Long term fisheries observer data were used to analyse the influence of a range of environmental variables and mitigation measures upon catch rates of seabirds in the Japanese pelagic longline fishery. In the Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ) seabirds were most likely to be caught on longlines that were set during summer, in southern areas of the zone, and during daylight hours. However, interpretation of changes in catch rates resulting from the use of mitigation measures or from weather effects were problematic due to the interrelationships between the many measured factors. Interpretation and accurate assessment was further complicated by ongoing changes to fishing practices and equipment, and due to changes of the priority that fisheries observers placed on the collection of seabird data. The data relating to factors affecting seabird bycatch which is currently collected incidentally by fisheries observers are not sufficiently robust to allow confidence in statistical assessments alone to examine the efficacy of mitigation measures. Dedicated observations may allow for more confident determination of the reasons why seabirds were or were not caught, and to what degree mitigation measures are effective. The use of these observations in combination with the analyses suggested seabird bycatch rates may be lowered by the use of bird lines, bait throwing machines and thawed baits. However, appropriate use and deployment of these measures are critical if they are to be effective. Further work is required to better understand the effect of these measures, and their effect upon the catch rate of target and non-target species.

A pilot census of light-mantled sooty albatross Phoebetria palpebrata nests was conducted on western Campbell Island in November 1995. An extrapolation from 292 nests counted on 19 km of coastline, more than 77 seen on offshore islands, and 32 found in four inland areas, suggests that there were at least 1600 nests on the island in 1995-96. Standard vantage points were established for future index counts. Sixty nests were monitored, and 50% were still successfully rearing chick in January-February. Five nests at Beeman Hill and 12 nests at north-west Lyall ridge were monitored closely, and adults banded.

The black petrel (Procellaria parkinsoni) is a vulnerable endemic seabird, which breeds only on Little and Great Barrier Islands, New Zealand. During late January and February 1997, within the main breeding area around the highest point on Great Barrier Island, Kirakimata (Mount Hobson), 100 burrows that had adults present were selected as long-term study burrows. The burrows were either accessible through the entrance or easily excavated to reach their contents. Eighty four of these burrows were used by breeding paris, and the remainder by non-breeding adults. The threee 1600 m2 census areas set up in 1996 around the summit were monitored over the 1997 breeding season. A total of 54 burrows were located within the census grids and 36 were being used by breeding pairs. A preliminary estiate extrapolating from the grid burrows shows the population consists of 4 500 breeding birds and at least 685 non-breeding birds.

During February and March 1998, a 43-day cruise on FV Tierra del Fuego was conducted as part of the New Fisheries Projects developed by Chile, mainly in order to establish presence of Dissostichus spp. in the CCAMLR Statistical Subareas 48.1, 48.2 and 88.3. Industrial longlines Spanish system were used for the operations, with variable quantities of fishhooks (1 440-4 320), No. 9 Mustard Kirby type, mainly between 600 and 2 550 m deep. Sardines (Sardinops sagax) and squids (Illex argentinus) were used as bait. The results of this research indicated that the Antarctic toothfish (D. mawsoni) was registered on the surroundings of Pedro I Island (Latitude 68°49'S), and from the Bellingshausen Sea (Latitude 70038'S) to the Clarence and Elephant Islands (Latitude 61°14'S). While the Patagonian toothfish (D. eleginoides) was captured from King George Island, in the Antarctic-Pacific Ocean (latitude 61°24'S) to the Scottish Sea in the Antarctic-Atlantic (Latitude 58°01'S). The Dissostichus spp. yielded small quantities in the three subareas, with values of only 5.7 g/hook (Subarea 88.3), 19.1 g/hook (Subarea 48.1) and 3.0 g/hook (Subarea 48.2), with a total average of 11.1 g/hook.

Haul by haul Chilean and Argentinian data show that fishing forDissostichus eleginoides in 1994/95 took place in two major fishing grounds, West of Shag Rocks (Wshag) and North-West of South Georgia (NWSG). In March there was a high proportion of large females at Wshag (72%) but a nearly equal proportion of males and females at NWSG. It is suggested that a strong influx of small fish at Wshag in April reduced the mean length in the catch and increased CPUE (numbers of fish per hook), although sex ratio remained biassed in favour of females. Similar changes in mean length and CPUE were not seen at NWSG, although the sex ratio did change in favour of males (60% male by early May). The changes at Wshag are hypothesised to be the result of a prespawning migration of sub-adults, especially males, from shallow waters to deeper spawning grounds just prior to spawning in June-July