WG-FSA-09

Compendium of information on fisheries of relevance to the work of WG-FSA including availability of data, data-related developments, catches in assessed and exploratory fisheries, notifications for fisheries and research and estimates of IUU fishing. Where applicable, WG-FSA’s 2009 fishery reports have been updated with this information.

Conservation Measure (CM) 22-06 requires the Secretariat to maintain an inventory of vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) in the Convention Area for circulation to Contracting Parties and other relevant bodies. In addition, CM 22-07 requires the Secretariat to notify fishing vessels in the relevant fishery and their Flag States of the location of VME risk areas and fine-scale rectangles. The Read More
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Three aspects of current management of the “exploratory” Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) fishery in Area 88 indicates that less-than-full precaution is being exercised in the face of climate-related environmental changes currently underway. These aspects are: 1) lack of knowledge about how environmental variability affects this species’ recruitment; 2) an inherent sensitivity of Read More
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For the first time in the history of deepwater longline fishing on Antarctic toothfish Dissostichus mawsoni (Norman, 1937) the experimental settings of deepwater vertical longlines was made from the Russian longliner Yantar in March, 2008 in the Amundsen Sea (subarea 88.2,D of the Pacific sector). The experiments proved that this species, one of the most valuable large commercial species of Read More
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In January 2009 the UK undertook a bottom trawl survey of CCAMLR Sub-area 48.3 on the FV Sil. A total of 71 random and representative 30 min tows were made giving good geographic coverage. The estimated mean biomass of Mackerel icefish (Champsocephalus gunnari) calculated using 10 strata, updated sea-floor areas and adjusting for the low headline height of the trawl (see CCAMLR WG-FSA (2003)) Read More
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Examined the distribution and migration patterns of whales in the Southern Hemisphere. The presence of a new species of killer whale in the Antarctic, Orcinus nana, is shown. The impacts of extermination of whales in the Antarctic ecosystem are examined. Regions are defined which could be used as testing areas for whale survey methods.

The plan submitted to the WG-SAM-09 (Document 09/11) for fishing surveys on stock status and biological characteristics of Dissostichus spp. in Division 58.4.4 a & b has been revised according to the recommendations of the working group. The working group recommended the consecutive research focusing on tagging program for a period of 3-5 years to estimate current stock size accurately Read More
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On the basis of the analysis of the biological material collected by one of the authors during fishery for Antarctic toothfish from 2002 till 2008 on different grounds of the Antarctic Zone (Collaboration Sea, D’Urville Sea, Ross Sea and Amundsen Sea), the assumption was advanced regarding the long spawning period of deep-water icefish Chionobathyscus dewitti during spring-and-summer period of Read More
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An attempt to use reported catch and CPUE data based on data of observers in the assessment of Antarctic toothfish stock in Division 58.4.1 is made. Unlike some previous results obtained for this division (e.g. Agnew et al., 2008), the assessment was intended to be independent of estimates of toothfish stock biomass in the Ross Sea. As a result of implementation of an age-structured and a Read More
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Stomach contents were identified from 206 Antarctic skate (Amblyraja georgiana) that were collected during three groundfish surveys (winter 2007, 2008 and summer 2009) around the island of South Georgia, Southern Ocean. The diet of A. georgiana varied with skate size and between years. Preferred prey included fish (particularly for larger individuals) and Antarctic krill, as well as amphipods Read More
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Observer data collected on longliners between 2003 and 2009 was analysed to look at the levels of depredation caused by killer whales (Orcinus orca) and sperm whales (Physeter macrocaphalus) around South Georgia. Since 2003 cetaceans have been observed on 3000 out of 14644 observed lines (20.5%) with killer whales present on 562 lines (3.8%) and sperm whales on 2588 lines (17.7%). By comparing Read More
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1. The bycatch TAC of 12 tonnes of macrourids was reached in 2008/09 triggering the early closure of the fishery with only 58.9 t of the 75 t TAC of D. eleginoides taken; 2. The target tagging rate of 5 fish per tonne was exceeded by both vessels, with 344 D. eleginoides tagged and released in 2008/09, slightly under the target of 375 for the full 75 tonnes of catch; 3. There were 29 D. Read More
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1. A three-year tagging study in the South of Subarea 48.4 was initiated in the 2008/09 fishing season with the aims of providing the data required for assessments of the population structure, size, movement and growth of both Dissostichus eleginoides and Dissostichus mawsoni in the South of 48.4; 2. In 2008/09 a total of 214 D. eleginoides and 192 D. mawsoni were tagged and released. Two Read More
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A random depth stratified bottom trawl survey of South Orkney Islands (CCAMLR Subarea 48.2) demersal finfish was completed during February-March, 2009 during the U.S. AMLR Program field season. Detailed information is presented for several of the most abundant demersal finfish species, including spatial distributions, size compositions, diet compositions, gonad development, and standing stock Read More
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The integrated assessment of Patagonian toothfish, Dissostichus eleginoides, for the Heard and McDonald Islands (Division 58.5.2) was updated by replacing catch-at-length proportions from commercial catches with catch-at-age proportions by applying age length keys (ALKs) to gear- type/ground (i.e. sub-fishery) and year-specific length frequency (LF) data. A Poisson log-linear (contingency-type Read More
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Integrated assessments that use catch-at-age or abundance-at-age data for model calibration require an ageing error matrix as input in order to adequately account for uncertainty in the data resulting from the imprecision of age determination using annual ring counts from otoliths. This paper describes the methods and results used to provide an ageing error matrix to the HIMI toothfish Read More
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Catch-at-age proportions can be estimated directly using a simple random sample (SRS) of fish in the catch, determining the ages in the sample, and calculating proportions in each age class. This “direct” method can be replaced by the age length key (ALK) method if there are in addition to the SRS of ages, which have also been measured for length (the age-length sample), a large SRS where fish Read More
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As a means of testing the accuracy of observer identifications and to provide additional data on benthic invertebrate by-catch; observers operating aboard the longline fishing vessel Antarctic Chieftain were asked to identify and retain all benthic invertebrate by-catch from a recent voyage to Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI) for onshore verification by taxonomists at the Australian Read More
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On the basis of our own data and literature materials, the schematic posters showing spatial and vertical distribution of two toothfish species during their whole life cycle, changes in food interrelations and size composition on the shelf and continental slope, are presented. The comparative analysis of these parameters revealed essential differences in food spectra both at the first pelagic Read More
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For the first time, the investigations on feeding of Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) from the bottom longline catches in the Lazarev Sea were carried out. The analysis of food composition for males and females in the eastern Lazarev Sea showed that dominant food objects for individuals of both sexes include icefish (Chionobathyscus dewitti), Antarctic squid (Mesonychoteuthis Read More
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The results of the histological analysis of the Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) reproductive system, caught in December - February 2005/2006 in the Ross Sea are presented. The morphological parameters, indices of gonads and condition by Fulton have been described. The histological criteria of the assessment of the ovary maturity stages, cytological parameters of oocytes and type of Read More
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The current CCAMLR assessment method for the mackerel icefish (Champsocephalus gunnari) in sub‐area 48.3 employs the CMIX and GYM packages, which derives population numbers‐at‐age and projects these numbers forward under the given harvest control rule to set a two‐year TAC. One issue is the accurate identification of age cohorts from the survey data. In this paper we describe a length‐based Read More
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1. 2009 data have been incorporated in to the catch-at-age based CASAL model for toothfish in Subarea 48.3. 2. Fits to the survey data are good for the early 2000s, particularly 2004 to 2006. Fits to the catch at age data are good, except for 2009 where large numbers of age 7 and age 9 fish are not well estimated. Fits to tag recapture data are also good. 3. Projections made using median Read More
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For the first time Lepidion schmidti was recorded in the Southern Ocean. Measurements of the examined specimen which the author had time to do were presented.

Scientific observation was conducted in the commercial trip on the long-liner "Simeiz", operating under the Ukrainian flag, in the south-western Atlantic Ocean outside the exclusive (marine) economic zones of the foreign states (FAO statistical area 41) in the period from December, 11, 2007 till September, 10, 2008. Samples of crabs selected from bycatch during target fisheries for Patagonian Read More
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The results of the current monitoring program of fjord fish at Potter Cove, South Shetland Island are updated, showing a recovery of Notothenia rossii to levels comparable to those observed in and the disappearance of Gobionotothen gibberifrons from the catches since 2007.

Scales and whole otoliths were read for age determination of early stages of Notothenia rossii caught in Potter Cove, South Shetland Islands, in summer of years 2003-2006 and 2008. The sample was composed by blue phase fingerlings of 7-7.6 cm (TL) and age group 0 year and demersal young brown phase juveniles of 8.5-20.9 cm and predominant age groups 1-2 years. Counting of sclerites facilitated Read More
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A survey of mackerel icefish, Champsocephalus gunnari, was undertaken in Division 58.5.2 in the vicinity of Heard Island in April 2009 to provide the information for an assessment of short-term annual yield in the 2009/2010 CCAMLR season. This paper provides a preliminary assessment of yield for the area of Division 58.5.2 to the west of 79o 20’ E using standard CCAMLR methods. The strong year Read More
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The random stratified trawl surveys (RSTS) for 2008 and 2009 were successfully completed on the RV Southern Champion, continuing the series that commenced in 1997. Catches in 2008 were generally reduced from the previous year’s survey, with the catch of toothfish being one third of that for the previous year and those of grey rock cod, unicorn icefish and skate species down by half. Catches of Read More
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A dataset for the 2009 assessment of Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) in the Ross Sea Region was selected on the basis of data quality metrics for individual trips. Initial informative datasets were selected comprising trips with high (above median) rates of recovery of previously released tags, and/or where tags released on the trip were subsequently recaptured at a high rate. These Read More
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The exploratory fishery for Dissostichus spp. has now been operating for 13 years in Subarea 88.1 and for 8 years in Subarea 88.2. During that time a large amount of distributional and biological data has been collected on toothfish and the associated bycatch. The purpose of this report is to characterise the general fishing patterns over time and, in particular, to identify possible changes Read More
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This study uses a histological assessment of age and length at spawning for female and male Antarctic toothfish Dissostichus mawsoni from fish sampled in the Ross Sea spanning the 2000-2009 fishing seasons. The female spawning ogive incorporates the proportion of sexually mature fish that do not spawn in a given year and is therefore appropriate to evaluate spawning stock biomass relative to Read More
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Bathymetric data are used inter alia to define management boundaries, implement conservation measures, allocate catch among area, estimate spatial impacts due to fishing, and inform ecosystem-based management through bioregionalisation. Several data sources for bathymetric data exist, and these sources improve with time through additional data collection and analytical methods. In addition, Read More
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We provide an update of the Bayesian sex and age structured population stock assessment model for Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) in the Ross Sea (Subareas 88.1 and SSRUs 88.2A–B), using revised catch, catch-at-age, and tag-recapture data for the 2008–2009 season. The reference model using the selected trips tag data and the revised maturity ogive gave a similar, but slightly lower Read More
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We provide an update of the Bayesian sex and age structured population stock assessment model for Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) in the SSRU 88.2E, using revised catch, catch-at-age and tag-recapture data from New Zealand vessels and for selected trips. The New Zealand vessels model resulted in a higher estimate of initial biomass than the same model for 2006, but the estimated Read More
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Bottom fisheries are now to ‘avoid significant adverse impacts on vulnerable marine ecosystems’ in order to maintain the ecological structure and function of, particularly, deep sea benthic habitats. Noting the paucity of data on the ecology of these habitats, this paper further develops a practical approach to develop and evaluate fishing strategies aimed at achieving this objective i.e. what Read More
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Three species of skates are commonly taken as incidental by-catch in the Patagonian toothfish longline and trawl fisheries, and the mackerel icefish trawl fishery on the Kerguelen Plateau, Bathyraja eatonii, B. irrasa and B. murrayi. The three skates are widely distributed across the Kerguelen Plateau, showing different spatial distributions, linked mainly with depth. In the Australian EEZ, B Read More
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Stocks of Dissostichus mawsoni on BANZARE Bank (Division 58.4.3b) and D. eleginoides on Ob and Lena Banks (Divisions 58.4.4a and 58.4.4b) have been subjected to unsustainable levels of IUU and commercial fishing and it is likely that they are depleted below the threshold for CCAMLR fisheries. An updated assessment of that status the stock at BANZARE Bank using data from the recent seasons Read More
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The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 61/105 calls upon Regional Fisheries Management Organizations or Arrangements (RFMO/As) to take measures to prevent significant adverse impacts on vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs). In response to this CCAMLR has implemented a series of measures that limit the spatial extent, and require an assessment of potential impacts on VMEs, for Read More
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The paper presents an estimate of IUU catches of toothfish during the 2008/09 fishing season, using the standard methodology.

In fishing season, 2008/09, at implementation of the program on Dissostichus spp. tagging aboard Korean longliner “22 INSUNG”, in the D’Urville Sea for the short, period of time the new data on migration of one individual D.mawsoni were obtained. Supposedly, the speed of migration was about 6 km per day.