CCAMLR

This paper outlines the specific research objectives and plan to achieve them for the second year of an agreed 3-year longline survey, in the wider context of connecting the recently undertaken surveys in Subarea 48.2 with the established fishery in Subarea 48.4. The overall research objectives include determining population connectivity between these Subareas, improving understanding of Dissostichus sp population structures in this region, and improving available data on bathymetry and associated distributions of benthic bycatch species. This paper reiterates the key points of WG-SAM-17/34, updates information on tag-recapture data from the first year of the survey, and includes a three-year data collection and two-year data analysis plan leading towards the development of a stock hypothesis for the eastern regions of 48.2 and southern regions of 48.4.

A stratified bootstrap of icefish catch density based on the UK 2017 demersal fish survey catch rate data indicated a biomass of 91 531 tonnes (lower one sided 5th percentile: 47 424 tonnes) within Statistical Subarea 48.3. Projections for the 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons applying the CCAMLR harvest control rule lead to catch limits (TAC) of 4 733 tonnes for 2017/18 and 3 269 tonnes for 2018/19.

The stock of Antarctic toothfish (D. mawsoni) in CCAMLR Subarea 48.4 is estimated from tagging returns to be 979.3 tonnes in 2017. Applying the CCAMLR agreed precautionary assumption of average biomass across the time series and harvest rate of γ = 0.038, implies a 2017/18 yield of 37 tonnes compared to the 2016/17 catch limit of 38 tonnes.

The Marine Protected Area on the southern shelf of the South Orkney Islands (SOISS MPA) established by CCAMLR in Subarea 48.2 on the initiative of the United Kingdom has existed for more then eight  years (Conservation Measure СМ 91-03, 2009). However, there are still issues related to the scientific and legal aspects of this MPA that require clarification. The SOISS MPA is the first MPA established by CCAMLR and lessons learned from it are important for subsequent proposals to establish MPAs in the Convention Area.  Taking into account the above, we consider it appropriate to make a number of comments in relation to the SOISS MPA.

It is shown that   the proposals for the establishment of an MPA in the Weddell Sea should be complemented by information on the commercial potential and future rational use for dominant fish species in the Weddell Sea.  

The activities of the CCAMLR to minimize incidental mortality of seabirds in the course of longline fishing or longline fishing research in the Convention Area are carried out by means of: a) use a streamer line and b) control of the longline weighting rate. Currently, according to CM 24-02 (2014) and CM 25-02 (2015) which in force, vessels already use gears that do not allow birds pecking up the bait from hooks by controlling  longline sink rates and line-weighting regimes (CM 25-02 paragraph 2,3 and 4).  Thus, the use of a streamer line becomes meaningless for any vessels using longline gears described in paragraphs 2, 3 or 4 of Conservation Measure 25-02.

Russian Federation  proposes to amend Conservation Measure CM 24-02 (2014) «Longline weighting for seabird conservation» with regard to use a streamer line.