REPORT ON A RANDOM STRATIFIED TRAWL SURVEY TO ESTIMATE DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF DISSOSTICHUS ELEGINOIDES AND CHAMPSOCEPHALUS GUNNARI IN THE HEARD ISLAND REGION (DIVISION 58.5.2) FOR 2008 AND 2009

The random stratified trawl surveys (RSTS) for 2008 and 2009 were successfully completed on the RV Southern Champion, continuing the series that commenced in 1997. Catches in 2008 were generally reduced from the previous year’s survey, with the catch of toothfish being one third of that for the previous year and those of grey rock cod, unicorn icefish and skate species down by half. Catches of mackerel icefish and macrourids were similar to the previous RSTS. One of the most notable features of the survey was the very large catch of jellyfish. In contrast, overall catches for the 2009 survey were much higher than those from the 2008 survey. The total catch of fish was three times higher than that of 2008, with the catches of toothfish and icefish being four and five times higher respectively, and catches of skates being twice that of the 2008 level. The 2009 catches were closer to the average of the previous three years when there has been a stable survey design.