CCAMLR

Data  from catches of research trawl  were obtained in Subareas 48.1 and 48.2  during cruise  RV Atlantida  in 2020.  The number of krill measured (length, weight) from 179 trawl catches was about 20,000. The length ranges smaller 36 mm were used to define the proportional recruitment. Variability of krill length frequency distributions and proportional recruitment by stratum are shown. The proportional recruitment of krill in Bransfeed Strait stratum (BS) and the Elephant Island (EI) stratum was 0,617 and 0, 472, respectively. Variability of weight - length relationship by stratum were also obtained, and these relationship differ from  the known regression ( a=2, 236 x 10^-6 , b=3,314)  that are used  in CCAMLR practice ( for example,  CCAMLR 2000 Survey, Survey 2019, RV Atlantida 2020; and other surveys). The sensitivity of conversion factor to the used weight-length relationship is shown. The use of the known relationship (a=2, 236 x 10^-6, b=3,314)   may underestimates the conversion factors. It was shown that the conversion factors when using this relationship in comparison with the new relationship will result in underestimations of the krill density from 10 to 26% depending on the stratum. To our opinion it is necessary to revise the use weight-length relationships.   

As part of the revision of the krill management approach, an updated set of parameter values is required for the Grym to perform projections in Subareas 48.1, 48.2 and 48.3. Where applicable, Subarea-specific values are set to account for the different dynamics in each Subarea. Given the scope of the task, some parameter values are found in the scientific literature while others correspond to the current expertise from all involved CCAMLR scientists. This document summarizes discussions held in the "GYM/Grym assessment model development” e-group.

The Scientific Committee considered the assessment of Dissostichus spp. in data-poor fisheries to be of a high priority (SC-CAMLR-XXIX, paragraphs 3.125 to 3.145). The use of different gear types for the implementation of a multi-Member researches on Dissostichus spp.  in the East Antarctic region (Divisions 58.4.1 and 58.4.2) carried out in the seasons 2011/12 - 2017/18  is a critical factor for efficiency and reliability  of these multi-Member researches. In the context of the discussion of the Scientific Committee (SC-CAMLR-XXXVII p.3.338-3.144; SC-CAMLR-XXXVIII p. 318, 3.119; SC-CAMLR-XXXIX p.4.10) we propose the research program on Dissostichus spp. by the multi-vessels in Divisions 58.4.1 and 58.4.2 from 2021/22 to 2023/24 based on standardized   sampling longline gear and survey stratified  design.   

This paper examines fishery data collected by Russian scientific observers on longline vessels that fished toothfish using Spanish longline and trotlines in CCAMLR and adjacent Atlantic waters during the 2002-2017 fishing seasons. The factors influencing the longline fishing impact zone    are discussed in this paper.  It is shown that the existing approach to the definition of "fishing impact zone" is aimed at determining the impact of fishing on the bottom. This is primarily important for assessing the risk areas where fishing can impact on VMEs.  However, the assessment of the CPUE, the understanding of the fish size composition in the catches requires an expanded understanding of the term "fishing impact zone". It should include both the interaction of the longline with the bottom, and the presence of a bait smell field that attracts fish to the longline.

Stock Annex for the 2021 assessment of the Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) population of the Ross Sea region, including stock structure and definition, fishery information, catch data, biological information, abundance information, and stock assessments.

Here, we provide diagnostic plots for the 2021 assessment model for Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) in the Ross Sea region presented in Grüss et al. (2021a), following the recommendations of WG-SAM-2015 (SC-CAMLR-XXXIV 2015 Annex 5). The stock assessment model is described in Grüss et al. (2021a), and a detailed description of the stock area, stock assessment methods and the stock assessment parameters are given in Grüss et al. (2021b).

We update the Bayesian sex- and age-structured integrated stock assessment model for Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) in the Ross Sea region (Subareas 88.1 and Small-Scale Research Units (SSRUs) 88.2A-B) using the most recent available data for the Antarctic toothfish fishery. The assessment model employs reported catch for 1998–2021, tag-release data for 2001–2019 and associated tag-recapture observations for 2002–2020, commercial fishery age frequencies for 1998–2020, abundance observations from the Ross Sea Shelf Survey (RSSS) for 2012–2021, and age observations from the RSSS for 2012–2020.

The assessment model used slightly revised catch data and observations for 1998–2019, and new data and observations for 2020 and 2021. Observational data (tag releases, tag recaptures, and age/length data) from vessel trips that had been quarantined since the previous assessment were also excluded. The model structure was the same as that employed in 2019. Additional data that should be available to enable an update of this assessment to be reviewed by the 2021 meeting of the Working Group on Fish Stock Assessment (WG-FSA) will include age data from the 2021 RSSS, tags released in 2020, and tags recaptured in 2021.

The 2021 model (R1.1) maximum posterior density (MPD) estimated the equilibrium pre-exploitation mature (spawning) stock biomass (B₀) as 79 140 t, and the current stock status (B₂₀₂₁) as 61.9%. Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) estimated B₀ as 78 530 t (95% CIs 72 090–86 470 t) and the current stock status (B₂₀₂₁) as 62.0% B₀ (95% CIs 58.9–65.2% B₀). The estimated status in 2019 from the updated model was almost the same as that estimated in the 2019 assessment (B₂₀₁₉ was 66.0% in the 2019 model and was 65.7% in the updated 2021 model).

The key outcome of the sensitivity analyses was that exclusion of the initial three years of tag-release data (2001–2003) and associated tag-recapture data resulted in almost no differences in estimated B₀ or current biomass and improved the overall model fit. Although exclusion of the initial three years of tag-release data and associated tag-recapture data did not improve the Pearson residuals of the catch-at-age data (and decreased the negative log likelihood for the remaining tag-recapture observations), results suggested that a model without the early tag data could be used as the base case model for the 2021 assessment of Ross Sea Antarctic toothfish. The main advantage of doing this would be to reduce the number of partitions within the assessment model, thereby decreasing the computer memory allocation required and processing time to evaluate the model. We recommend that the sensitivity excluding the 2001–2003 tag data (R1.2) be employed as the base case for the 2021 stock assessment.

We recommend that future development should include, inter alia, aggregation of the very old fish (> 35 years) in the observations as a plus group, recruitment of fish into the model at age four or five, and division of fisheries into discrete temporal periods.

Ukrainian vessel CALIPSO (Fig. 1) (shipowner FC NEPTUNO LLC, Ukraine) performed the research survey in the statistical subarea 48.1 according to the research plan SC-CAMLR-39/BG/08 and management advices of the WG-FSA-2020 and SC-CAMLR-39 in the second part of February 2021. The survey was carried out partly and stopped in advance due to the exhaustion of the limit (a total of 6.56 tons were caught from the allocated 7 tons) for fish species Macrourus spp.

The problem of differences more than 10% between vessel catch reporting form (C2) and landed Dissostichus catch (DCD) on Ukrainian fishing vessels Simeiz, Koreiz and Calipso was raised  by the CCAMLR Secretariat in 2018, and the data from these Ukrainian fishing vessels for the period 2014-2018 has been quarantined. There is proposed to include these data, revised by Ukraine, into the CCAMLR database (with special mark), leaving the uncorrected  data with the appropriate mark also available for use.

In RB5, the SICs in Feb. 2021 were the highest and the SSTs were the lowest for the years 2016-202.  In Mar.  2021, the highest SICs decreased to nearly the long-term average while the SST increased accordingly. In the same year, the SICs and SSTs had two peaks in Feb. and Mar. respectively.  In RB4, the SICs during Jan.- Feb (Austral summer) in 2021 were also the highest since 2016. The sharp spikes of SST (rapid increasing SST) had become smaller year by year from 2017 to 2021, which indicates that the SSTs had a cooling phase in 5-6 year periodical cycles corresponding to an increasing trend in SICs.

Spatial dynamics of SICs with SSTs contour of -1.8°C and -0.8°C were analyzed. It was found that the ice edges are at approximately -1.8°C and partially broken ices exist between -1.8°C and -0.8°C when comparing imagery by GIBS and SICs distribution by AMSRs with SSTs by NOAA.

Daily wind stick plots indicate that the eastward winds could encourage the off-shore Ekman transport at the end of Feb. and the beginning of Mar. which resulted in late (slow) ice retrieval in 2021.