CCAMLR

Result of the Russian research program in the Subarea 48.5 (Weddell Sea) in season 2012-2013 were analysed in accordance with the Scientific Committee recommendations (CAMLR-SC-XXXIII, par. 3.230 – 3.234).

Russian Federation is going to continue investigation for toothfish in Ross Sea in fishing seasons 2015-2018. The present program aims to recapture tagged fishes released during the implementation of the previous research program took place in 2010-2012 fishing seasons and investigate resource potential and life cycle of Dissostichus species within the eastern part of the Ross Sea over shelf and continental slope within the Subarea 88.2 A.

Over the last three years at the meetings of WGs and CCAMLR SC a question about research TAC in open and closed SSRUs of the Ross Sea has been raised. In accordance with established practice, as a rule, if research goes on in open SSRU then the necessary catch limits are taken from the unit`s TAC. If research fishing goes on in closed SSRU then as a rule catch limits are taken from the biggest TAC in the Ross Sea – from SSRUs HIK. This proposal is about establishing of research TAC in all closed SSRUs of the Ross Sea and the Amundsen Sea.

Closed mostly within the Weddell Sea Subarea 48.5 is one of the closed data-poor CCAMLR Subareas. Stock assessment of this area should be calculated basing on the newest and adequate data. Despite the difficult ice conditions the Weddell Sea is the largest enclosed near-continental sea of the Antarctic which is very similar to the Ross Sea in some respects like shape, bathymetrical profile and current system. Such similarity gives hope that the Weddell Sea could become one of the most promising areas for exploratory fishery of Dissostichus sp. and disperse fishing load from the Ross Sea. However, fishery in subarea 48.5 is closed based on absent stock assessment. The main objective of the present program is collecting data for reliable stock assessment and following estimation of precautionary limits in accordance with CCAMLR decision rules. The program contains several phases and prospected for 5 years. Detailed plan of fishing operations, collecting and analysis of data will be provided for the Scientific Committee and Commission consideration.

According to the direction of the XXXIII meeting of the Scientific Committee that data-poor area in the future would need to be consistent with the original research objectives approved in 2012 (SC-CAMLR-XXXIII, par. 3.233) in this work we present the original adopted research program in the Weddell Sea (WG-FSA-12/12) with minor revisions that reflect the current situation.

Exploratory fishing for toothfish (Dissostichus spp.) in Division 58.4.1 began in 2003. Robust stock assessment and catch limits according to CCAMLR decision rules remain to be determined for this Division. In 2008, only one vessel, Tronio, has conducted research fishing in accordance with a research plan submitted under CM 24-01. France notifies its wish to collaborate in this research fishery with the other participants over the coming years in order to participate in the tagging program and achieve a robust stock assessment. The aim is to collect sufficient data to provide an advice on a catch limit according to CCAMLR decision rules. This paper presents a proposal for a research plan for 2015/2016 developed under Conservation Measure 41-01. The biomass in the Division was estimated by research block during WG-FSA 2014 using CPUE x seabed analogy method. In the absence of an assessment using the CCAMLR decision rules, the catch limit should remain unchanged at 724 tonnes for 2015/16 to maximize the expectation of tag-recapture.

Exploratory fishing for toothfish (Dissostichus spp.) in Division 58.4.2 began in 2003. Robust stock assessment and catch limits according to CCAMLR decision rules remain to be determined for this Division. In 2014, the fishery was limited to one Japanese and one Spanish flagged vessel using longlines only, but there was no fishing activity. France notifies its wish to collaborate in this research fishery with the other participants over the coming years in order to participate in the tagging program and achieve a robust stock assessment. The aim is to collect sufficient data to provide an advice on a catch limit according to CCAMLR decision rules. This paper presents a proposal for a research plan for 2015/2016 developed under Conservation Measure 41-01. The biomass in the Division was estimated during WG-FSA 2014 using CPUE x seabed analogy method. In the absence of an assessment using the CCAMLR decision rules, the catch limit should remain unchanged at 35 tonnes for 2015/16 to maximize the expectation of tag-recapture.

A survey was conducted to collect data of stock status and various biological information of toothfish in the research blocks 58.4.4b_1 (SSRU 58.4.4C) and 58.4.4b_2 (SSRU 58.4.4D) of Division 58.4.4b (Ob Lena Banks) from July 18 to September 20, 2014. A total of 88 hauls using normal trotline system were made in the blocks. Total catch of Dissostichus eleginoides (excluding those tagged and released) was 26.6 tonnes in the survey area. Mean CPUEs in terms of weight of D. eleginoides was 32.9 kg / km (CV = 11.3%) and 38.3 kg / km (CV = 13.6%) in the blocks 58.4.4b_1 and 58.4.4b_2, respectively. Fish in single-hooked and good physical condition constituted 72.6 and 74.1 % of the total catch in the block 58.4.4b_1 and 58.4.4b_2, respectively. Accordingly sufficient numbers of fish suitable for tagging was captured by using the normal trotline system as well as in the preceding season. A total of 159 fish of D. eleginoides in good physical condition and single-hooked were tagged and released during the survey, and total of 5 and 4 fish of D. eleginoides, which were tagged and released in the block 58.4.4b_1 and 58.4.4b_2 in the previous seasons, were recaptured in the same blocks, respectively. Nine sets in the block 58.4.4b_1 were affected by killer whales.