CCAMLR

The Patagonian toothfish fishery in the EEZ of Kerguelen (division 58-5-1) and Crozet (subarea 58-6) is under the management of the competent French authority, the French Southern and Antarctic Territories (TAAF). The TAAF relies on advice from several scientific institutions, in particular from the National Museum of Natural History, Paris (MNHN).
Within the context of this advice, the MNHN made recommendations in order to minimize fish by-catch of fish that are not targeted by the fishery campaign of 2011-2012. The technical recommendations set by the authority were updated by taking this advice into account.
The present document aims at informing the participants about the content of these technical recommendations. Those recommendations will be assessed all along the 2011-2012 campaign and, after the results obtained with the enforcement of these measures are analyzed, some quantified targets will be defined in order to reduce the fish by-catch during the next campaign.
The allotment of quotas to the fishing vessels targeting the Patagonian toothfish in the Kerguelen EEZ (division 58-5-1) and Crozet (subarea 58-6) are based on objective criteria for assessing the vessels’ performance. These criteria comprise all together socio-economic aspects and fishery history, steps implemented by each vessel to minimize avian mortality, initiatives for preserving the environment and the capacity to fish its own quota. The results regarding the accidental mortality represent one of the main factors for assessing fishing vessels. In the future, if by-catch mitigation methods demonstrate their efficiency, the fishing vessels will also be assessed according to their ability to achieve the targets in reducing the by-catch of non targeted fish species.
The French Austral and Antarctic Territories added to the technical measures for the Patagonian toothfish fisheries in the EEZ of Kerguelen and Crozet (division 58-5-1 and subarea 58-6) some general measures (paragraph 1 above) and some specific measures (paragraph 2 above). The relevant portions of these technical recommendations are given below.
At the end of the 2011-2012 fishery campaign, the results’ analysis will allow the settings of quantified targets in terms of reducing the fish by-catch in the EEZ of Kerguelen (division 58-5-1) and Crozet (subarea 58-6).
 

As with the 2009 assessment of Subarea 48.3, there is still uncertainty as to why there were high numbers of the 2001 cohort in commercial catches in 2009 onwards.  It is likely that it is due to a combination of a strong 2001 cohort and a change in selectivity for the commercial fleet, but it has not been possible to determine the relative importance of each explanation.
Median log-normal recruitment suggests a long-term yield of 3 200 t.  If year class strengths have been low since 1994 and continue for the next 35 years then appropriate long -term yields could be as low as 975 tonnes.  This scenario is highly unlikely as survey data from 2010 and 2011 suggest a strong 2007 cohort, and survey data from 2004 to 2008 suggest a strong 2001 cohort.
Model projections, evidence of cohort strength from the surveys and the stabilisation of both SSB and CPUE that a long-term yield in the region of 2 000 tonnes would be appropriate, at least until catch-at-age data can confirm the strength of the 2007 cohort.
 

South Africans have been deployed as CCAMLR observers on vessels from a number of flag states. In some cases the observers have retained the otoliths that were collected and deposited them at the Branch Fisheries Management, Dept Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) in Cape Town. As a result, South Africa holds otoliths collected from the CCAMLR area by vessels from five different flag states. This note summarises South Africa’s holdings of otoliths collected within the CCAMLR region by species, area, vessel and year.

This paper briefly outlines the key scientific issues that should be resolved for providing sufficient information with the aim of quantitative understanding regularities and trends of krill spatial distribution in the Scotia Sea being the important information for developing management strategy for krill stock in the Area 48. Proposals concerning scientific activity needed for resolving issues are shown. Practical implementation of these proposals will contribute to attaining CCAMLR goals in krill stocks management.  
 

The fish sampling protocol (K12 form) was developed to ensure that small/larval fish, that  may go undetected in larger samples, are recorded using a sorting method with a standard sub-sampling approach that allows the user to re-sort smaller samples and maximises potential to detect by-catch.
This paper uses data collected using the fish sampling protocol (K12) during 2010 and 2011 in order to estimate finfish by-catch in the krill fishery.

The information regarding by-catch of finfish in the krill fishery is limited and 2010 was the first year when the simplified sub-sampling method was used.  With more data from the upcoming season and greater observer coverage across the fishing fleet, better by-catch estimates should be able to be generated.
 

Summary of fishery-related information for WG-FSA including availability of data, catches of target and by-catch species in assessed and exploratory fisheries, tagging rates and the tag overlap statistic, notifications (fisheries, research and VMEs), development of species profiles and findings of the review of CCAMLR’s data management systems. Where applicable, the 2011 draft fishery reports and report on bottom fisheries and VMEs for WG-FSA have been updated with this information prior to the meeting.

Software is presented for the automated production of standardised image plots of spatially referenced bottom fishing impact assessments. This software is submitted to WG-FSA to assist the Secretariat or CCAMLR Working Groups in the production of integrated bottom fishing impact assessments, including routine update of the circumpolar impact assessment originally described in SC-CAMLR-XXIX/4, Appendix E.

The background to the current CCAMLR toothfish tagging programme is reviewed and recent performance measures implemented by CCAMLR to control and monitor the tagging of toothfish (Dissostichus species) in exploratory fisheries carried out within the Convention Area are described.  Following the first season of implementation we describe several circumstances which will cause anomalies in the tag overlap statistic used to monitor tagging performance.  These relate to differences in the length distribution of Dissostichus species within the assessed management division (ASD) or changes in the tagging rate within sub areas of the assessed ASD.  The current level of two tonnes of Dissostichus catch triggering the requirement to achieve a tag overlap statistic of 60% or more for upcoming season as specified in Annex 41-01/C is evaluated by means of simple simulations.  The results of this analysis indicate that at low levels of tagging, equating to between 2 and 10 t of Dissostichus catch, there is a strong likelihood that a breach of the Measure would occur.  We make recommendations from a user perspective on other aspects of toothfish tagging such as crew participation in the process, tag colour, training, and clarification of the controlling measures. We also recommend that the CCAMLR tagging protocol be updated and translated.