The biology and present status of exploited Antarctic fish stocks are reviewed on the basis of data available from 148 scientific publications. The development of Antarctic fisheries is depicted in brief. The fisheries are mainly located in the Indian and Atlantic Ocean sectors. To date, catches of 19 species have been recorded in FAO statistics. Apart from the Southern blue whiting and the Rajidae, all species belong to the sub-Channichthyidae ('Icefish'). A short description of the life cycle of 18 of these species is given. Available date on length and age at sexual maturity, natural mortality, age and growth, as well as those relevant to population dynamics and stock assessment, are summarized. 

Catch statistics show that exploitation has followed a similar pattern in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean sectors. Catches rose respectively from a little over 400,000 and 200,000 tonnes within one or two seasons, then declined rapidly after two seasons to less than 5% of the peak years. In general length-frequency distributions from commercial catches show a continuous decrease in the proportion of large individuals in the stock of the main target species. In some cases, these changes are substantial. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) data for the Atlantic Ocean sector are insufficient to reach any definite conclusion. In the Indian Ocean sector, the only information is from the Kerguelen area. The variations of the CPUE for the three main target species in this area are discussed. The calculations of fishing mortality have been made only for the main commercial species that are regularly caught and for which data on length and age are available for several years. Preliminary biomass estimates have been obtained by two independent methods: by production estimates and by the 'swept area' method. 

The authors conclude that, at the present stage, there are significant deficiencies in the information necessary for a scientific assessment of the stocks and for instituting fisheries management of the exploited Antarctic fish. The available data suggest that the stocks are not capable of sustaining the catches taken during the peak years. The results indicate that a fishing mortality slightly larger than the estimated natural mortality, would be the most appropriate level for the exploitation of most Antarctic fish stocks. By-catches of juvenile fish during krill fishing is considered to have a detrimental effect on fish recruitment. 

Ten recommendations are made dealing with the collection and handling of data to enable the best possible scientific advice to be given on fisheries management. 

The complete updated version of this document will be published in the BIOMASS Scientific Series.