CCAMLR

In accordance with the Conservation Measure 41-07 (2009), a survey was conducted in order to collect information for the stock status and biological information on toothfish in the southeast sector (24 allocated points) of Division 58.4.3b (Banzare Bank), using a commercial bottom longline vessel Shinsei Maru No. 3, from December 1 to 13, 2009. Shinsei Maru Trot line system was used as fishing gear. Total catch (excluding released weight) of Dissostichus spp. And the other by-catch species was 15.9 tonnes in the SE sector, where the catch limit of 18 tonnes was set. Dissostichus spp. Made up 16 % in number and 87.5 % in weight of the whole fish caught, while Macrourus spp. Made up 81% in number but only 11 % in weight to the total. Among two species of toothfish, Dissostichus mawsoni was dominant (82 % in number and 88 % in weight to the total). Mean CPUE of D. mawsoni was 3.4 indiv. / 1,000 hooks in number and 111 kg / 1,000 hooks in weight. D. mawsoni showed a broad modal composition at approximately 130-150 cm. Total of 60 individuals of toothfish were tagged and released during the survey. One male D. eleginoides was recaptured.

An age-based operating model was constructed and used to derive an initial numbers at age vector for the population. An age-based harvest control rule was then applied using the operating model dynamics and assuming perfect knowledge of the resource (initial numbers at age, maturity and weight at age). The initial numbers at age was also converted to numbers at length, which was used to initialise the length based harvest control rule, again assuming perfect knowledge of the resource. Total allowable catches (TACs) and harvest rates (H) from the length and age based methods could then be compared to test the performance of the length based method, with results suggesting that the two approaches determine similar harvest strategies.

Attempts to estimate natural mortality, as a single constant M, simultaneously with other model parameters in integrated assessments via CASAL for the Heard and McDonald Islands (HIMI, CCAMLR Division 58.5.2) Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) fishery have been unsuccessful. An alternative estimation strategy was tested using simulation whereby catch-at-age and aged mark-recapture data were generated for 12 years of fishing. Two alternative estimation models were programmed in R. Both use the same Poisson likelihood for annual number of recaptures by age class, and both model the age-structured population for each fishing year by annual recursive use of difference equations for population numbers at age obtained by integrating a first order ordinary differential equation (ODE) for within-year population dynamics. The difference in the models derives from differences in their ODE. The BODE model is based on the well-known Baranov ODE and corresponding mortality equation. The model based on a new mortality equation (CCODE model) uses an ODE with constant within-year catch per unit time for each age class, and as a result allows catch to be removed directly from the population. Compared to the BODE model the CCODE model involves less parameters and does not have competing likelihood components avoiding the difficultly in appropriately weighting separate components. Also, for a fishery that is not substantially depleted within any single fishing season, given fishers tend to increase their effort if required to achieve their target catch for the year, the CCODE model is the more realistic. In simulation studies of multiple years of releases, both the BODE and CCODE models gave accurate estimates of M when all other parameters were fixed at their simulation values. When all parameters were jointly estimated and selectivity is low for older age classes there was a problem of substantial positive bias in estimation of M for both the BODE and CCODE models. This problem was reduced so that bias in CCODE model estimates of M became progressively smaller as less “severe” selectivity was imposed in the simulation model. If selectivity for older age classes is close to 1 then the CCODE model estimates M with small bias and reasonable precision assuming 500,000 fish caught and 1,000 released per year.

Version 2 of Patch is available. Patch is a simulation program in R for evaluating spatial management strategies to conserve structure and function of ecosystems. Patch has been defined specifically for evaluating strategies to manage bottom fisheries to avoid significant adverse impacts on vulnerable marine ecosystems. This paper includes the revised manual for Patch, which describes its implementation and includes programmer’s notes for updating Patch as needed. The code is available from the CCAMLR Secretariat.

1. The Secretariat manages a comprehensive, detailed set of independent or related databases which support the work of the Commission and give effect to Article XX of the CAMLR Convention. Since the establishment of CCAMLR 28 years ago, there has been no formal, in-depth audit of the Secretariat’s data management systems against international best practice. 2. The Working Group is invited to consider the merits of an independent review of CCAMLR’s data management systems.

ABSTRACT Applicability of geostatistical methods in processing the acoustic fields of krill density based on the acoustic survey data is demonstrated. The results obtained indicate usefulness of these methods in studying the structure of krill density field for biomass assessment in compliance with different thresholds of their fishery importance. The structure of krill density field in Subarea 48.3 based on the surveys 2000 and 2002 indicates that krill fishable biomass is concentrated in small areas and constitutes only part of the total biomass concentrated within each coastal SSMU (SGW, SGE) in Subarea 48.3. The ratio between fishable biomass and total krill biomass may vary considerably by years and SSMUs reflecting inter-annual fluctuations of the krill density field structure. Keywords: acoustic survey, geostatistical methods, fishable biomass, density thresholds.

The task to estimate the escape mortality of krill during the fishing operation assigned by Scientific Committee requires assessment of the total krill passed through the rope and netting parts of trawl and krill amount appeared unviable in the process of escapement. The recommendations presented are the first attempt to develop the method of instrumental assessment of the «escape mortality». Estimation of the total amount of krill escaped from the rope and netting parts of the trawl is proposed to carry out on the basis of the complex application of fine-meshed chafers and acoustic method. The method of fine-meshed chafers allows obtaining the quantitative assessment of krill killed during escapement from the trawl. However, the practical implementation of fine-meshed chafers requires special investigation on methodical and technological issues of estimating krill escape mortality. The problems and approaches to elaboration of the efficient method for «escape mortality» study by standardizing data collection and processing, including a standard chafer design, are discussed. Keywords: escape mortality, method of fine-meshed chafers, acoustic methods, krill injury rate, krill viability.

ABSTRACT
Two new procedures are currently been developed by the Secretariat to further improve data quality: (1) validation of species’ spatial distributions; and (2) visualisation of data from single fishing trips. Both procedures are outlined.

ABSTRACT
Prior to the 2009/10 fishing season, the Secretariat allocated starting positions for research hauls in the exploratory fisheries in Subareas 48.6 and 58.4 (except on BANZARE Bank were positions were specified in Conservation Measure 41-07). For each of the 12 notifying vessels, up to 8 starting positions were provided for each stratum in each SSRU notified, and vessels were required to complete 5 research hauls in each stratum (total of 10 research hauls per SSRU). In all, 1133 starting positions were allocated for 84 vessel-SSRU combinations. As of June 2010, three vessels had fished in these exploratory fisheries in 2009/10, and had deployed a total of 129 research hauls in accordance with the conservation measures and allocated positions. Overall the vessels adhered to the research fishing protocol. Three types of difficulties and/or limitations were evident :

a) Sea-ice along the Antarctic coastline had prevented some vessels from reaching allocated positions in the continental SSRUs (e.g. 486D, 5841C and 5841G); however, the vessels were able to deploy research hauls in alternative positions determined by vessels.

b) The deployment of research hauls in alternative positions determined by vessels had resulted in some hauls being set in depths greater than 2500 m.

C) Some vessels did not achieve the required 5 hauls per stratum.