A preliminary assessment of mackerel icefish (Champsocephalus gunnari) in Division 58.5.2, based on results from the 2015 random stratified trawl survey

The annual Random Stratified Trawl Survey was undertaken in Division 58.5.2 in the vicinity of Heard Island during May 2015. This paper provides a preliminary assessment of mackerel icefish population structure, abundance and yield for the area of Division 58.5.2 to the west of 79o 20’ E using standard CCAMLR methods. A large 2+ cohort is dominating the population. These projections indicate that catches of 482 t in the 2015/16 season and 357 t in the 2016/17 season.