Japan and France revised the next season’s (2017/18) research plan in research blocks 58.4.4b_1 and 58.4.4b_2 using the latest CCAMLR C2 and Observer data, following several advices during WG-SAM meeting in 2017. We have used extracted data provided by the CCAMLR Secretariat on 27th July, 2017.
The estimated median stock size in block 58.4.4b_1 and 58.4.4b_2 was 1452.03 and 921.91, tonnes respectively, in Chapman method considering tags released in the last three years as effective for the biomass estimation. The estimated median stock size in block 58.4.4b_1 and 58.4.4b_2 was 484.51 and 498.76 tonnes, respectively, in CPUE analogy method (reference area: HIMI) using the relevant information of reference area (recent median CPUE, estimated biomass and updated area size) recommended in the WG-SAM-16/18 Rev.1.
We propose to continue the current research operation for the next fishing season with the same survey design and total catch limit of 70 tonnes to further strengthen the stock assessments in the area.