Krill fishery report: 2010 update

So far this season (2009/10), ten of the 11 krill fishing vessels licensed by Members (China, Japan, Korea, Norway, Poland, Russia) have fished in Area 48. The total catch reported to May 2010 was 108550 t, most of which has been taken from Subareas 48.1 and 48.2 between February and May. Approximately 40% of the catch has been taken by two vessels using the continuous fishing system. The forecast total catch of krill for the season is 150000-180000 t . In 2008/09, five Members fished for krill in Area 48 and reported a total catch of 125826 t; two vessels used the continuous fishing system. The largest catch of krill was taken from SSMU SOW (South Orkney West) in Subarea 48.2 (89184 t), and the remainder of the catch was taken predominantly in Subarea 48.1, notably 19691 t from SSMU APBSE (Antarctic Peninsula Bransfield Strait East) and 2745 t from SSMU APE (Antarctic Peninsula East). This is only the second time that fishing was reported from SSMU APE; previously, 25 t of krill was taken in 1995/96. The daily catching capacity of vessels in the fishery has increased markedly since 2003/04, with vessels using conventional trawls now capable of catching and processing up to 400 t of krill per day, and some vessels using the continuous fishing system have exceeded 800 t of krill per day.