In Division 58.4.3a, since 2012, research fishing has been conducted in the research block by two vessels using longlines: Shinsei Maru No. 3 (Japan) and the Saint André (France). The catch limit for Dissostichus spp. is 32 tonnes and the total reported catch up in 2014/2015 was 15 tonnes. A technical problem for the French vessel had shortened the fishing campaign. In this proposal, 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 that would provide advice on a catch limit according to CCAMLR decision rules. This paper aims to present a research plan for 2016/2017 developed under Conservation Measure 41-06. The biomass in division 58.4.3a was estimated during WG-FSA 2015 using the Petersen estimator at 398 tonnes. Despite further developments of CASAL integrated stock assessment models for this division in 2015, geometric mean of Chapman biomass estimators is used for the calculation of stock size in this division in 2015. The developing CASAL model has to assess stock biomass with reliable estimates of IUU removals and to define a maturity key and parameters for the von Bertalanffy growth curve from age readings. The catch limit should remain unchanged at 32 tonnes for 2016/17 to maximize the expectation of tag-recapture.

Exploratory fishing for toothfish (Dissostichus spp.) in Division 58.4.2 began in 2003. In 2015 the fishery was limited to one Korean and one Spanish flagged vessel using longlines and the precautionary catch limit for the exploratory fishery for Dissostichus spp. was 35 tonnes in SSRU E. Only the Korean-flagged vessel undertook research fishing activity with a total reported catch of 11 tonnes. For 2016 a total of five vessels, one each from Australia, France, Japan, Korea and from Spain, have notified their intention to participate in the exploratory fishery. For 2017 France notifies its intention to participate and coordinate the operations of their research efforts with other members in order to achieve a robust stock assessment and define catch limits according to CCAMLR decision rules. This paper presents a proposal for a research plan for 2016/17 developed under Conservation Measure 41-05. The aim is to collect sufficient data to provide an advice on a catch limit according to CCAMLR decision rules. The biomass in the Division was estimated during WG-FSA 2015 using CPUE x seabed analogy. In the absence of an assessment using the CCAMLR decision rules, the catch limit should remain unchanged at 35 tonnes for 2016/17 to maximize the expectation of tag-recapture and the approach of allocation and collaboration between Members should be maintained.

Exploratory fishing for toothfish (Dissostichus spp.) in Division 58.4.1 began in 2003. Robust stock assessment and catch limits according to CCAMLR decision rules remain to be determined for this Division. France notifies its wish to collaborate in this research fishery with the other participants over the coming years in order to participate in the tagging program and achieve a robust stock assessment. The aim is to collect sufficient data to provide an advice on a catch limit according to CCAMLR decision rules. This paper presents a proposal for a research plan for 2016/2017 developed under Conservation Measure 41-11. The biomass for each in the Division was estimated during WG-FSA 2015 using CPUE x seabed analogy. In the absence of an assessment using the CCAMLR decision rules, the catch limit should remain unchanged at 660 tonnes for 2016/17 to maximize the expectation of tag-recapture and the approach of allocation and collaboration between Members should be maintained.

In the 2012/13 fishing season Spain began the implementation of a multi-annual Research Plan for Divisions 58.4.1 and 58.4.2 in order to estimate local biomass of Dissostichus spp. by means of two methods: depletion and tagging. Although a big effort has been placed for their accomplishment, results have to be analyzed in the coming months but some doubt about the reliability of data could be express due to accessibility problems by the ice cover and traces of IUU fishing found in the proposed areas. Together this analysis and considering that a single member proposal could not be enough to provide a reliable data set to lead to an integrated stock assessment of the target species, Spain intends to conduct research fishing during the 2016/17 season in the 58.4.1 Division following the same scheme that other member’s previous proposals with small modifications in order to expedite the realization of a toothfish stock assessment in this so called poor-data division.