toothfish, grenadier, and icefish, and include natural mortality Read More
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Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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This paper summarises the data collected by Scientific Observers operating in the Convention Area on board longline and finfish trawl vessels during the 2014 season (based on data received by the Secretariat up to 01 Oct 2014).

Information on observer coverage, incidental mortality (including the implementation of mitigation related CMs), tagging and conversion factors is Read More
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Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Analytical data on determination of reproductive potential of Antarctic toothfish D. mawsoni in the Pacific (SSRUs 88.1, 88.2, 88.3), Indian Ocean (SSRUs 58.4.1 и 58.4.2) and Atlantic (SSRU 48.6, 48.5) Antarctic areas are presented. Morphological indices of females and males, indices of gonads, fecundity, and condition by Fulton are described. Spawning time and regions for Antarctic Read More
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Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Results of longline survey on Antarctic toothfish in the Weddell Sea (Stage II) are presented in the paper. Options I and II of the survey were carried out from February 10 to February 22, 2014. A total of 34 longlines were set: the Option I – 10+20 and the Option II – 4 at the depths ranging from 605 to 2031 m. A total number of hooks - 116 100, fishing area – 13565 km². Catch Read More
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Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Regarding the low levels of stocks of Dissostichus spp. and the high levels of IUU fishing, CCAMLR decided to close the fishery in 2002 in division 58.4.4. Since 2008 only one vessel, Shinsei maru No. 3, has conducted research fishing in accordance with a research plan submitted under CM 24-01. France notifies its wish to collaborate in this research fishery over the coming years in Read More
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Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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In 2011/2012, the Saint André conducted its first exploratory fishery for Dissostichus spp. in division 58.4.3a. France notified its wish to continue this exploratory fishery over the coming years in order to achieve a robust stock assessment that would provide advice on a catch limit according to CCAMLR decision rules. This paper aims to present a research plan for 2014/2015 that Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Regarding the low levels of stocks of Dissostichus spp. and the high levels of IUU fishing, CCAMLR decided to close the fishery in 2002 in division 58.4.4. Since 2008 only one vessel, Shinsei maru No. 3, has conducted research fishing in accordance with a research plan submitted under CM 24-01. France notifies its wish to collaborate in this research fishery over the coming years in Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Three fish biomass surveys have been recently undertaken in the northern part of the Kerguelen Plateau (POKER 1, 2006; POKER 2, 2010; POKER 3, 2013) with the chartered trawler FV “Austral” repeating the same random and stratified sampling stations in the bathymetric range 100 – 1000 m. Data on the bathymetric and geographical fish distribution are available for 19 bottom-dwelling species (13 Read More
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Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Proposed Research plan for the survey of Ukrainian longliner in 48.2 subarea.

Closed mostly within the Weddell Sea Subarea 48.5 is one of the closed data-poor CCAMLR subareas, where stock assessment should be carried out. In spite of hard ice conditions at most part of the Weddell Sea during most time of the year, this large water area is very similar with the Ross Sea. This similarity, which could be found in geographical location, bathymetric profile, currents system Read More
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Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Depredation is a human-wildlife conflict over resource which often includes a combination of socio-economical, ecological and conservation issues. However, estimating the amount of depredated resource can be especially challenging when depredation occurs on fish in the marine environment. This is the case for killer whales (Orcinus orca) and sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus Read More
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Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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In 2013, POKER Biomass survey was undertaken at Kerguelen Islands (Division 58.5.1) to collect information of all the fish species including the mackerel icefish, Champsocephalus gunnari. Data from this random stratified trawl survey, added to the previous results of 2006 and 2010, was used for a short term assessment of C. gunnari on Kerguelen EEZ. The standard CCAMLR Read More
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Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Available data on the by-catch of Rajiformes was extracted from the CCAMLR database. These records included commercial catch data as well as observer data. Spatial distribution and biological data was broadly consistent with current literature although there were indications of larger spatial ranges for some species.  The data collected as part of CCAMLR fisheries represents a very Read More
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Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Russian Federation intends to continue research in Subarea 88.2 that began in 2010-2012. The main objectives are studying of toothfish migration from SSRU 88.1 K to Subarea 88.2 A. The survey program was improved in accordance with recommendations of WG-SAM-2014 and intercessional work with CCAMLR country-members in order to unify the data collection plan and methods during the proposing mutli Read More
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Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Stock assessment of the Antarctic toothfish in the Subarea 88.2 H using Peterson method is presented in this paper. Calculated stock value of the Antarctic toothfish in the Subarea 88.2 H is 20649 t with 95% confidence interval ranging from 12475t to 39901t. In 2014-2015 values of potential catch with incomplete taking of 3%, 5% and 10% were determined as 619t, 1032t and 2064 t respectively. Read More
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Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Comparative data on size-age composition and growth of Antarctic toothfish D. mawsoni in the Pacific (SSRUs 88.1, 88.2) and Atlantic (SSRU 48.5) Antarctic areas in 2005-2014 seasons are described.

Mitigating the adverse affects of commercial fishing on the environment is an integral responsibility of fisheries globally.  Efforts to reduce bycatch, to exploit previously unfavourable species and to carry out research on associated organisms have increased with time but charismatic megafauna tend to gain priority, despite their numbers being relatively low compared to fish bycatch Read More
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Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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The stock sizes for five research blocks (486_1, 486_2, 486_3, 486_4 and 486_5) were estimated by the Petersen estimator and the CPUE x seabed analogy method using updated CCAMLR C2 data and reference area sizes. The stock size estimate using the Petersen estimator was similar to that using the CPUE method (using Division 88.2H as a reference area) for Dissostichus mawsoni in block Read More
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Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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The stock sizes for five research blocks (5841_1, 5841_2, 5841_3, 5841_4 and 5841_5) were estimated by the Petersen estimator and the CPUE x seabed analogy method using updated CCAMLR C2 data and reference area sizes. The stock size using the Petersen estimator was generally different from that using the CPUE method in each block.

As we proposed at the last WG-SAM meeting, since we have Read More
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Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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The stock size for a research block (5842_1) was estimated by the CPUE x seabed analogy method using updated CCAMLR C2 data and reference area sizes.

As we proposed at the last WG-SAM meeting, since we have yet to obtain enough evidence to estimate plausible stock size, and accordingly have yet to estimate appropriate catch limit, we propose to continue the current research operation Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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In this document, we revised stock status assessments of D. eleginoides in research blocks 5843a_1 using CPUE analogy method, Petersen method and CASAL model, although the tagging data of current season has not been validated and not used for the present analysis. We used updated reference area size for the CPUE method. Detailed results using CASAL models in the research block are Read More
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Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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In this document, we revise stock status assessments of D. eleginoides in research blocks C and D using CPUE analogy method, Petersen method and CASAL model, although the data of current season has not been validated and not used for the present analysis. We used updated reference area size for the CPUE method and altered natural mortality for the Petersen and CASAL methods. Detailed Read More
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Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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I made two sensitive runs of CASAL catch at length models (LENGTH_MODEL) for stock status assessments of Dissostichus eleginoides in research block 5843a_1 in Division 58.4.3a for the years 2004/05 to 2012/13 following the recommendation during the last WG-SAM meeting. The two models are generally based on those with the same names in WG-SAM-14/17 as follows: 1) R.0.1 model without Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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I made six sensitive runs of CASAL models (LENGTH/AGE_IUU_MODEL) for stock status assessments of Dissostichus eleginoides in research block C in Division 58.4.4 b following the recommendation during the latest WG-SAM meeting. The six models with three kinds of assumptions on IUU catch were arranged referring to WG-SAM-14/18 as follows: 1) catch at length/age models on the assumption Read More
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Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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During the SISO review several questions were raised about the need for continued use of bottle tests to allow an exemption from night setting in CCAMLR longline fisheries. There are now a number of CMs that are interrelated with respect to seabird mitigation and it may be timely to update (and simplify) the seabird mitigation elements of these measures. The changes that are proposed Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Analysis of catch data from a deepwater trawl survey conducted at South Georgia and Shag Rocks in 2003 indicate that depth and region have a marked influence over demersal fish community structure at South Georgia and Shag Rocks. Three distinct, depth stratified fish assemblages were observed.  The demersal fish assemblage found on the shelf to depths of around 400m is dominated by Read More
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Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Sampling methods to determine the composition and nature of the catch of the longlining fishery around CCAMLR Subarea 48.3 have, to date, been limited to in situ line observations conducted by CCAMLR observers deployed on the fishing fleet. The collection of this data is important for the assessment and management of the fishery. This independent estimation of the total catch in the Read More
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Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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During the 2014 experimental season extension in CCAMLR sub-Area 48.3 a single line caught 74 white chinned petrels, which is the most significant incidental mortality event in the fishery for over 10 years. The circumstances associated with the event were investigated and a review of seabird mortality in the fishery undertaken. The mortality event occurred on a “Spanish” system longline Read More
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Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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This paper describes a preliminary CASAL based assessment of Patagonian toothfish (D. eleginoides) in Subarea 48.4. The assessment data are updated with the observations for the 2013/14 season and sensitivity analyses conducted using the maturity ogive from the area 48.3 and revised growth assumptions. The revised assessment is compared with the previous assessment for this stock. Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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The stock of Antarctic toothfish (D. mawsoni) in CCAMLR subarea 48.4 was estimated from tagging returns to be 1,027 tonnes during the  2013/14 season. In previous years the harvest rate used for Patagonian toothfish (D. eleginoides) in Subarea 48.3 (γ = 0.038) has been used as a precautionary harvest rate which would imply a 2014/15 yield of 35 tonnes compared to the Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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The draft CCAMLR compliance report has recorded that when fishing in Subarea 88.2 in 2013/14 the vessel Argos Georgia achieved a tag overlap statistic of 52% rather than the required minimum of 60% as specified in CM 41-01. A review of the data indicates that the number of fish tagged was above the rate per tonne required by CM 41-10, but due to sampling noise the distribution of the length of Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Although steepness is typically considered a convenient re-parametrization of a stock-recruitment relationship, it is deeply rooted in the biology of each species.  Furthermore, specifying steepness and other life-history parameters such as natural mortality and growth rates fixes reference points that are commonly used in fisheries management.  Thus, one cannot pick an arbitrary Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Current CCAMLR maturity stages for skates (Rajiformes) use a three-stage key. As such, important elements of the reproductive cycle may go unrecorded, including females in the process of egg-laying. Additionally, the current description of females at stage 2 (maturing) in the CCAMLR observer manual could lead to some confusion between fish at stage 2 and stage 3 (mature). Suggestions for Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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This paper presents an updated assessment for Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) at the Heard and the McDonald Islands (Division 58.5.2) with data until mid August 2014. This paper presents a bridging analysis and proposes a new base case assessment model which is based on the best available estimates of model parameters, the use of abundance estimates from a random Read More
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Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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We addressed the revisions requested by the WG-SAM-14 regarding the results of the second year of Spanish research experience and ongoing research plan presented in WG-SAM- 14/12 and WG-SAM-14/09. 

A summary of the results of the Spanish research that took place in the 58.4.1 division during the last two fishing seasons is presented.   

A prospective Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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An updated and revised assessment of the Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) stocks in Kerguelen and Crozet areas is presented. This study is based on a CASAL (C++ Algorithmic Stock Assessment Laboratory) model. Different statistical and biological datasets are used: catches, tag releases/recaptures data, commercial catch-at-length data and data from the recent POKER Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Most things related to Dissostichus spp. in the eastern side of Antarctic has not been known well as namely the area is data poor areas. In the Division 58.4.1 there are two stocks; one extends from the SSRU 58.4.1C to the SSRU 58.4.2A, and the other one to the SSRU 58.4.1H. The population sizes would be vulnerable like the neighbour divisions if there is the same population. During Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Most things related to Dissostichus spp. in the eastern side of Antarctic has not been known well as namely the area is data poor areas. In the Division 58.4.1 there are two stocks; one extends from the SSRU 58.4.1C to the SSRU 58.4.2A, and the other one to the SSRU 58.4.1H. The population sizes were vulnerable with a big range of about 1,000-2,000 t per SSRU in 58.4.1. During the Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Most things related to Dissostichus spp. in the eastern side of Antarctic has not been known well as namely the area is data poor areas. In the Division 58.4.1 there are two stocks; one extends from the SSRU 58.4.1C to the SSRU 58.4.2A, and the other one to the SSRU 58.4.1H. The population sizes were vulnerable with a big range of about 100-1,500 t per SSRU in 58.4.2. During the 2004- Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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This paper reports on the trial of daytime fishing during the 1-15 April pre-season extension, in the Patagonian toothfish longline fishery in statistical division 58.5.2.

During the 1-15 April pre-season extension two vessels fished, and all setting was carried out during nautical dusk or night. No seabirds were caught.

Any fishing that occurs in the 1-14 November 2014 post- Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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The annual random stratified trawl survey (RSTS) at HIMI was conducted during June of 2014, with the completion of 158 stations. An additional five stations were completed at Shell Bank, which had not been sampled since 2005. The catches of C. gunnari were less than half of those in 2013, but catches of both D. eleginoides and C. gunnari were higher than the long- Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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The Kerguelen Plateau supports the largest fishery for Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) in the CCAMLR area, with landings of  >5000 t.yr^-1 from the French EEZ (Division 58.5.1) around îles Kerguelen and 2730 t.yr^-1 from the Australian EEZ around Heard and McDonald Islands (HIMI, Division 58.5.2). This paper provides a synthesis of the Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Patagonian toothfish have been tagged during commercial fishing and research activities adjacent to Heard Island and the McDonald Islands (HIMI, CCAMLR Division 58.5.2) since 1998, with 27,679 toothfish tagged and released, and 4925 recaptures. The data derived from this program has been valuable in estimating key population parameters for toothfish in this region, and have been used in the Read More
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Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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The annual Random Stratified Trawl Survey was undertaken in Division 58.5.2 in the vicinity of Heard Island during June 2014. This paper provides a preliminary assessment of mackerel icefish population structure, abundance and yield for the area of Division 58.5.2 to the west of 79° 20’ E using standard CCAMLR methods. A pattern of multiple year classes being present simultaneously in the Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) has recently received funding to continue an ageing program for the purposes of routine processing of Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) otoliths from the Heard Island and McDonald Islands fishery. With the reinitiation of this program a number of methodological refinements have been made to those outlined by Nowara et al. Read More
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Admin Admin (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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We revised the method of Candy et al. (2012) to estimate the ageing error matrix (misclassification matrix) to address some issues regarding true ages not being the mode at the extremes of the matrix and a lack of smoothness in the probabilities for ages above 25 years. Positive errors now aggregate into the plus group, negative errors are truncated below the minimum age, and fish with true Read More
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Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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This paper investigates factors affecting the bycatch of skates (Rajiformes) and grenadiers (Macrouridae) taken by the longline fishery in statistical subarea 48.3. Bycatch was greater for vessels using autoline system than for those using the “Spanish” system, due to differences in proximity to the sea bed and type of bait used. The areas of greatest catch rates differed by Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Elasmobranch species, such as skates (Rajiformes), are not target species within the CCAMLR longline fisheries. However, they form a major part of the bycatch and as such it is necessary to understand the effect of each fishery on the Rajiformes population. Here we describe biological information gained from the skate tag-release programme in statistical subarea 48.3 and use Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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This paper presents an analysis of data gained from nine years of tagging of Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) in Subarea 48.3. In addition to providing information on tagging procedure, Patagonian toothfish biology, growth and local movement of Patagonian toothfish in 48.3 (presented in WG-SAM-14/35), it describes the spatial movements and regional connectivity in Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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This paper presents an analysis of data gained from an eight-year tagging programme of Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) in Subarea 48.4. It describes the tagging procedure, the information gained about biology, growth and movement of Patagonian toothfish, and looks at the potential link between statistical subareas 48.3 and 48.4. The characterisation of tag recapture Read More
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Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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At its 2011 meeting, the Scientific Committee agreed that a time series of relative abundance from a well-designed survey could be a useful input into the Ross Sea stock assessment model. The first survey was completed in February 2012, and the second survey in February 2013. In this paper we provide results of the third survey in the time series. The objectives of this third survey were: (1) Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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This report summarises the timing, depth, and location of fishing together with the biological aspects and catch of Antarctic toothfish up to an including the 2014 season. In 2014, the Ross Sea slope SSRUs were not constrained by sea ice and catches were evenly distributed across the three SSRUs. As in recent years, the remaining catches came mainly from SSRUs 88.1C, 88.1J, and 88.2H. Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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During the 2012 CCAMLR toothfish ageing workshop, otoliths from 31 Antarctic toothfish were exchanged between Russia and New Zealand ageing programmes to compare consistency in ages estimated by different readers and using different methods. Both “break and burn” and “bake and embed” techniques were used to prepare otoliths and each were read by an experienced reader from each program. The Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Sea ice is recognised as a core driver of both ecosystem dynamics and fishery performance in the Southern Ocean. Sea ice can limit access to fishing grounds, for both commercial fishing and scientific research. Although satellite data are available and have been used for ecosystem monitoring purposes and to inform research plans by CCAMLR, no quantitative summaries relative to fishing access Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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The effect of sea ice is acknowledged as a major influence on fishing operations in high latitudes but not widely understood in detail other than by fishers and specialists in Antarctic fisheries research and management. Using the toothfish fishery in CCAMLR Subarea 88.1 as a case study we provide a method to quantify the effect of sea-ice on fishing.  We discuss the ways in which ice Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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In 2013, the Scientific Committee of CCAMLR could not achieve consensus on a stock status for Antarctic toothfish in Subarea 88.2 SSRUs 88.2C-H and identified several areas for further work. This was presented to WG-SAM in 2014, and found that the models were unable to fit patterns in the recaptures of tagged fish seen in the SSRU 88.2H fishery. The patterns showed a sharp decay rate of a Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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In 2013, the Scientific Committee of CCAMLR could not achieve consensus on a stock status for Antarctic toothfish in the Amundsen Sea Region (ASR - Subarea 88.2 SSRUs 88.2C-H) and identified several areas for further work. This work was carried out and presented to WG-SAM in 2014, who noted that the assessments were unable to fit the patterns in the recaptures of tagged fish seen in SSRU 88.2H Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Mark-recapture data for Antarctic toothfish from individual seamount features in SSRU 88.2H were analysed to estimate biomass trends on isolated seamounts. Biomass estimates were also calculated for SSRU 88.2H as a whole. The analyses indicate that:

• Fish seldom move among seamounts within the complex, and residence time on particular seamounts declines rapidly over 1–4 years. Read More
  Submitted By:
  Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)
  
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This paper frames a discussion for improving the assessment of toothfish abundance for SSRUs 88.2C–G. We initially provide a characterisation of the fishery and a summary of available tagging and length frequency data. Although 880 tagged fish have been released in this region, only 2 tagged fish have been recaptured. It is likely that the lack of recaptures of tagged fish in this region has Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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The aim of this paper is to review the management of the Ross Sea toothfish fishery and to identify key research objectives for the fishery over the next 3–5 years in relation to Article II of the Convention. The paper focuses primarily on Antarctic toothfish, as catches of Patagonian toothfish are negligible, and covers Subarea 88.1 and Subarea 88.2 SSRUs 88.2A and B. We begin by briefly Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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We propose a multi-year and multi-member research plan using standardised longline gear to sample the toothfish populations in the northern areas (61° - 66° S) of SSRUs 88.2A–B. The purpose of the research as requested by the Scientific Committee (SC-CAMLR XXXII, paragraph 3.76) is to characterise the local toothfish populations found there to better understand stock structure, movement Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Grenadiers (Macrourus spp.) are the main bycatch species in the exploratory longline fishery for toothfish in the Ross Sea. Previous studies concluded that acoustics methods could be used to index the relative abundance of grenadiers and be useful for exploring spatial distribution. Automated acoustic methods were developed to estimate grenadier distribution and abundance based on Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Two species of grenadier are predominatly taken as bycatch in the Ross Sea region, Macrourus whitsoni and M. caml. A total of 220 otoliths from M. whitsoni and 307 otoliths of M. caml from fish taken as bycatch in the Ross Sea on New Zealand fishing vessels in the 2011–12 fishing year were used to test whether the otoliths of the two species can be Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Data from electronic archival tags are often used to characterise movement and migration patterns in fishes. Understanding these movement patterns is one of the key information needs for the assessment and management of Antarctic toothfish. We deployed 4 pop-off satellite archival tags on large toothfish on the Ross Sea slope in January 2013 and report on the first recovery of an Antarctic Read More
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Admin Admin (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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This paper presents correlative species distribution modelling methods that could be used to predict the circumpolar distribution of habitat suitability for Antarctic toothfish. Potential environmental covariates that could be included in these models are presented for discussion and feedback, as are the types of CCAMLR data (i.e. presence of the species and/or attributes) and modelling Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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A few years after krill (Euphausia superba) fishing had started in 1972/73, it became known that early life stages of Antarctic fish are associated with krill aggregations and are subject to by-catch in fisheries targeting krill. The species composition of fish by-catch in krill fisheries is well-known from Polish investigations in the late 1970s and the 1980s and from Japanese, Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Japan and South Africa initiated a multi-year research plan in Statistical Subarea 48.6 as outlined in CM 41-04 (2012 & 2013) during the 2012/13 fishing season. Progress achieved during the 2012/13 season and the first seven months of the 2013/14 season are reported. This paper updates and replaces WG-SAM-14/10.

Over the first 19 months of the Research fishery a total of 279 Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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Data on beach surveys, debris associated with seabird colonies, marine mammal entanglements and hydrocarbon soilings were received for 2014 from South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay. Non-fishing items such as plastics, packaging materials and wood remain the most common type of debris items found in beach surveys. The fishing items found were mostly from longline and trawl origins. Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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The aim of the work is to study the leukocyte composition in blood of deep-water fish species by the example of Antarctic toothfish Dissostichus mawsoni. Fish were caught in January–February 2012 in the Ross Sea (Statistical Subarea 88.1) at depths from 690 to 1183 m from onboard “Yantar-31” longline fishing vessel. Blood samples were collected from the caudal artery of immature fish Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Publication:
J. Ichthyol., 54 (6) (2014): 422–425

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Records of 14 trematode species, collected from bottom fishes from the western and northern parts of the Ross Sea, are given. Trematodes Otodistomum cestoides van Beneden, 1871, Lecithaster micropsi Zdzitowiecki, 1992, Neolepidapedon trematomi Prudhoe et Bray, 1973, Postlepidapedon opisthobifurcatum Zdzitowiecki, 1990, Discoverytrema gibsoni Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Publication:
Invertebrate Zoology, 10 (2) (2013): 255–267

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Odontocete depredation on longlines involves socio-economic and conservation issues with significant losses for fisheries and potential impacts on wild populations of depredating species. As technical solutions to this conflict are limited and difficult to implement, this study aimed to identify fishing practices that could reduce odontocete depredation, with a focus on killer whales ( Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Publication:
ICES J. Mar. Sci. (accepted)

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Acoustic harassment devices (AHDs) have been increasingly implemented in various fisheries that suffer significant losses caused by odontocete depredation. However, the efficacy of AHDs to deter odontocetes from fishing gear remains poorly investigated. To determine the effectiveness of AHDs in deterring depredation we experimentally tested a high amplitude device (195 dB re 1 μPa 6.5 kHz 1 m Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Publication:
ICES J. Mar. Sci. (accepted)

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We provide a perspective on steepness, reference points for fishery management, and stock assessment. We first review published data and give new results showing that key reference points are fixed when steepness and other life history parameters are fixed in stock assessments using a Beverton–Holt stock–recruitment relationship. We use both production and age-structured models to explore Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

Publication:
Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 70 (2013): 930–940

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In the 2012/13 fishing season Spain began implementing a multi-annual Research Plan for Divisions 58.4.1 and 58.4.2 in order to estimate local biomass of Dissostichus spp. by means of two methods: depletion and tagging. This research will continue in the 2014/15 season if ice conditions allow for the vessel's operations, fulfilling Spain's commitment to return to the same fishing Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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The ICES Benchmark Protocol is a review process for evaluating the data and analyses that form the basis of ICES management advice for a stock. The review examines stock structure, fishery characteristics, biological and assessment data, stock assessment and projection methodology. The review is conducted outside of the ICES annual assessment and advice environment. It includes experts from Read More
Submitted By:
Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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A research proposal to continue the southern Ross Sea subadult toothfish survey is presented. The survey will focus on estimating relative abundance in the core strata (A, B, C) in SSRUs 88.1 J and 88.1L. It will also carry out 15 exploratory sets in a newly defined stratum K in Terra Nova Bay. Survey timing and methods will remain the same as in previous years, and the number of sets will be Read More
Submitted By:
Mr Doug Cooper (CCAMLR Secretariat)

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