Preliminary stock assessment of Rajiformes in statistical Subarea 48.3

Elasmobranch species, such as skates (Rajiformes), are not target species within the CCAMLR longline fisheries. However, they form a major part of the bycatch and as such it is necessary to understand the effect of each fishery on the Rajiformes population. Here we describe biological information gained from the skate tag-release programme in statistical subarea 48.3 and use the tag recaptures for a simple Petersen model estimation of the population trends. The bycaught Rajiformes in subarea 48.3 are mostly one species, Amblyraja georgiana, and the Petersen estimation indicates that the stock is currently stable and has been since at least 2010.