The stocks of Antarctic toothfish, Dissostichus mawsoni were a relatively economically and ecologically important fishery resource in the waters of Antarctic. However, there is not enough data and information to assess the robust stocks and deliberate proper measurements for sustainable utilize, especially relate to diet and feeding strategy which may lead to think about ecosystem based stock assessments and fishery managements. Therefore, the Korean scientists analyze diet composition and feeding strategy of D. mawsoni in the research block 88 as a part of Korean research plan for the exploratory longline fishery for Dissostichus spp. during 2021 season. This study was carried out based on the results of stomach content identification of the D. mawsoni caught in the research block 88 in CCAMLR conversion area from December 2020 to January 2021. The diet composition and feeding strategy of D. mawsoni were studied using 548 specimens (54 to 183 cm in body length) in the research block 88, respectively. D. mawsoni is a carnivore and piscivorous fish that mainly consumed fishes. Macrourus caml, M. whitsoni, and M. spp. of Macrouridae was dominant taxa. Chionobathyscus dewitti of Channichthyidae were the second largest dietary component in the fish diet of D. mawsoni. Its diet also included small quantities of mollusks, crustaceans, stones, and cnidarians. In this study, fishes were the dominant prey item in all size classes (<100 cm, n=65; 100-120 cm, n=83; 120-140 cm, n=72; 140-160 cm, n=99; ≥160 cm, n=32). The graphical method for feeding strategy revealed that D. mawsoni is an opportunistic and specialized predator on fishes and showed narrow niche width.

This paper presents the results from a three-year longline fishing research survey (2017 - 2019), conducted to improve understanding of Dissostichus spp. population connectivity, biological characteristics and spatial structure across CCAMLR Subareas 48.2 and 48.4. The results provide evidence linking D. mawsoni with the Antarctic continental shelf and indicate a potential D. mawsoni spawning region in Subarea 48.2. The movements of recaptured tagged fish indicate potential connections with the Lazarev Sea (Subarea 48.6) as well as the southern South Sandwich Islands. The results contribute to the information available for further refinement of the D. mawsoni stock hypothesis.

China submitted its first paper (CCAMLR-XXXVII/32) in 2018 to CCAMLR on the development of research and monitoring plan for CCAMLR MPAs, which attracted lots of comments and suggestions. In order to further contribute to the discussions on this issue, China revised the paper from the scientific perspective, taking into serious consideration of inputs received last year.

Scientific data are the basis of decision-making in CCAMLR. Over the years, CCAMLR members have carried out continuous research and monitoring on key components of Antarctic living resources and ecosystems. Findings all over the world are published in journals of multiple languages. To facilitate the CCAMLR’s management on the basis of science, this paper attempts to obtain, summarize and update the baseline data of emperor penguins and Adelie penguins in the Ross Sea region, as an example, through systematic collection and analysis of the data from the international literature in the past decades, management plans of the relevant Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPA) and MAPPPD’s website, with the aim to establish an comprehensive knowledge on the penguins in this region. The paper further explores the possible reasons and trends of the penguin population fluctuations so that to provide guidance for future research.

The scientific background in support of the Weddell Sea Marine Protected Area (WSMPA) has been discussed in the SC-CAMLR for 3 years. Some agreements has been reached in the SC-CAMLR, while substantial issues remain outstanding. China has actively engaged in those discussions and have provided serious and constructive suggestions on the issue.

Fishing for Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) in Subarea 48.3 has been carried out without interruption for over 40 years, with more than 25 years under CCAMLR management.

This paper discusses the observed long-term decline in the length composition of D. eleginoides in longline catches in Subarea 48.3 (Antarctic Atlantic, FAO Area 48.3). It is noted that the longline fishery in Subarea 48.3 has targeted immature fish less than 100 cm in length since the early 2000s. Unsustainable use of the Patagonian toothfish stock in Subarea 48.3 is discussed.

          Information is presented on a Workshop for Training Russian Scientific Observers and Inspectors to work in fisheries in the CAMLR Convention Area held at the  Atlantic brunch of VNIRO ‘Atlantniro” in Kaliningrad (16-20 August 2021).

The workshop program included a wide range of aspects related to scientific observation and inspection in krill, toothfish and crab fisheries in the CAMLR Convention Area. Program of the Workshop is  shown.

Final tests were conducted and certificates awarded upon the conclusion of classes.

This paper presents an update on work done on the CCAMLR website as well as present the future work and proposed designs for consideration.

The requirement for the use of automated satellite-linked vessel monitoring systems (VMS) is required for vessels operating in the Convention Area as per Conservation Measure (CM) 10-04. This paper summarises the implementation of this conservation measure by Members, summarising the number of vessels transmitting VMS data, manually reporting VMS data, notifying of movement between management areas and requests for VMS data for the purposes of surveillance activities and search and rescue.

The Secretariat receives notifications for transhipment activities within the Convention Area in accordance with Conservation Measure (CM) 10-09. The Secretariat maintains a list of all transhipment notifications on the password protected part of the website in accordance with CM 10-09, paragraph 6. This paper summarises the transhipment notifications received between 1 December 2019 and 30 November 2020 and the implementation of changes to CM 10-09 following changes made at CCAMLR-38.