The inaugural COLTO Depredation Workshop took place in Punta Arenas, Chile, 15-18 March 2016. Results were an enhanced understanding on the current state of depredation in toothfish fisheries, as well as a vision of what is required in the short-to-medium term to better understand and evaluate depredation. “Next steps” regarding studying and minimising depredation were established for all toothfish fisheries, and it was agreed that the scientists who participated in the workshop would produce a peer-reviewed paper, encompassing a global review on depredation in high latitude fisheries; and operational guidelines in regards to depredation.
A second depredation workshop is planned for 2018, aimed at presenting how depredation research and mitigation has evolved, and what findings resulted from the issues that were addressed in the inaugural workshop.
Since the workshop, two separate post-doctoral depredation projects have been developed and will begin in October 2016. The first, a 4-year project covering the Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Kerguelen Islands, and Crozet Islands toothfish fisheries; and the second, a 2-year project covering other toothfish fisheries.