CCAMLR

Macroscopic data of the field research obtained during fishing trips on board Spanish longliner "Tronio" in 2007-2011 were given. Gonadosomatic indices (GSI) of 823 Antarctic toothfish individuals from various SSRU in the Ross Sea were calculated. For one specimen with maximum observed weight of gonads (15.5 kg, GSI – 23.85 %), the individual absolute fecundity (IAF) and relative fecundity (RF) were calculated, which were 976000 eggs and 15 eggs/gram, accordingly.
Indexes of maturity rate of gonads on various grounds in the Ross Sea during the fishery season confirmed previous conclusions about significant extension of Antarctic toothfish spawning period.
According to our data, the maturity length of Antarctic toothfish males and females are different. Thus, females achieved 50 % of gonad maturity at length of 99-102 cm, and males - 102-105 cm. The pattern remained the same when determining 95 % of fish with mature gonads. Thus, 95 % of females with mature gonads were noted at length of 120-123 cm, and among males - at length of 123-126 cm. In our collections, we noted occurrence of females with maturing sexual products at length more than 81 cm, and males - more than 87 cm.
 

Since 2005, CCAMLR has progressed plans to implement Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to achieve the aims of Article 2 of the Convention.  CCAMLR has agreed a list of milestones for establishing a system of MPA in the Convention Area by 2012 (SC-CAMLR XXVIII, 3.28) and has encouraged Members to design and propose MPA scenarios on a regional basis.  The 2011 CCAMLR MPA Workshop is intended to facilitate this process by reviewing MPA scenarios prepared and submitted by Members and providing a forum for discussing appropriate methods by which further MPA planning should proceed.  This paper describes MPA planning processes  undertaken by New Zealand and the United States, working in parallel and in collaboration with each other, to design MPA scenarios in the Ross Sea region.  The paper presents separate MPA scenarios by New Zealand and by the United States consistent with their own planning processes and conservation objectives.  It is the intention of both Members that these scenarios, following review by the MPA workshop and discussions with other Members, be used to inform the development of one or more formal MPA proposals for the Ross Sea region.  The paper also presents a detailed description of tools and methods by which MPA planning was conducted by New Zealand and by the United States,  to guide similar efforts by other CCAMLR Members.

The management of Antarctic krill and conservation of its predators requires understanding about the compound effects of changing habitats, ecosystem interactions, and fishing practices. For Antarctic pack-ice seals, a main group of krill predators, we report the spatial density and krill consumption in the West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP)-western Weddell Sea area, the main fishery region; and we consider long-term changes in suitable pack-ice habitat, increased fishing pressure and potential krill declines consequent on climate change. We find that the WAP has the highest known density of pack-ice seals and in the entire area, over 3 million crabeater seals can consume over 12 million tonnes of krill, approximately 17% of the krill standing stock; this highlights their extreme trophic pressure and dependence on krill. High seal densities where found in the small-scale fishery management areas of the WAP, where suitable seal habitat has declined between 21 and 28% over a 30 year period; krill density has potentially declined, and fishing has increased rapidly. The highest seal density was found in the Marguerite Bay area, a critical source of krill for the Antarctic Peninsula and elsewhere. This area has the highest seal impact on an already highly variable krill biomass, sea-ice loss of 66% has already occurred, and it could be an area of expansion for the fishery in the future. Uncertainty in krill and seal stock trends and in their environmental drivers calls for a precautionary management approach, in the absence of data to support a management based on specific conservation objectives for pack-ice seals.