A 2-year programme was implemented in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 fishing seasons in the Ross Sea region to tag and release skates for population size estimation and to validate the thorn ageing method for Antarctic starry skate (Amblyraja georgiana). A total of 10 218 skates have been tagged and released since the 2019/20 fishing season in the Ross Sea, Amundsen Sea, and Bellingshausen Sea region. Recaptures from these initial releases will be used to monitor trends in population size through time with additional tagging occurring periodically. Since the 2019/20 fishing season, a total of 127 skates tagged have been returned to NIWA for sampling. Results from the age validation experiments are ongoing.
We recommend Conservation Measure 41-01, Annex 41-01/C, paragraph 2(x) should remain as is to ensure skates are sampled and thorns retained. We encourage Members to collect thorns for analysis. Sampling protocols and contact details are provided in Appendix 2. We recommend recording of skate injury condition at capture and release.