Proposed allocation of research catches in Divisions 58.4.1 and

At WG-SAM-15, it was noted that 5 members, Australia, France, Japan, Korea and Spain had notified to conduct research in the exploratory toothfish fisheries off East Antarctica, covered by CCAMLR Divisions 58.4.1 and 58.4.2. This proposal seeks to establish an arrangement whereby all notified members have a catch allocation to undertake research, thereby avoiding Olympic fishing

DISTRIBUTION OF ANTARCTIC KRILL CONCENTRATIONS EXPLOITED BY JAPANESE KRILL TRAWLERS AND MINKE WHALES (Eleventh Symposium on Polar Biology)

Based on Japanese krill fishing and minke whaling data, the distribution of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superbd) concentrations was investigated in relation to bottom topography, sea-ice and hydrographic features. Data were from the Indian, Pacific and western Atlantic sectors. In early summer (December) high density concentrations of krill frequently occurred in the vicinity of southerly positioned pack-ice edges and in the embayments surrounded by the pack-ice edge. In mid and late summer (January-March) when the ice-edge was at its southern-most limit, krill fishing data indicated that harvestable areas were associated with the continental and insular shelf breaks, not with the pack-ice edge. Minke whaling data also suggested that not only sea-ice but also topographical features such as the continental shelf breaks and banks may be important factors affecting minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostratci) distribution. Krill harvesting areas in the vicinity of the shelf breaks were often coincident with hydrographic fronts. These results suggested that hydrographic features caused by uneven bottom topography (e. g. shelf breaks or banks) may induce the formation of krill concentrations in mid and late summer. The extremely high concentration of minke whales and their food composition suggested the high abundance of E. superba around a bank on the Ross Sea shelf

The red flying squid (Ommastrephes bartramii): A review of recent research and the fishery in Japan

We review the biology, ecology, fisheries, and resource status of the red flying squid (Ommastrephes bartramii) in the North Pacific focusing on recent literature published in Japan. The North Pacific population of O. bartramii comprises two seasonal cohorts (fall and winter–spring) and four stocks: (1) central stock of the fall cohort, (2) east stock of the fall cohort, (3) west stock of the winter–spring cohort, and (4) central-east stock of the winter–spring cohort. The population makes an annual round-trip migration between its subtropical spawning grounds where the sea surface temperature ranges from 21 to 25 °C and its northern feeding grounds near the Subarctic Boundary. O. bartramii matures at 7–10 months and has an estimated 1-year life span. Near the Subarctic Frontal Zone, adult squid commonly occupy 0–40 m depths at night and 150–350 m depths during the day. They prey primarily on fishes, squids and crustaceans. Predators include marine mammals and swordfish (Xiphias gladius). The North Pacific population of O. bartramii was targeted by an international driftnet fishery during 1978–1992, and annual catches reached more than 350,000 t during the 1980s. It is now targeted by jigging vessels from Japan, China, South Korea and Taiwan. Annual catches in the Japanese jigging fishery ranged from 49,000 to 71,000 t during the mid-1990s, but dropped to below 25,000 t in 2000 and 2001

Feeding habits of the blue shark, Prionace glauca, and salmon shark, Lamna ditropis, in the transition region of the Western North Pacific

We describe the feeding habits of 70 blue sharks (Prionace glauca) and 39 salmon sharks (Lamna ditropis) caught at 0–7 m depth at night by research drift gillnets in the transition region of the western North Pacific during April–May of 1999 and 2000. Blue sharks of 50–175 cm total length fed on a large variety of prey species, consisting of 24 species of cephalopods and 16 species of fishes. Salmon sharks of 69–157 cm total length fed on a few prey species, consisting of 10 species of cephalopods and one species of fish. Important prey for the blue sharks were large, non-active, gelatinous, meso- to bathypelagic cephalopods (e.g., Chiroteuthis calyx, Haliphron atlanticus, Histioteuthis dofleini and Belonella borealis) and small myctophid fishes. Important prey for the salmon sharks were mid-sized, active, muscular, epi- to mesopelagic squids (e.g. Gonatopsis borealis, Onychoteuthis borealijaponica and Berryteuthis anonychus). Our results suggest that blue sharks feed on cephalopods mainly during the daytime when they descend to deep water. Salmon sharks may feed opportunistically with no apparent diurnal feeding period. Blue sharks and salmon sharks have sympatric distribution in the transition region in spring; they have different feeding habits and strategies that reduce competition for food resources