Rossii revisited: new information on the early history of the fishery for Notothenia rossii in Subarea 48.3

New catch data reported to CCAMLR indicate that Notothenia rossii was heavily exploited in Subarea 48.3 from 1966- 197 1, rather than just 1970 and 197 1 as previously reported. Previous assessments, based on the incomplete data set, had indicated a 1970 biomass of 600 000 tonnes and an unrealistic stock history considering that this stock was the first to be exploited in the Antarctic. A VPA using the new data suggests that unexploited biomass was over 900 000 tonnes, and declined in a manner to be expected from a new fishery. However, on the basis of historical reports and analyses of stock histories, it is suggested that 50% of the catch of 400 000 tonnes reported from 1970 was Champsocephalus gunnari, rather than N. rossii, and that 25% of the catch in 1969 was also C. gunnari. A VPA run with these catches predicts a more reasonable stock history for a species undergoing first exploitation, and an unexploited biomass of 600 000 tonnes prior to 1966.