CCAMLR

Exploratory fishing for toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) in East Antarctica (Divisions 58.4.1 and 58.4.2) began in 2003. Robust stock assessments and catch limits according to CCAMLR decision rules remain to be determined for these Divisions. WG-FSA-16/29 outlined the first multi-member toothfish exploratory fishery research plan up to 2017/18 for East Antarctica, which the Scientific Committee agreed was appropriate to achieve the research objectives (SC-CAMLR 2016, para. 3.244). Subsequent research progress including the evaluation of standard approaches to identify precautionary catch limits (WG-FSA-17 para. 4.28-4.38) and bycatch mitigation (Maschette et al. 2017), suggests a low risk profile for this fishery. Furthermore, examination of bycatch data and underwater video footage have not led to the identification of vulnerable marine ecosystem (VME) indicator species (Maschette et al. 2017, Eléaume et al. 2018). Here, we update the research plan for 2018/19 to 2021/22 (WG-FSA-18/59), in accordance with ANNEX 24-01/A, Format 2. This plan has been designed as a 4-year plan, based on the low risk profile of this fishery and to allow more time for review by Working Groups of major reporting and review years in non-stock-assessment years.

Compared to last year (WG-FSA-19/44), this research plan has been updated with 2020/21 operating details and an explanation of the survey design in Section 3. The updated ‘CCAMLR Research Plan – Research Proponent Self-Assessment’ can be found in Appendix 1.

The Ross Sea shelf survey has been conducted annually since 2012, with the most recent revised proposal presented in 2017 and spanning five years (2018–2022). This paper:

• serves as notification for the 2021 survey under CM 24-01 following the survey design proposed in WG-SAM-17/39, and annual notifications in WG-FSA-18/41 and WG-SAM-19/03;
• fulfils the new requirement for a self-assessment of research proposals;
• provides updated information needed for CM 24-05;
• proposes a catch limit allocation mechanism for the survey; and
• updates the milestone achievement table.

A collaborative research program has been undertaken by Japan and South Africa since 2013 to enhance data collection and analysis in the subarea 48.6 under CM 21-02. Spain has joined the proposal starting from 2018/19 fishing season in order to contribute to the data acquisition and to speed up the integrated assessments of the Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) stock in this subarea (WG-FSA-18/34).

The continuation of the three-member research proposal for 2020/21 season is presented to ensure continuity of previous research activities. Data and investigations about the population structure and various demographic parameters of D. mawsoni using trotline (JPN and ZAF) and Spanish longline (ESP) gears, established tagging techniques, pop-up tags and genetic analysis will provide the basis for the development of spatial population models and assessments in support of management advice. An Integrated Stock Assessment (ISA) of this species is expected to be done by the end of the 2020/21 season.

The research plan and its implementation remains largely unchanged  as it was reviewed in 2019 (WG-FSA-2019/23), with the only  change being the introduction of the  operational details concerning the replacement of the Japanese fishing vessel Shinsei-maru No.3 to Shinsei-maru No.8, with the same crew and fishing gear (fishing method: Trotline system).

The updated CCAMLR Research Plan – Research Proponent Self-Assessment can be found in Appendix 1.