CCAMLR

This document introduces a training video that has been developed to assist both with the training of CCAMLR observers and for use by observers as a reference tool while at sea. The video covers many of the practical sections identified by CCAMLR as essential elements to be included in the observer training course. Currently the video is in English and only covers toothfish observing on autoliners and the aim to be to build on this with contributions from other Members.

This document introduces a proposal to include the identification and reporting of oiled birds under the training for the CCAMLR Scheme of International Scientific Observation and gives some suggestions as to what should be included in the training.

These drafts of new French plates are using a range of pictures to provide a gradient of images for each gonad stage instead of just one typical view. This would aim to obtain more accurate data on stages as observers would be able to better compare the gonads in the factory with those on the poster.

These drafts of new French plates are using a range of pictures to provide a gradient of images for each gonad stage instead of just one typical view. This would aim to obtain more accurate data on stages as observers would be able to better compare the gonads in the factory with those on the poster.

Species composition and abundance of myctophid fish were analyzed using the fish bycatch samples collected by scientific observers onboard Japanese commercial krill fishing vessels in the area north and northwest of South Georgia, Antarctica during the austral winter from 2002 to 2008. A total of 9 myctophid species were identified in the by-catch samples, among which Krefftichthys anderssoni, Gymnoscopelus nicholsi and Protomyctophum choriodon were abundant. Different life stages of K. anderssoni and G. nicholsi from larvae to adults were found, suggesting that these species may have their nursery ground around South Georgia. Electrona antarctica was not a major component of the recent mesopelagic ichthyofauna in this area, though this species used to dominate in the Antarctic coastal waters. In contrast, P. choriodon, which is known as a temperate species, became to dominate the recent samples. Additionally, the size distribution of P. choriodon was unimodal, indicating that individuals in the samples belonged to the same size group and probably migrated from the population in northern warmer areas.