In 2016, scientists from the USA and New Zealand undertook a collaborative initiative to deploy pop-off satellite archival (PSAT) tags on Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) on the southern shelf (SSRUs 88.1M,J,L) and northern seamount (SSRUs 88.1B,C) areas of the Ross Sea region. The objectives  were to characterize movement and habitat preferences, compare two different commercially available types of PSAT tags, and to develop methods to support research and monitoring of the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area. All fish were tagged as part of research longline efforts under CM 24-01 after the 2015/16 toothfish fishing season had ended. A total of 10 PSAT tags from two manufacturers were released on the southern Ross Sea shelf in the austral summer, and 5 PSAT tags were released on the northern seamounts in the austral winter, for a total of 15 PSAT releases. Of the 10 PSAT releases in the southern Ross Sea, data from two tags were reported via Argos (one with full data, one with partial). On the northern seamounts, two of 3 PSAT tags scheduled to pop-off on February 1, 2017 reached their housing crush depth (1800 m) shortly after they were released. Although some useful data was collected during this experiment, data recovery in general was poor. As this is a developing technology proposed to be implemented by a number of Members, we suggest that additional work, including product development, is urgently needed to develop best practice guidance for tagging toothfish with PSAT tags.

The indices of exploratory toothfish fishery in the Subareas 881 and 88.2   for the period of 2010-2016 are considered. Taking into account the different number of hooks at longlines sets used at the fishery, the catch indices were normalized to 1000 hooks.  The effect of the gear types (autoline, spanish, trotline) on the observed spatial-temporal variability of CPUE toothfish   (kg/1000 hooks), by-catch CPUE (kg/1000 hooks) and normalized target catch ratio is considered. Particular attention was focused to the analysis of the length-species compositions of catch by years and SSRU while using different types of longlines. Our results  show that the gear type  is the most important factor that must be taken into account both during the longline fishery data analysis and the research programs planning.

Closed mostly within the Weddell Sea Subarea 48.5 is one of the closed data-poor CCAMLR subareas, where stock assessment should be carried out. In spite of hard ice conditions at most part of the Sea during mostly all the year, this large water area is very similar to the Ross Sea. This similarity could be found in geographical location, bathymetric profile, currents system and follows from results of the first and the second stage of this program. It highlights the Weddell Sea as one of the most promising area for exploratory fishery of Dissostichus sp. However, fishery in Subarea 48.5 is closed on the basis data on stock assessment absence. 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 schedule and research program of the third stage of the Russian multi-year research program in the Weddell Sea that is prospected for 3-5 years. Detailed plan of fishing operations, data collecting and analysis will be provided for the Scientific Committee and Commission consideration.

Russian Federation is going to continue investigation for toothfish in Ross Sea. The previous Russian program was undertaken in the Subarea 88.2 in 2010-2012. This paper presents the   research program in the frame of the research and monitoring associated with the RSRMPA.

Russian research program have objectives to investigate the life-cycle, distribution and movement, biological parameters and stock structure of Dissostichus species in the eastern part of the Ross Sea over shelf and continental slope within the Subarea 88.2 A.  The tagging toothfish and recapture tagged fishes   to be in focus.  The study area covered by proposed investigations is located in the Special Research Zone of the RSRMPA. Proposals include the priority elements for scientific research and monitoring associated with the Ross Sea region marine protected area. 

The research program shall be conducted in the Special Research Zone during 2017-2027 or the first reference period for existence of the RSRMPA.   This program provides possibility   for collaborative investigations in the Special Research Zone by Russian vessel and vessels from other CCAMLR country-members. Implementation of this program can be started in the forthcoming season 2017/18.    

Exploratory fishing in Division 58.4.3.a is conducted by two vessels using longlines: “Shinsei Maru No. 3” (Japan) and the “Saint André” (France), since 2012. Precautionary management arrangements are in place in Division 58.4.3.a (Conservation Measures 41-05 and 41-11), while data are collected to provide a robust stock assessment and catch limits. A research plan jointly written by France and Japan has been submitted to WG-SAM-17, which included research objectives, methods and milestones in accordance with Conservation Measure 41-06 and associated measures. The main objective of this paper is to provide an overview of the data collected in Division 58.4.3a up to the CCAMLR fishing season 2016/17.

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.

Ukraine proposes to carry out a scientific survey of Dissostichus spp. by bottom longline in the eastern part of Subarea 48.1 with a partial (insignificant area) covering the area under investigation in Subareas 48.2 and 48.5.

Submitted format for reporting finfish research proposals of the Ukraine in Subarea 48.1 in 2018.