CCAMLR

Ukraine proposes to continue survey in the Subarea 48.2 in same boundary for the fifth year of research.

The research of Dissostichus in Subarea 88.3 carried out by Chile in 1998, New Zealand in 2005, Russia in 2011 and 2012 and the Republic of Korea in 2017 and 2018. It was noted that no tagged fishes were recaptured during the previous research activities. Studies are planned to be conducted from January to March, as ice conditions permit. It is planned that the number of longline sets will be 60 in four Reserch Blocks. It is planned to complete the study for Dissostichus spp. in Subarea 88.3 within 3 years.

Ukraine proposes to carry out a scientific survey of Dissostichus spp. by bottom longline in the eastern part of Subarea 48.1.

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 Ross Sea region marine protected area.

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 is located in the Special Research Zone of the RSRMPA. Proposals include the priority elements of the research and monitoring plan for the Ross Sea region marine protected area. 

The research program shall be conducted in the Special Research Zone during 2018 - 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 vessels and vessel from other CCAMLR country-members.

Russian program provides proposals to study the species composition, biology, life cycle, distribution and structure of craboids stock (Anomura, Decapoda)  and  assess their resource potential in the Bellingshausen Sea (Subarea 88.3) and Amundsen Sea (Subarea 88.2).

The scientific survey was conducted by the Greenstar (KOR) in the research block 883_3–883_5. Due to extreme ice conditions covering the southern part of 88.3, the Janas (NZL) was not able to conduct its part of the survey. The total catch of D. mawsoni was 38,856 kg comprised of 1,380 individuals. The CPUE for Dissostichus mawsoni indicated regional differences among the research blocks. While CPUE in blocks 883_3 and 883_4 showed similar values of 0.1369 and 0.1466 kg/hook, research block 883_5 was extremely low showing 0.0273 kg/hook. Tagging rate and tag overlap in Subarea 88.3 were 5.2 fish per tonne and 72%. The length frequency of D. mawsoni exhibited a bimodal distribution with modes near 70 cm and 150cm. Female maturity stage showed a regional pattern, with the stage 2 accounting for 47.8%, 28.1%, and 25.6% in the areas of 883_3, 883_4, and 883_5, respectively. To get biological information of D. mawsoni, otolith, stomach contents, gonad and muscle were collected. Water temperature and salinity were measured at 6 locations during the survey in Subarea 88.3. Notification of research for the agreed 2018-19 fixed-effort survey as detailed in WG-FSA-17/40 is included with thesame catch limit of 235 t as in 2017-18.

Japan and France propose a plan to continue investigate the populations of Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) in the Division 58.4.4b during the next fishing season (2018/19) from 2017/18 onwards, using standardized longline gear, and established tagging techniques. The proposed research is relevant and take into account issues raised by the Scientific Committee (SC-CAMLR-XXXIII, paragraph 3.208), which requested that research activities be coordinated between France and Japan so that selectivity and catch rates can be standardized across the vessels and impacts of depredation be minimized.

Additional outcomes of the research relate to documenting the degree of depredation, tagging toothfish for biomass estimation and for stock linkage studies, and collecting information on distribution, relative abundance, and life history of bycatch species.

The plan represents a continuation of previous surveys by Japan and France, without significant change from the previous research activities.

Japan and South Africa propose to continue investigating the population structure and various demographic parameters of Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) in the Subarea 48.6 in 2018/19 using standardized longline gear, established tagging techniques, and pop-up tags. The proposed research is pertinent to issues raised by the Scientific Committee (SC-CAMLR-XXXV, paragraph 3.3.252-3.265) and will supplement and expand previous efforts to characterize the local toothfish populations in the area to better understand stock structure, movement patterns and improve estimation of population characteristics and thereby contribute to the development of spatial population models and assessments in support of management advice.

Additional outcomes of the research include documenting relative abundance of Antarctic toothfish and Patagonian, tagging toothfish for biomass estimation and for stock linkage studies, and collecting information on distribution, and life history of bycatch species.

The plan represents a continuation of previous surveys by South Africa and Japan without significant change from the previous research activities. From 2018/19 fishing season, Norway had considered the joint survey participation, but due to various circumstances Japan and South Africa received an offer to withdraw their participation.

Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba)—one of the most abundant animal species on Earth—exhibits a five to six year population cycle, with oscillations in biomass exceeding one order of magnitude. Previous studies have postulated that the krill cycle is induced by periodic climatological factors, but these postulated drivers neither show consistent agreement, nor are they supported by quantitative models. Here, using data analysis complemented with modelling of krill ontogeny and population dynamics, we identify intraspecific competition for food as the main driver of the krill cycle, while external climatological factors possibly modulate its phase and synchronization over large scales. Our model indicates that the cycle amplitude increases with reduction of krill loss rates. Thus, a decline of apex predators is likely to increase the oscillation amplitude, potentially destabilizing the marine food web, with drastic consequences for the entire Antarctic ecosystem.