Commercial krill fisheries in the Antarctic 1973–1988

STATLANT data reported to the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) are used to discern visible trends in catch and effort for the Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) fishery between 1972/73 and 1987/88. With time the annual krill catch rose gradually to a peak of some 500 000t in 1981/82 before droping to a low level in 1983/84 and stabilising at about 400 000t thereafter. Indications are that in terms of both catch and effort the Soviet and Japanese fisheries in Statistical Sub-areas 48.1, 48.2 and 48.3 dominate exploitation of krill in the CCAMLR Convention Area. Monthly fishing patterns (November to April) are similar in all areas, except in Sub-area 48.3 when fishing is predominantly confined to the winter months (April to August). Trends in the fishery with respect to independent estimates of krill abundance and minke whale (Baleonoptera acutorostrata) catches are discussed.