Proposal for an acoustic krill biomass survey in CCAMLR Division 58.4.2

This document outlines plans by Australia to conduct an acoustic biomass survey for krill in CCAMLR Division 58.4.2 (the South West Indian Ocean Sector) in January-March 2006. The survey is intended to produce a new estimate of B0 for this Division so that a revised precautionary catch limit can be established by CCAMLR. The planned survey will utilise a standardised design as adopted in previous B0 surveys in the CCAMLR Area and will use a similar methodology for collecting an analysing the data to that used on the CCAMLR2000 survey. The survey will be conducted from a single ship and will consist of 15 parallel transects between 30° and 80°E. The survey design is presented to WG-EMM for their comment so that any suggestions can be incorporated into the final design which will be presented to the Working Group in 2005.