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    Proposal for a longline survey of toothfish in the northern Ross Sea region (SSRUs 88.2 A and B)

    Request Meeting Document
    Document Number:
    WG-FSA-14/61
    Author(s):
    Delegations of New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom
    Submitted By:
    Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)
    Abstract

    We propose a multi-year and multi-member research plan using standardised longline gear to sample the toothfish populations in the northern areas (61° - 66° S) of SSRUs 88.2A–B. The purpose of the research as requested by the Scientific Committee (SC-CAMLR XXXII, paragraph 3.76) is to characterise the local toothfish populations found there to better understand stock structure, movement patterns and improve estimation of population characteristics by Ross Sea spatial population models. Additional outcomes of the research relate to mapping the bathymetry of the fishable area, documenting relative abundance of Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish, tagging toothfish for biomass estimation and for stock linkage studies, and collecting information on distribution, relative abundance, and life history of bycatch species.