The annual random stratified trawl survey (RSTS) at Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI) was completed during April of 2013. The catches of D. eleginoides for 2013 were half that of 2012 and lower than the long-term (2006-2012) average. Conversely, mackerel icefish catches were seven times the long term average. Catches of Channichthys rhinoceratus were higher and those of Lepidonotothen squamifrons lower than average. Skate catches in 2013 were slightly higher than the average RSTS take.
The catch of invertebrates in the 2013 survey was 6 t, which was lower than the long term average. This year there was a large abundance of jellyfish (Cnidaria) which formed about half of the catch of invertebrates. Catches of individual invertebrate taxa were generally much lower than in previous years.
Lengths and biological measurements were taken for 13,000 fish, 276 pairs of otoliths collected and 179 toothfish were tagged.