CCAMLR

South Africa has played an active part in CCAMLR since its establishment in 1982 and has contributed to the scientific rationale for ecosystem management in a large area of the Southern oceans. Recently South Africa also initiated a new research plan within its EEZ around the Prince Edward Islands that acknowledges the objectives of the Commission for the responsible management of Antarctic Marine Living Resources.  The Koryo Maru 11 started with exploratory fishing in the CCAMLR Convention Area in 1996 and has completed a total of 47 trips to date.  Regions fished include Statistical Subarea 48.3 and 58.6 and 58.7 within the South African EEZ around the Prince Edward Islands and, more recently, research fishing in Subarea 48.6 and Division 58.4.2   The objectives for the 2012/13 season would be to start with the research in Subarea 48.6 and Divisions 58.5.2 and extend this into 58.4.3a later in 2013.  Research in this period will continue with specific focus on tagging within prescribed fine scale rectangles in these regions and on collecting detailed catch and effort and biological information on the target Dissostichus spp. and bycatch species.

In 2011 and 2012 in Subarea 88.3 Russian longliners “Sparta” and ‘Chio Maru 3” conducted research fishing for toothfish. Scientific program was carried out by scientific observers from VNIRO (Moscow, Russia) and YugNIRO (Kerch, Ukraine). Totally, during the work period 44 longlines were set at a depth from 625 to 2336 m. Total number of set hooks amounted 171096. In 2011 research fishing covered SSRU B, C and D. In 2012 ice conditions were much worse and longlines were set only in SSRU C. Collected from research fishing data contributes to the achievement of the main objectives of research - make estimation of toothfish quantity, as well as expand the knowledge about toothfish`s and by-catch species biology in this Subarea. (SC-CCAMLR-XXX/5, par. 2.26-2.29).

There are currently two sets of requirements for reporting data from vessels conducting fishing for research purposes (i.e. research fishing): (1) research fishing conducted under Conservation Measure 24-01 (scientific research) requires that catch, effort and biological data be reported on a haul-by-haul basis using the format used by research vessels (data form C4); and (2) research fishing under CM 41-01 (exploratory fisheries) requires that catch, effort and biological data be reported on a haul-by-haul basis using the formats used during commercial fishing by vessels (data form C2) and carrying scientific observers (cruise reports and logbooks).

This paper reviews the data collection and reporting requirements for research fishing. A harmonised approach is proposed to WG-SAM for consideration. The proposal would see fishing vessels use form C2 throughout their campaigns, with scientific observer continuing to use cruise reports and logbooks, and any supplementary data requirements for research fishing being reported on a separate form.

As of the end of May 2012, four longliners conducted research fishing in the exploratory fisheries in Subareas 48.6 and Divisions 58.4.1, 58.4.2 and 58.4.3a in 2011/12 (Table 1): Hong Jin No. 701 (Korea), Koryo Maru No. 11 (South Africa), Saint André (France) and Shinsei Maru No.3 (Japan). These vessels completed a total of 267 research hauls.

The four vessels deployed their research hauls within the fine-scale rectangles and buffer zones which had been assigned by the Secretariat in November 2011, prior to the start of the fishing season. During the course of research fishing, one vessel in SSRU 5841G did not meet the required ratio of 1 research haul to 3 commercial hauls.

All research hauls met the deployment criteria, i.e. fishing depths of 550 to 2200m, separation distance of at least 3 nmiles from any other research haul, between 3500 and 5000 hooks and soak times of at least six hours, except for the minimum separation distance in some sets in SSRUs 486D, 486G, 5841C, 5841E and 5842E. Limitations due to fishing depths and sea-ice in these southern SSRUs may have contributed to the concentration of research fishing effort.

Movement of Patagonian toothfish in Subarea 48.3 was investigated using tagging program data.  Data from 33,322 tag releases and 4,203 tag recaptures were used.

The mean movement rate of both sexes combined varied from 25 to 34 km year^-1.  There was no significant difference in movement rate between male and female fish of the same maturity category.  Male and females with developed, ripe and spent or resting gonads had significantly lower movement rates than immature females.

There was significant negative positive correlation between movement rate and local toothfish density at the point of release.

This work is based on material from Antarctic toothfish, collected in the Ross Sea from December 2004 to March 2005 on the longliner “Volna”.  Age was determined for 364 individuals. Currently widely applicable "the break and burn method" was used in the present work (Chilton, Beamish, 1982; Penttilla, Dery, 1988). According to the method, otolith is broken into two parts across the core.  All in all 6009 specimens of toothfish were aged using the same above described method. Otoliths were collected by Russian observers aboard longline vessels at the Ross Sea during 2002-2007 seasons. We consider the used method is appropriate for mass age determination for toothfish.

A tagging survey in SSRUs B and C in Division 58.4.4 a & b was conducted in the 2011/12 fishing season with the aims of providing the data required for assessments of the population structure, size, movement and growth of Dissostichus spp. in the centred area of Division 58.4.4 a & b. An approximate stock biomass level of Dissostichus spp. in the survey area was tentatively estimated using simple Petersen and CPUE comparison methods. The medial estimate using simple Petersen (3 062 ton) was larger than that (1 928 tonnes) estimated in the WG-FSA meeting in 2011 (SC-CAMLR XXX, Annext 4, paragraphs 5.19-21), although the 95 % confidence intervals were wide due to small numbers of recapture. CVs of 20 % achievable from Petersen biomass estimates may be achieved within three years with an annual research catch of approximately 55 tonnes. The estimate (1 086 tonnes) using CPUE comparison method was a third smaller than that using simple Petersen. The catch biomass level was calculated as 153 tonnes using simple Petersen and 54 tonnes using CPUE comparison at 5 % of exploitation rate. From these results the proposed sample size as existing 70 tonnes for the next 2012/13 survey seems to be appropriate. However, it should be noted that one of the reasons for small number of recaptured fish and decreased CPUE in 2011/12 may be due to depredation by killer whales (see details in the simultaneously submitted WG-SAM-12 report on the results). Thus, the catch biomass estimate using simple Petersen may be overestimated, while that using CPUE comparison may be underestimated. We propose to continue the mark-recapture experiment in SSRUs B and C in the 2012/13 season with slightly modified designs, considering security of operation, effective capture and high tagging performance. To apply mark-and recapture studies, tagging rate of ≥ 5 fish / ton will be conducted. The comparison test with the experimental gear, which consists of three segments of Trot line system and Spanish line system respectively, will be conducted at 14 hauls, due to understanding of differences in the physical and hooking conditions of tagged fish between those caught on Spanish lines and those caught on trotlines.

A survey was conducted in order to collect information for the stock status and various biological information on toothfish in Division 58.4.4a & b (Ob Lena Bank) by using a commercial bottom longline vessel, Shinsei Maru No. 3, from April 15 to May 19, 2012. This report described the results during the survey in two SSRUs (B & C) of Ob Lena Bank. Total catch (excluding tagged and released fish) of Dissostichus eleginoides was 28.3 tonnes in the survey area in 70 longline sets, contributing 91.3 % to the total fish catch (31 tonnes). Mean CPUEs of D. eleginoides was in the SSRUs were 6.7 indiv. / km (CV = 70.0%) in terms of number and 48.3 kg / km (CV = 79.1%) in terms of weight. The mean CPUE in terms of weight in SSRU B (32.1 kg / km) was rather lower than that (50.5 kg / km) in the same SSRU in 2010/11. A total of 172 individuals of toothfish with good physical condition and single-hooked were tagged and released during the survey, and 3 D. eleginoides, which were tagged and released in SSRUs B and C from the 2007/08 to 2010/11, were recaptured in the same SSRUs, respectively. The overlap of size between the fish released with tag and that of overall catch was high (θ=81 %). Fish with good physical condition and single-hooked contributed 50 % to the total among fish caught by Spanish line system, while this kind of fish contributed 14 % to the total among fish caught by trotline system. A total of 133 killer whales (Orcinus orca) were observed at the 30 hauls. All of whales observed and the predatory damaged toothfish occurred in SSRU B.

The vessel tried to avoid killer whales as in the previous surveys but could not escape from them effectively in SSRU B. The depredation may lead to underestimate of nominal CPUE and rather small number of recaptured fish until now in this SSRU.

Research plan for the exploratory longline fishery for Dissostichus spp. in 2012/13 for France in Division 58.4.3a.

Research plan for the exploratory longline fishery for Dissostichus spp. in 2012/13 for Spain in Divisions 58.4.1 and 58.4.2.