Japan and South Africa initiated a multi-year research plan in Statistical Subarea 48.6 as outlined in CM 41-04 (2012 & 2013) during the 2012/13 fishing season. Progress achieved during the 2012/13 season and the first seven months of the 2013/14 season are reported. This paper updates and replaces WG-SAM-14/10.
Over the first 19 months of the Research fishery a total of 279 Dissostichus eleginoides and 2161 D. mawsoni have been tagged and released, and 42 tagged toothfish have been recaptured. Even though almost 50% of the recaptures are within season the progress in the northern section of Subarea 48.6 is encouraging. By the end of the 2014/15 fishing season there should be sufficient data to undertake tag-based assessment of the Dissostichus resource in the north of Subarea 48.6.
We express concern over the rise of IUU activity in Subarea 48.6 and the possible negative consequences for the resource and the research being undertaken.