The Australian exploratory toothfish fishery in CCAMLR Division 58.4.2 and Subdivision 58.4.3b in season 2003/04

The Australian longliner Eldfisk was authorised to conduct an exploratory fishery for Dissostichus sp. in CCAMLR Divisions 58.4.3b (BANZARE Bank) and Division 58.4.2 in the 2003/04 season. The results of the fisheries in Division 58.4.2 and Division 58.4.3b are summarised. Between 12 December 2003 and 23 December 2003, the Australian vessel, Eldfisk undertook exploratory longline fishing in Division 58.4.3b. 19 sets were completed, yielding 447 kg of D. eleginoides and 6345 kg of D. mawsoni. Between 6 and 25 January 2004, the vessel undertook exploratory longline fishing in Division 58.4.2, specifically in SSRUs D and E. 129 kg of D. eleginoides and 19 552 kg of D. mawsoni were caught from 46 sets.
Overall, bycatch was highest at BANZARE Bank with 916 kg of total bycatch, comprising 15% of the total catch weight. Of the two SSRUs in Division 58.4.2, bycatch was highest in SSRU E with 624 kg of total bycatch comprising around 4% of the total catch compared with 247 kg of total bycatch (4%) for SSRU D. In both SSRU’s more bycatch occurred in the research sets than in the commercial sets.