We report here on the existence of seasonal fish migrations into a krill hotspot, utilized both by central place foragers and the industry. We do not have trawl samples overlapping with the acoustic data, but the behaviour displayed suggests that the fish are planktivorous. Furthermore, the acoustic data suggest that they may form high density schools during daytime, that could not be separated from krill on a single frequency. Trawl catches in the area during 2019 gave high densities of mackerel icefish, so this species is a likely candidate, if these targets are swimbladderless notothenoids, their frequency response may be similar to that of krill at the commonly used frequencies of 38 and 120 kHz.

Standard protocols for processing of echosounder data are geared towards the estimation of biomass indices of pelagic organisms. More transient visitors to the watercolumn however also give echoes, and the data provided by the echosounders may be used to assess the behaviour of these organisms, as well as their interactions with the pelagic residents. Using freely available software and neural networks developed for general image recognition, we detected diving events by air-breathing predators in a 1 year dataset from an acoustic lander located close to the South Orkneys. The analysis documented clear patterns in the dive data with regards to time of year as well as time of day. At the temporal scales analysed the data did not suggest a positive correlation between backscatter of pelagic aggregations and the detected diving activity at this location.

Domain 1 marine protected area (D1MPA) proposal has been developed sin 2012 and now has been intensively discussed. Its implementation will establish a new scenario for the current krill fishing fleet dynamic, therefore it is necessary to understand what represent each D1MPA zones for the fishery. We analysed the trend of different fishing indicators among the D1MPA zones during the period 2013-2017, including as an independent zone the main fishing hotspot established recently in Bransfield Strait. Bransfield zones are crucial for the current fishery performance; SSI zones are secondary used when fishing yields decrease; and Gerlache seems to provide promising fishing tendencies, but its stability is uncertain.Domain 1 marine protected area (D1MPA) proposal has been developed sin 2012 and now has been intensively discussed. Its implementation will establish a new scenario for the current krill fishing fleet dynamic, therefore it is necessary to understand what represent each D1MPA zones for the fishery. We analysed the trend of different fishing indicators among the D1MPA zones during the period 2013-2017, including as an independent zone the main fishing hotspot established recently in Bransfield Strait. Bransfield zones are crucial for the current fishery performance; SSI zones are secondary used when fishing yields decrease; and Gerlache seems to provide promising fishing tendencies, but its stability is uncertain.

Currently, several approaches to FBM have been tabled to CCAMLR – Risk Assessment (RA: Constable et al. 2016), experimental fishing (EF: WS-SM-18/05) and Decision Rule approaches (DR: Watters et al. 2016), and recently a more empirical approach using a combination of fishing fleet-collected acoustic data and predator foraging information (EMP: Nor/Chil/China 2017).   Each approach has substantial merit in terms of the utility of available data. However, none currently offers a holistic solution in their own right.  In 2017, the Scientific Committee encouraged coordination among the various approaches towards developing a practical FBM approach (SC-36 para.3.23).  We present a revised approach to that which was presented by Norway, Chile and China to SC in 2017, and provide a framework for incorporating aspects of each currently tabled approaches from RA, EF, DR and EMP into potentially one that can be developed to become relatively easy and quick to operationalize.  Finally, we propose a package of work that seeks to demonstrate the practicality of its implementation that could provide CCAMLR with a “dress rehearsal” of how an interim Stage 2 FBM approach could be rolled out.

This paper describe tests with the Sailbuoy during the 2019 RV Kronprins Haakon cruise in the Antarctic. The trials were successful giving data during continuous operations from end of January to mid February. We present data demonstrating capabilities to run survey transects, to observe variability at a location (future comparison with mooring data when available) and surveying predator prey-fields. Perspectives and plans for the development of a “Sailbuoy for krill” including advanced on board processing in accordance with our funded project, is presented and discussed.

This paper describes trials with a net monitoring cable on board FV Saga Sea. The solution as described in the permit for using a third cable was abandoned at an early stage, as it was operable only when using one trawl behind the vessel. Trawling from the two beams caused practical difficulties and could not be implemented. Aker Biomarine has during this period standardized their trawl gears and procedures for their three vessels. Accordingly, Saga Sea has introduced the same trawl rigging as used on Antarctic Sea and has also included the same operating approach for the net monitoring cable. The experience from those trials are also included in this document.

The workshop was convened to follow up the agreement in the 2018 meeting of CCAMLR on an approach to facilitate progress on the further development of the Weddell Sea MPA proposal. In its report, the Commission referred to how Norway: 1) encouraged agreement during that meeting on protective measures addressing the western subarea WSMPA proposal, and 2) undertook to engage with Germany and other Members to further collate and enhance information for the sub-area east of the prime meridian over the next few years. 

The workshop that had multi-meber participation had two objectives. First, to discuss the available data, gaps in data and future priorities for data collection. As part of this objective, the aim of the workshop was to discuss ways to openly share existing and new data to support future MPAs in the MAUD area and provide input to other existing or future Antarctic MPAs. Second, to decide on a candidate list of realistic modelling options to support a scientifically sound future MPA proposal appropriate to the available data and scientific knowledge.

This paper describes experiments and plans for development of an acoustic sensor to support  precise catch reporting for the continuous krill harvesting fishery. 

Low catch limits for forage species are often considered to be precautionary measures that can help conserve marine predators. Uncertainty about the impacts of fisheries removals on dependent predators bolsters this perspective, but consideration of the spatio-temporal scales over which forage species, their predators, and fisheries interact can aid assessment of whether low catch limits are as precautionary as presumed. Antarctic krill are targeted by the largest fishery in the Southern Ocean and are key forage for numerous predators. Current krill removals are considered precautionary and have not been previously observed to affect krill-dependent predators, like penguins. Using a hierarchical model and 30+ years of monitoring data, we show that expected penguin performance was reduced when local harvest rates of krill were ≥ 0.1, and this effect was similar in magnitude to that of poor environmental conditions. With continued climate warming and high local harvest rates, future observations of penguin performance are predicted to be below the long-term average with a probability of 0.77. Catch limits that are considered precautionary for forage species simply because the limit is a small proportion of the species’ standing biomass may not be precautionary for their predators.

This paper presents two new observer manuals for finfish and krill fisheries. The manuals include updated information on identifying and sexing target catch species, provide guidance on standard tasks and requirements for observers as well as supplementary information to aid data collection requirements. In addition a new version of the observer longline logbook is presented, with additions to allow data collection for a focussed skate tagging programme in the Ross Sea, beginning in the 2020 season.