CCAMLR

The objective of the MESOPP project ‘Mesopelagic Southern Ocean Prey and Predators' is to :

1. Make an inventory of science challenges, stakes and existing policies and develop tools to federate and structure the community;
2. Start to organise the related marine ecosystem community between the EU and Australia through two implementation actions
3. Propose a R&D roadmap to support a large international cooperation on marine ecosystems based on an e-infrastructure, adding additional countries such as USA, New Zealand, Canada (in the Frame of the Galway statement), Brazil and all active countries already involved in large organisations such as IMBER, CCAMLR or IMOS.

MESOPP will focus on the enhancement of collaborations by eliminating various obstacles in establishing a common methodology and a connected network of databases of acoustic data for the estimation of micronekton biomass and validation of models. It will also contribute to a better predictive understanding of the SO based on furthering the knowledge base on key functional groups of micronekton and processes which determine ecosystem dynamics from physics to large oceanic predators.

The delegations of Argentina, Australia, European Union, Norway, Uruguay and the United States propose to amend CCAMLR Conservation Measure 32-18 to prohibit shark finning and require that all fins of any shark that cannot be released alive remain naturally attached through the point of first landing. This is consistent with United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolutions on sustainable fisheries adopted annually since 2007 (62/177, 63/112, 64/72, 65/38, 66/68, 67/79, 68/71, 69/109, 70/75, 71/123, 72/72, and 73/125).

The CDS was effectively implemented in 2019 by 16 Member States, three Acceding States and one NCP cooperating with CCAMLR by participating in the CDS, and one NCP with limited access to the CDS. CDS reports of catches outside the Convention Area have increased in 2018. The Secretariat contacted 16 NCPs to seek their engagement in the CDS in 2019.

Analyses of the trends and supply chains in the CDS data was undertaken for 2018 and 2019. Across both years Chile had the greatest number of DCDs landings and exports and greatest quantity of exports (4 644 tonnes and 2 539 tonnes). For both years France landed the largest quantity of toothfish (4 461 tonnes and 2 986 tonnes). The largest quantity of imports was by the United States of America (USA) in both years, followed by China. Analysis of supply chains within the CDS identified the supply chain carrying the greatest tonnage of toothfish was between France and China.

This paper presents an updated stock assessment for the Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) fishery of the Crozet Islands, CCAMLR sub-area 58-6, with data up to the end of the season 2018/2019 (End of August 2019). This updated assessment model is based on the best available data and includes longline tag-release and tag-recapture data from 2007 to 2019 and priors and estimates on life traits model parameters (e.g. growth, maturity and natural mortality). It also uses commercial data that account for fish removals (fishing mortality and depredation) and support the estimation of their associated selectivity functions.

Compared to the previous assessment presented at WG-FSA 17 (Sinègre et al., 2017b), this assessment accounts for (1) updated data (2017/2018 & 2018/2019) (2) updated growth curve and (3) legal catches taken on the adjacent waters of Del Cano rise, outside the CCAMLR area. All model runs were conducted with the CASAL 2.30 2012-03-21 rev. 4648, that was agreed on by WG-SAM-14.

The updated model leads to smaller estimate of the virgin spawning stock biomass B0 than the one obtained in 2017, with an estimate of 54 610 tons (48 560-60 880). The estimate of the current SSB status of the stock is 63% (58.2%-66.6%) and the current catch limit satisfies the CCAMLR decision rules.

KEYWORDS: Dissostichus eleginoides, Crozet Islands, Stock assessment, Patagonian toothfish, State-space model, Population dynamic model

An observation on the interaction between marine mammal and krill midwater trawl was carried out onboard the Chinese krill fishing vessel Fu Rong Hai during the 2018/19 fishing season. The inner-trawl observation was made using an Underwater IP Camera, while sea surface observation was conducted visually with the aid of a SLR Camera and a Marine Binocular. Sea surface observation in Subarea 48.3 showed that the number of fur seal (Arctocephalus gazelle) around the fishing vessel increased from late July to August then decreased in September, and over 85% of the fur seals was observed chasing the trawl behind the codend during retrieving of the net. Although large number of Antarctic fur seal were observed at sea surface around the vessel during fishing operation, none seal by-catch was found during this fishing season and none identifiable marine mammal was observed inside the trawl either. Simultaneous observation of krill swarms detected by the echosounder revealed a linkage between the behavior of the seal and the depth of krill swarms. It is speculated that when krill swarms were available in reachable shallow depth (less than 50 m), Antarctic fur seal would feed on this krill and thereby was not attracted extensively by the presence of the fishing vessel. Chasing after the krill-filled trawl at sea surface seems to be a foraging related phenomenon.

This paper presents an updated stock assessment for the Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) fishery of the Kerguelen Islands EEZ, CCAMLR Division 58.5.1. It includes commercial fishery data up to the end of the season 2018/2019 (end of August 2019). The updated assessment model is based on the best available data and includes abundance estimates from random stratified trawl surveys (POKER, 2006, 2010, 2013 and 2017), longline tag-release and tag-recapture data from 2007 to 2019 and priors and estimates on model parameters such as life traits (e.g. growth, maturity and natural mortality). It also uses commercial data that account for fish removals (fishing mortality and depredation) and support the estimation of year class strenght (YCS) and selectivity functions.

Compared to the previous assesment that was presented to WG-FSA 17 (Sinègre et al., 2017b), this assessment accounts for (1) updated data (2017/2018 & 2018/2019), (2) updated growth parameters, (3) updated priors on YCS and period of estimation. All model runs were conducted with the CASAL 2.30 2012-03-21 rev. 4648, that was agreed on by WG-SAM-14.

The updated model leads to smaller estimate of the virgin spawning stock biomass B0 than the one obtained in 2017, with an estimate of 206 200 tons (CI: 194 130 – 218 380). The estimate of the current SSB status of the stock is 60.6% (95% CI: 58.1%- 60.9%).and the current catch limit satisfies the CCAMLR decision rules.

KEYWORDS: Dissostichus eleginoides, Kerguelen Islands, Stock assessment, Patagonian toothfish, State-space model, Population dynamic model

We report on objective 2 “inform estimations of the distribution, relative abundance, and life history of the main bycatch species” of the suspended research plan on Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) last submitted in 2018 by Japan and France in Division 58.4.3a (WG-FSA-18/61). We analyzed bycatch composition in number and biomass during the period 2008-2018 to investigate the inter-annual variations in bycatch patterns, spatial distribution and biological parameters of the main bycatch species. Skates (mostly Amblyraja taaf) was by far the dominant bycatch species on longlines, followed by Macrourus spp. and Antimora rostrata. Results from both captain declaration and observer reports showed strong effects of gear and bathymetry on bycatch composition and biomass. As shown in others regions, autolines were less selective than trotline. While trotlines had a bycatch-to-catch ratio of 10 to 20%, autolines ratio was up to 70% in some years. Hence, bycatch number and biomass increased strongly the years autolines operated. Skate bycatch was higher in shallower waters (900m-1200m) and the frequency of hauls with high skate CPUE led to a very high cumulated number of skates caught in 58.4.3a. While most skates were released in good or average condition and potentially survived, without more information on the post-released survival rate, we cannot rule out the fact that the use of longlines, and in particular integrated weight autolines, may have an adverse impact on skate populations in Division 58.4.3a.