CCAMLR

This paper presents, for consideration by the Commission, the projected outcome of the budget for 2003, a draft of the 2004 budget and an indicative forecast for 2005, presented in a format determined by the Commission at its 2002 Meeting. The 2003 budget is currently expected to be met, with a recommendation that an unbudgeted surplus of A$8 010 from 2002 be used to increment the Contingency Fund. A new budget Item has been created by the removal of the Information Services function from Communications. There is no overall effect on the budget resulting from this. The proposed real increase in budgeted expenditure in 2004 has been limited to A$27 300 (0.9%) despite the effects of, among other factors, the implementation of the results of the General Services Staff pay review, as well as new work in the form of establishment of a web-based education package and the provision of language support to some contributors to CCAMLR Science. The creation of a hard-copy version of the education package would result in a further real increase in 2005. A number of possible projects expected to be proposed to this year’s Commission Meeting have been identified as having potential cost implications but, due to lack of information, cannot be included in either the 2004 draft budget or the 2005 forecast.

The current method used by the Working Group on Fish Stock Assessment (WG-FSA) for assessing the long-term yield for toothfish fisheries in CCAMLR uses estimates of density of juvenile toothfish derived from research trawl surveys as an estimate of absolute abundance of recruitment to the fishery. At the 2003 meeting of WG-FSA a number of inconsistencies were identified in the estimation of the recruitment series for Subarea 48.3. In light of this, the Scientific Committee agreed that there was an urgent need to review and revise the recruitment series for D.eleginoides in Subarea 48.3, recognizing the importance of obtaining a consistent and reliable recruitment series for review at the 2004 meeting . This paper elaborates the issues surrounding how age information should be incorporated into CMIX analyses; which age groups should be included in the estimation of recruitment, and the need for a clear set of decision rules to guide those attempting CMIX analysis. It provides an overview of the theoretical issues involved with estimating cohort densities from length density data from trawl surveys with examples for the survey series for Subarea 48.3. A checklist of issues to be considered when undertaking CMIX analyses to estimate recruitment of toothfish is provided.

The Generalised Yield Model is used by the WG-FSA in the assessments of Champsocephalus gunnari, Dissostichus eliginoides and Euphausia superba. Its current version is GYM501D.EXE. In the course of reviewing the methods for estimating the time series of recruitments of D. elegionoides for WG-FSA in 2004 an error in the calculation of the recruitment series from survey data was detected. This error does not affect the assessments undertaken in recent years. This paper presents the nature of the error and the manner in which it was corrected.
The recruitment series is the estimate of abundance of fish at the nominated ‘recruitment age’ (age 4 for toothfish) in each year. The first year in the time series of recruitments is determined as the Oldest Age observed in the surveys minus Recruitment Age. This was coded specifically for the case of surveys observing fish of ages one year younger than the recruitment age and greater. This calculation needed to be made general to allow for many years younger than the recruitment age. This has been corrected.
The calculation of the recruitment series relative to the first year remains unaltered and correct. A new version, GYM501E.EXE, and installation software has been made available on the AAD website and at the Secretariat.

Brief results of Chionobathyschus dewitti researches which based on data collected from by-catch of bottom longlines at Dissostichus mawsoni fisheries are presented. It is noted that the depths where Dissostichus mawsoni fishery is carried out are inhabited by adult specimens of Chionobathyschus dewitti, aged from 5 to 13. The characteristic feature of Chionobathyschus dewitti reproductive biology was ascertained: ability of females to bear deposits of eggs on ventral fin.

Results of biological data analysis of Antarctic fish species from catches of 117 bottom long-line sets in Subarea 88.1 from 15.12.03 till 10.03.04 are presented. For the first time Antarctic toothfish was found in long-line catches above seamounts of the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge to the North up to 56°S. Presence of Patagonian toothfish in spawning aggregations of Antarctic toothfish cannot lead to their intbreeding as its gonads were at the early development stages in that period. Antarctic toothfish spawning takes place above the mountains of the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge, located northward of 70°S, during the whole winter season from April till November. Spawning aggregations is only formed by mature individuals: males with body length more 100 cm, females – more than 120 cm. Gonads of individuals from the continental shelf and from the more southern seamounts (to the South of 70°S) were considerably behind in maturation and had lower GSI value. Probably, as gonads are maturing, a part of fish is migrating for spawning to the northern area of Subarea 88.1. Wide variability of Antarctic toothfish nutrition spectrum and its ability to overcome considerable overfull of depths provide for its possibility to migrate over the considerable distances. Heavy exhaustion of the most part of Antarctic toothfish individuals forming spawning aggregations was ascertained. Studies of biology of mass by-catch fish showed that Macrourus witsoni, Chionobathyscus dewitti, Cryodraco antarcticus, Chionodraco rastrospinosus was discovered in the Ross Sea the first time, Muraenolepis microps and Lepidonotothen kempi were in prespawning or spawning conditions. In ovaries of some fish there were transparent eggs, and gonads of some fish were in post-spawning condition. Sizes of yolk and hydrated eggs were given, as well as absolute fecundity of these fish species. Size composition and biological data on Patagonian toothfish from the area of Argentina hollow between 44 and 47°S were presented. Maturity length of females – 85 cm and males – 80 cm were indicated. According to our data in this area long-line fishery is based on immature fish and those matured for the first time.

La pêcherie à la légine menée par la France dans les Zones Economiques de Crozet (zone CCAMLR 58.6) et de Kerguelen (zone CCAMLR 58.5.1) est l’une des plus importantes mais provoque également des dommages sur les oiseaux qui sont attirés par les appâts et périssent noyés. Cette réalité est nouvelle puisque ce type de pêcherie est récent (arrêt des chalutiers en 2001 pour être remplacés par des palangriers) mais des solutions ont été recherchées activement par la France. Deux voies principales ont été mises en oeuvre dès la saison 2002/2003 : des mesures de sanction à l’encontre des navires capturant le plus d’oiseaux (interdiction de certains secteurs de pêche, obligation de s’éloigner etc.) et des mesures de prévention dans le déroulement de la pêcherie (fermeture de Kerguelen pendant la période la plus sensible, utilisation de lignes blanches etc.). Les armements ont été consultés en permanence et leur collaboration a permis des avancées notables, notamment en prenant l’initiative de multiplier les banderoles. Les scientifiques ont été consultés et une première étude a permis de rechercher les principales causes de mortalité aviaire.
La mise en service d’un système de surveillance satellitaire et d’un nouveau navire de surveillance des pêches a permis d’intensifier la lutte contre la pêche illégale, principale cause de mortalité des oiseaux due à la pêcherie. Cela s’est traduit par l’arrestation d’un pêcheur illégal en juin et la disparition de toute activité illégale depuis lors.
La coopération entamée avec succès avec des experts néo-zélandais et australiens devrait contribuer à poursuivre ces améliorations. Les expérimentations menées par la France notamment sur l’utilisation de lignes blanches (au lieu de lignes noires) et de banderoles (plusieurs au lieu d’une seul) devraient également permettre d’ouvrir une nouvelle voie d’amélioration dans la pêcherie à la légine au-delà des ZE de Crozet et de Kerguelen.
Il est important de noter que l’ensemble de ces efforts a permis de diminuer de près de 75% la mortalité aviaire en 2003/2004 (4 009 oiseaux) par rapport à 2002/2003 (15 265).