CCAMLR

We present a new, high resolution (300 m) bathymetric grid of the South Orkney Islands and surrounding continental shelf, northeast of the Antarctic Peninsula. The new grid, derived from a compilation of marine echo-sounding data improves previous regional bathymetric representations and helps to visualise the morphology of the shelf in unrivalled detail. The compilation forms important baseline information for a range of scientific applications and end users including oceanographers, glacial modellers, biologists and geologists. In particular, due to our limited understanding of glacial history in this region, the bathymetry provides the first detailed insights into past glacial regimes. The continental shelf is dominated by seven glacially eroded troughs, marking the pathways of glacial outlets that once drained a former ice cap centred on the South Orkney Islands. During previous glacial periods, grounded ice extended to the shelf edge north of the islands. A large, ~250 km long sediment depocentre, interpreted as a maximum former ice limit of one or more Cenozoic glaciations, suggests that ice was only grounded to the ~300-350 m contour in the south. Hypsometric analyses support this interpretation, indicating that a significant proportion of the shelf has been unaffected by glacial erosion. Using these observations, we propose a preliminary ice cap reconstruction for maximum glaciation of the South Orkney plateau, suggesting an ice coverage of about ~19,000 km². The timing of maximum ice extent, number of past advances and pattern of subsequent deglaciation(s) remain uncertain and will require further targeted marine geological and geophysical investigations to resolve.

A geomorphic zonation derived from the new compilation of bathymetric datasets allows for the analysis of ecosystem properties in the region, forming a key element for habitat mapping which will contribute to decisions about the designation of potential future marine reserves.

In late 2012 SCAR, BirdLife and BAS developed a successful proposal (to the UK Darwin Plus Fund) to build an integrated database that would facilitate the analysis of penguin tracking data. The database will have a web-based user interface that will allow data holders to submit data and attach a range of access levels; access may be granted only to the data holder, to a wider group, or to a general public domain. A penguin database (built along analogous lines and interoperable with the BirdLife Global Procellariiform Tracking Database) will allow spatial analyses to be undertaken that will help inform a variety of CCAMLR analyses, including work on the development of a variety of feedback management approaches for the krill fishery, and work on the spatial planning processes needed for identifying candidate CCAMLR MPAs.

This note is a brief report on progress since WG-EMM-13.

Aim  To infer the potential for competition between an important Antarctic predator, the macaroni penguin, and the krill fishery by examining the spatial overlap in prey consumption and catches.
Location  South Georgia, Scotia Sea and adjacent waters.
Methods  The study focused on the winter period as this is the only time of year when spatio-temporal overlaps between macaroni penguin foraging and the krill fishery can occur. We tracked adult macaroni penguins from a colony in South Georgia using global location sensors to determine winter distribution, and bioenergetics models to calculate biomass of food consumed during the winter period. We combined these to produce a surface of the tonnes of krill consumed which could be compared directly with the spatial distribution of the tonnes of krill caught by the fishery.
Results  Adult macaroni penguins from South Georgia consumed 126,472 tonnes of krill during the winter which is similar to the 98,431 tonnes caught by fisheries over the same period. However macaroni penguins had a very wide pelagic distribution across the Scotia Sea whereas the fishery was restricted to three small areas on shelf edges, such that their spatial overlap was negligible. The proportion of the estimated krill stock taken by macaroni penguins and the krill fishery was small both at the scale of the Scotia Sea and the local areas within which the fisheries operate.
Main conclusions  Competition between macaroni penguins and the krill fishery is low under current management and far less than that among the various other species of krill predators that occur in the Scotia Sea. Our method will allow quantification of changes in competition between macaroni penguins and krill fisheries should the latter expand in the future, and provides a framework for assessing predator-fishery competition in other systems.

As requested by CM 21-03, Annex 21-03/A, attached are the net diagrams and mammal exclusion devices included in the krill fishery notification submitted by the EU.

Historical catch and effort data recorded by all effective vessels were analyzed using the latest CCAMLR C2 and observer data toward the development of research plan for the 2014/15 exploratory fishery of Dissostichus eleginoides in Division 58.4.3a.
The stock size for block 5843a_1 was estimated using the Petersen estimator and the CPUE x seabed analogy method using effective data on tagging experiment and appropriate reference area (north of Subarea 48.4) for the CPUE method recommended at the last WG-FSA meeting. The stock size using the Petersen estimator was largely different from that using the CPUE method. Predicted number of tag recaptures from the estimated stock sizes using the Petersen methods was consistent with the observed number in 2013/14 season. However, the Petersen estimate was based on tags released and recaptured only at the western end of the block, as pointed out at the last WG-FSA meeting (paragraph 6.66 of SC-CAMLR ANNEX 6, 2013).
We propose to set the sample size at current 32 tonnes for at least 3 years, which is likely to result in sufficient tag recaptures to substantially refine the stock assessment, as well as constituting a sufficiently low risk harvest rate as suggested at the last WG-FSA meeting.

Historical catch and effort data recorded by all effective vessels were analyzed using the latest CCAMLR C2 and observer data toward the development of research plan for the 2014/15 exploratory fishery of Dissostichus mawsoni in Subarea 58.4.2.
The stock size for a research block (5842_1) was estimated by the CPUE x seabed analogy method using an appropriate reference area (Ross Sea) for the CPUE method recommended at the last WG-FSA meeting.
As we proposed at the WG-FSA meeting last year, since we have yet to obtain enough evidence to estimate plausible stock size, and accordingly have yet to estimate appropriate catch limit, we propose to continue the current research operation for at least 3 years with the same sample size as decided at the last CCAMLR meeting in the current research block, in order to promote successful stock assessment. On the other hand, we preliminarily estimated a sample size for 2014/15 using the CPUE analogy method for block 5842_1. The result of calculation was consistent with the current sample size.
In addition, we propose to allow flexibility in cases of research operations under extraordinary adverse ice-conditions, as detailed in our simultaneously submitted report on research plan in Subarea 48.6 (CCAMLR MEMBER_Japan, 2014).

Historical catch and effort data recorded by all effective vessels were analyzed using the latest CCAMLR C2 and observer data toward the development of research plan for the 2014/15 exploratory fishery of Dissostichus mawsoni in Subarea 58.4.1.
The stock sizes for five research blocks (5841_1, 5841_2, 5841_3, 5841_4 and 5841_5) were estimated by the Petersen estimator and the CPUE x seabed analogy method using effective data on tagging experiment and an appropriate reference area (Ross Sea) for the CPUE method recommended at the last WG-FSA meeting. The stock size using the Petersen estimator was generally different from that using the CPUE method in each block.
As we proposed at the WG-FSA meeting last year, since we have yet to obtain enough evidence to estimate plausible stock size, and accordingly have yet to estimate appropriate catch limit, we propose to continue the current research operation for at least 3 years with the same sample size as decided at the last CCAMLR meeting in the current research blocks, in order to promote successful stock assessment. On the other hand, we preliminarily estimated sample sizes for 2014/15 using the CPUE analogy method for each block except for block 5841_5 where Petersen method was applied following the procedure recommended at the last WG-FSA meeting. The results of calculations were generally consistent with the current sample sizes.
In addition, we propose to allow flexibility in cases of research operations under extraordinary adverse ice-conditions, as detailed in our simultaneously submitted report on research plan in Subarea 48.6 (CCAMLR MEMBER_Japan, 2014).

Historical catch and effort data recorded by all effective vessels were analyzed using the latest CCAMLR C2 and observer data toward the development of research plan for the 2014/15 exploratory fishery of toothfish in Subarea 48.6.
The stock sizes for five research blocks (486_1, 486_2, 486_3, 486_4 and 486_5) were estimated by the Petersen estimator and the CPUE x seabed analogy method using effective data on tagging experiment and appropriate reference areas for the CPUE method recommended at the last WG-FSA meeting. The stock size estimate using the Petersen estimator was similar to that using the CPUE method for Dissostichus mawsoni in block 486_2. However, the estimates using the Petersen estimator were different from those using the CPUE method in other blocks where the Petersen estimator was applicable. Predicted numbers of tag recaptures from the estimated stock sizes using the both Petersen and CPUE methods were relatively consistent with the observed numbers for D. mawsoni in the block 486_2 for 2012/13 and 2013/14 seasons. However the predicted and observed numbers using either method were inconsistent for Dissostichus spp. in other blocks.
As we proposed at the WG-FSA meeting last year, since we have yet to obtain enough evidence to estimate plausible stock size, and accordingly have yet to estimate appropriate catch limit, we propose to continue the current research operation for at least 3 years with the same sample size as decided at the last CCAMLR meeting in the current research blocks except in block 486_3, in order to promote successful stock assessment. On the other hand, we preliminarily estimated sample sizes for 2014/15 using the CPUE analogy method for Dissostichus spp. in all blocks generally following the procedure recommended at the last WG-FSA meeting. The results of calculations were generally consistent with the current sample sizes, except for D. eleginoides in blocks 486_1&2.
In research block 486_3, the number of observed recaptures, which was significantly lower than those predicted, can be a result of limited number of hauls (only 13 and 14 hauls in 2013 and 2014, respectively) associated with the small catch limit. Regarding relatively high CPUE in the area, we propose to increase the catch limit from current 50 tonnes to 100 tonnes under the exploitation rate of 3 % in order for succeeding in the tagging experiment.
In the current fishing season, the Japanese vessel attempted to conduct survey in two blocks, 486_4 and 486_5, along the ice shelf. However, any of research blocks, their buffer zones and extended buffer zones prescribed in the current CM were not accessible due to anomalously bad ice conditions, and accordingly she could not set any research lines. From the perspective to promote efficient and robust research for establishment of stock assessment in these ice shelf blocks, it seems that the current arrangement to cope with bad sea ice condition is insufficient and that some more flexibility is needed for such exceptional events. In this regard, we would like to propose following mitigations; i) if both the buffer zone and the extended buffer zone are inaccessible due to heavy sea ice, a vessel shall notify the Secretariat, and may attempt to set research lines in the nearest fishable area reasonably close to the original research block. In such a case, the catch will be counted against the catch limit of the original research block; and ii) when a vessel attempting to survey cannot find nearest fishable area reasonably close to the original research block under adverse ice conditions, the whole catch limit in the research blocks for a fishing season may be carried over to the following season. The carried-over catch limit will be effective for only following one season. These mitigations would contribute to maximize the use of existing tags, and may provide important information on movement of fish in ice shelf zones.