Results of the scientific research survey in CCAMLR Subarea 88.3 in the 2004/05 season

Results from the New Zealand research survey in CCAMLR Subarea 88.3 in February 2005 are presented. While ice conditions prevented the successful completion of the full research plan as approved at CCAMLR XXIII, research activities were completed with 10 research hauls, temperature profiling, icthyoplankton sampling, toothfish tagging and biological sampling of toothfish and other species completed.
Pre-recruit D. mawsoni were caught at much greater depths than occurs in the other Subareas of Area 88. This result has significant implications for future trawl surveys in this area. The catch rate obtained on one line on the Antarctic shelf is similar to catch rates taken in other Subareas and Divisions where substantial exploratory fisheries are currently under way. The limited results collected indicated a surprising lack of biodiversity in the De Gerlache Seamount study area.
While the results of this research survey are limited, they do suggest that further research activity is required in Subarea 88.3 before any fishing activity be permitted.