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.

It is shown that   the proposals for the establishment of an MPA in the Weddell Sea should be complemented by information on the commercial potential and future rational use for dominant fish species in the Weddell Sea.  

The activities of the CCAMLR to minimize incidental mortality of seabirds in the course of longline fishing or longline fishing research in the Convention Area are carried out by means of: a) use a streamer line and b) control of the longline weighting rate. Currently, according to CM 24-02 (2014) and CM 25-02 (2015) which in force, vessels already use gears that do not allow birds pecking up the bait from hooks by controlling  longline sink rates and line-weighting regimes (CM 25-02 paragraph 2,3 and 4).  Thus, the use of a streamer line becomes meaningless for any vessels using longline gears described in paragraphs 2, 3 or 4 of Conservation Measure 25-02.

Russian Federation  proposes to amend Conservation Measure CM 24-02 (2014) «Longline weighting for seabird conservation» with regard to use a streamer line.  

The Republic of Chile completely revised its initial plan for a three-year project to study the distribution, abundance and biological characteristics of Antarctic demersal fish communities after the first survey had been undertaken in 2016. The revised proposal is planned to run from 2018 to 2020. Based on the experience gained in the first phase of research and recommendations made by WG-SAM-16 and WF-FSA-16, a revised proposal for a random, stratified trawl survey to be undertaken in Subareas 48.1 and 48.2 in accordance with CM-24-01 is provided. The objective of this research survey is to determine the distribution, abundance, and size composition of demersal finfish in Subareas 48.1 and 48.2. In this revised proposal, the study area includes the continental shelf of Elephant Island and of South Orkney Islands, between 100 and 500 m depth (Depth strata: 101-200 m, 201-260 m; 261-320 m, 320-380 m, 381-440, and 441-500 m). Sampling will be conducted using bottom trawl nets, with stations in the same approximate geographic coordinates as those used by the R/V Polarstern around Elephant Island (Kock & Jones, 2012) and the R/V Yuzhmorgeologiya around the South Orkney Islands (Jones & Kock, 2009). This will provide valuable information that will allow a comparison with the data collected by these two previous surveys. With the data obtained in each Subarea, size composition, density and standing stock biomass of fish resources will be determined using the delta-lognormal maximum likelihood estimator. Also, demersal habitats and biological data will be collected routinely on each station: total length and weight, sex and maturity stage and biological samples (stomachs, gonads and otoliths), for the main species of demersal finfish captured during the survey.