Preliminary assessment of Patagonian toothfish, Dissostichus eleginoides, in the vicinity of Heard Island and McDonald Islands (Division 58.5.2), based on a survey in May–June 2006 using the Generalised Yield Model

A survey of Patagonian toothfish, Dissostichus eleginoides, was undertaken in Division 58.5.2 in the vicinity of Heard Island in May-June 2006 to provide the information for an assessment of short-term annual yield in the 2006/2007 CCAMLR season. This paper provides a preliminary assessment of yield for the area of Division 58.5.2 to the west of 79°20’ E using standard CCAMLR methods. It also investigates the impact on the recruitment series and predicted yields of:
i) excluding the unusually high length density data from the 1999 survey
ii) the exclusion of year classes <4+ and >6+ which have been included in previous assessments (WG-FSA 2005) but are apparently not well selected.
iii) research removals only and reported fishing only.