Here we provide a progress update on the Antarctic toothfish genetic connectivity project (WS-DmPH-18/08). A total of 4237 tissue samples have been made available for this project from nine CCAMLR members with the vast majority of these collected during the 2017/18 season. Of the planned 550 sample sequences, DNA has been extracted so far from 473 samples with 304 samples containing sufficient quality and quantity to be sequenced. Genotype data has initially been collected from 90 samples using high throughput sequencing methods (DArTseq™ technology). We also make recommendations for future sample collections of Antarctic toothfish and recommend the CCAMLR data warehouse develops sample data storing capability to allow for better links between individual samples and corresponding data.

Data from South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States and France were received for the 2018 marine debris monitoring season. Debris items collected during beach surveys remain predominantly packaging items and plastics. There is no evidence of an increase in debris at monitored sites, but it remains ubiquitous in the CCAMLR area. Due to the limited scope of submitted data, as well as the difficulty in identifying whether a debris item has originated from fishing or another human activity, the marine debris program will be expanded to include data on gear loss reported from vessels and observers.

CCAMLR has monitored marine debris in the Convention Area since the establishment of the marine debris program in 1989. In 2017, WG-FSA recommended that lost fishing gear reported from vessels be included in annual updates on marine debris. Rates of hook loss in longline fisheries revealed a significant variation in the reporting rates between CCAMLR fisheries. When gear was reported lost there was a higher proportion of gear loss in areas where interactions with sea-ice are more likely. To improve collection of data on gear loss it is recommended that the C1 data form be modified to include data on gear loss and for the C2 form to have a clearer definition of ‘hooks lost attached to sections’ and ‘other hooks lost’.

Following proposals submitted to WG-FSA-16 and WG-SAM-17, the following research objectives were identified as common for surveys in 48.2 (WG-FSA-16/40 Rev. 1, WG-SAM-17/24, WG-SAM-17/26): 

• Work towards quantifying regional biomass and distribution of D. mawsoni

• Develop stock identity and stock distribution hypotheses for D. mawsoni and D. eleginoides

• Assessments of biological parameters: sex, size, growth, maturity for D. mawsoni

• Oceanographic and bathymetric data collection

Additional specific objectives can be found in the individual research proposals (WG-FSA-16/40 Rev. 1, WG-SAM-17/24, WG-SAM-17/26).

Macrobenthos by-catch are used to identfy Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VME). These VME indicators have been recorded as part of the C2 and also as part of observers data since CM 22.07 has been published in 2013. Here we report on VME bycatch in research blocks 58.4.1, 58.4.2, 54.4.3a and 58.4.4b. We looked at spatial variation of VME units at different scales, and analysed taxa spatial distribution. We also compared gear types in terms of number of VME units collected. We suggest that taxonomic diversity index and specimens count may also be considered as proxy to limiting fishing impacts on benthic ecosystems.

France and Japan revised a research plan to continue investigating the populations of Patagonian toothfish (D. eleginoides) in the Division 58.4.3a during the next fishing seasons from 2017/18 onwards, using standardized longline gear and established observation and tagging programs.

In this Division, research fishing has been conducted by France and Japan since 2012 in the research block by three vessels using longline: “Shinsei Maru No. 3” (Japan), “Saint André” (France) and “Mascareignes III” (France). The first Franco-Japanese exploratory longline fishery research plan for Dissostichus spp. in Division 58.4.3a (WG-FSA-16/55) was presented to WG-FSA-16, which included research objectives, methods and milestones in accordance with Conservation Measure 41-06 and associated measures.

In October 2017, the Scientific Committee agreed that the research plan was appropriate to achieve its objectives (SC-CAMLR-XXXVI, para. 3.121). France and Japan commonly notifies their intention to continue their exploratory fisheries in Division 58.4.3a over the coming years in order to contribute to the tagging program and to achieve a robust stock assessment. We present here a proposal for the continuation of the research plan as set out in WG-FSA-17/55, and taking into account the Scientific Committee’s recommendations.

Summary of revised points from WG-SAM-18/08 is as follows:

• Updates the timeline table of milestones
• Track changes of milestones
• Summary of previous recommendations by WGs and SC (Annex 1).

This paper presents the annual report of a multi-Member longline survey on Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) in Division 58.4.3a in the 2017/18 fishing season by France and Japan. One fishing cruise by French vessel (“Mascareignes III”) took place in May 2018 and caught 2.5 tonnes of D. eleginoides in 58.4.3a. The data set, C2 and Observer data, were provided by the CCAMLR Secretariat on the 21th August 2018. In this paper, the data set during current fishing season (2017/18) was used for reporting the quantity of data, samples collected, and results of analysis as a progress toward research millstones. The research operations in 58.4.3a have not yet been completed in the 2017/18 fishing season which means that some data may not be reflected in tables and figures at the time of submission of this document.

Following Operation Sparrow 2, WG-FSA-17 noted the unprecedented availability of catch data from four IUU vessels including reported removals, video footage, and catch in gillnets recovered by an NGO vessel. As requested in WG-FSA-17 paragraph 2.16, this document provides an analysis of the spatio-temporal distributions of catch and effort by the Chang Bai, Nihewan and Jiangfeng in Division 58.4.1 during the 2013/14 season, as well as the Thunder in Division 58.4.3b during the 2014/15 season. During the 2013/14 season the Chang Bai, Nihewan and Jiangfeng operated across SSRUs 58.4.1C, 58.4.1D and 58.4.1E and caught a total of 792 tonnes of toothfish. Daily catch rates were similar between IUU and authorised vessels. Based on data from 2013/14, total removals by IUU vessels fishing with gillnets were higher than authorised vessels fishing with longlines, and the presence of an authorised vessel in the region of IUU activity did not appear to deter the IUU fleet. Hence there have been substantial and unaccounted for IUU removals, which may have impacted on research activities in Division 58.4.1.

Exploratory fishing for toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) in East Antarctica (Divisions 58.4.1 and 58.4.2) began in 2003. Robust stock assessments and catch limits according to CCAMLR decision rules remain to be determined for these Divisions. WG-FSA-16/29 outlined the first multi-member toothfish exploratory fishery research plan up to 2017/18 for East Antarctica, which the Scientific Committee agreed was appropriate to achieve the research objectives (SC-CAMLR-XXXV, para. 3.244). Subsequent research progress including evaluation of standard approaches to identify precautionary catch limits (WG-FSA-17 para. 4.28-4.38) and bycatch mitigation (Maschette et al. 2017), suggests a low risk profile for this fishery. Furthermore, examination of bycatch data and underwater video footage have not led to the identification of vulnerable marine ecosystem (VME) indicator species (Maschette et al. 2017). Here, we present a succeeding research proposal with updated research objectives for 2018/19 to 2021/22, in accordance with Annex 24-01/A, Format 2. This succeeding plan has been designed as a 4-year plan, based on the low risk profile of this fishery and to allow more time for review by Working Groups of major reporting and review years in non-stock-assessment years. Based on the outcomes of the approach to review the locations of research blocks presented in WG-SAM-18/17, research blocks will be retained in their current locations.

CCAMLR-XXXIV (para. 5.68) endorsed new pre-season (1–14 April) and post-season (15–30 November) trial season extensions, in addition to an existing pre-season (15–30 April) and trial post-season (1–14 November) extension in the Patagonian toothfish longline fishery in Statistical Division 58.5.2 (WG-FSA-15/48).

Australia undertook to report annually on the results of all the trials. This paper presents information on fishing effort and seabird interactions with fishing gear collected during the periods 1–14 November 2017, 15–30 November 2017, 1–14 April 2018 and 15–30 April 2018. This report complements the fishing effort and interaction data reported in 2015 (WG-FSA-15/48), 2016 (WG-FSA-16/28 Rev. 1), and 2017 (WG-FSA-17/20).