The third year research survey of Ukraine in Subarea 48.2 by the fishing vessel SIMEIZ is finished. Ukraine proposes to continue survey in same boundary for the next 2 year.

The Scientific Committee has previously considered results from the Krill-Predator-Fishery Model to assess the risks of distributing catch limits for krill among small-scale management units (SSMUs) in Subareas 48.1, 48.2, and 48.3. Here we describe a method to update the parameterizations of this model and conduct comparable risk assessments at smaller spatial scales. We use the method to assess some of the risks associated with two marine protected area (MPA) scenarios in Planning Domain 1, one representing the MPA proposed by Argentina and Chile. We conclude that the MPA proposed by Argentina and Chile can, if desired, be improved by changing the sizes of the coastal buffers that define the General Protection Zones around the South Shetland and South Orkney Islands. We also conclude that the proposed MPA seems likely to satisfy multiple objectives simultaneously.

In order to explore aspects related to the structure of population units and habitat use of Dissostichus spp. within CCAMLR Subarea 48.2, the elemental composition of nuclear and marginal sections of 10 otoliths from adults of D. eleginoides and 20 otoliths from adults of D. mawsoni from samples of otoliths collected during the first season of the research carried out by the Chilean Delegation in Subarea 48.2 of CCAMLR during the 2015/16 fishing season. The otoliths through laser ablation and mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (LA-ICPMS) was sampled and analyzed. Eleven elements were selected for analysis: 7Li, 23Na, 24Mg, 52Cr, 55Mn, 59Co, 60Ni, 63Cu, 86Sr, 120Sn y 138Ba, using their relative concentration to Ca. The univariate and multivariate analysis of the elemental composition of the nuclear zone showed significant differences between species, suggesting physiological differences and/or segregation of nursery habitats between them. The analysis of the elemental composition of the marginal sections presented univariate differences but not multivariate differences between species, suggesting a higher degree of overlap between the habitats used by the adults of each one of them. The differences found between nuclear and marginal sections among the species were consistent with the change of habitats described in the literature for each one of them. The comparison of our results with previous reports of elemental composition showed similarity between D. eleginoides samples of this study and the samples previously collected in South Georgia and Shag Rocks. In the case of D. mawsoni, the results clear differ from the results available for the Ross Sea, suggesting the existence of different demographic and/or evolutionary units in each area.

This paper outlines the specific research objectives and plan to achieve them for the second year of an agreed 3-year longline survey, in the wider context of connecting the recently undertaken surveys in Subarea 48.2 with the established fishery in Subarea 48.4. The overall research objectives include determining population connectivity between these Subareas, improving understanding of Dissostichus sp population structures in this region, and improving available data on bathymetry and associated distributions of benthic bycatch species. This paper reiterates the key points of WG-SAM-17/34, updates information on tag-recapture data from the first year of the survey, and includes a three-year data collection and two-year data analysis plan leading towards the development of a stock hypothesis for the eastern regions of 48.2 and southern regions of 48.4.

A stratified bootstrap of icefish catch density based on the UK 2017 demersal fish survey catch rate data indicated a biomass of 91 531 tonnes (lower one sided 5th percentile: 47 424 tonnes) within Statistical Subarea 48.3. Projections for the 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons applying the CCAMLR harvest control rule lead to catch limits (TAC) of 4 733 tonnes for 2017/18 and 3 269 tonnes for 2018/19.

The stock of Antarctic toothfish (D. mawsoni) in CCAMLR Subarea 48.4 is estimated from tagging returns to be 979.3 tonnes in 2017. Applying the CCAMLR agreed precautionary assumption of average biomass across the time series and harvest rate of γ = 0.038, implies a 2017/18 yield of 37 tonnes compared to the 2016/17 catch limit of 38 tonnes.

The Marine Protected Area on the southern shelf of the South Orkney Islands (SOISS MPA) established by CCAMLR in Subarea 48.2 on the initiative of the United Kingdom has existed for more then eight  years (Conservation Measure СМ 91-03, 2009). However, there are still issues related to the scientific and legal aspects of this MPA that require clarification. The SOISS MPA is the first MPA established by CCAMLR and lessons learned from it are important for subsequent proposals to establish MPAs in the Convention Area.  Taking into account the above, we consider it appropriate to make a number of comments in relation to the SOISS MPA.