WG-FSA-2025

The meeting will start with an introduction by the Convener and information to delegates on administrative, technical, and organisational matters. The agenda will be reviewed, modified if necessary, and adopted. The Working Group will note the terms of reference (https://www.ccamlr.org/en/science/working-group-fish-stock-assesement) and review the current work plan set out in SC-CAMLR-43 Annex 15. The Working Group will review the current data on CCAMLR fisheries, fishery notifications, data collection and relevant papers that give context to the discussions of Working Group including recommendations from other Working Groups.

The Working Group will discuss fisheries activities and performance in the current season, notifications for the upcoming season and progress in the development of data collection and instruction forms.

The Working Group will consider work submitted on the biology, ecology and population status of icefish (Champsocephalus gunnari) and provide advice to the Scientific Committee on catch limits.The Working Group will consider research plans submitted under CM 24-01 targeting icefish and provide advice to the Scientific Committee.

The Working Group will discuss general issues that apply to the management of all toothfish stocks and consider individual stock assessment to develop advice to set catch limits for toothfish in the Convention Area.

The Working Group will review general issues related to the biology, data available for stock assessment biology and ecology of toothfish, research informing stock assessment, such as ageing, maturity or tagging studies. The Working Group will review outcomes of the third Age Determination Methods Workshop (WS-ADM3). The Working Group will consider additional work on the determination and implementation of conversion factors for toothfish and performance of the CCAMLR tagging program.

The Working group will discuss progress with the stock assessment workplan for improving assessments of Dissostichus spp. fisheries (SC-CAMLR-43 paragraphs 3.7 and 3.8), as well as those where catch advice is derived from local area abundance estimates. Updated catch limit recommendations will be developed where relevant. The Working Group will also consider the report from the Cap-D-Lisa workshop on the development of stock assessments in research plans.

The Working Group will discuss progress on the choice of harvest control rules and the Management Strategy Evaluations workplan (SC-CAMLR-43 paragraph 3.15).

The Working Group will consider progress in exploratory fisheries with research plans and the advice of WG-SAM-2025 and the trend analysis results to provide advice to the Scientific Committee on implementation of the research plans and recommended catch limits. These include fisheries for Dissostichus mawsoni in Subarea 48.6, 58.4.1, 58.4.2, and Subarea 88.2.

The Working Group will consider progress on new or existing research plans for toothfish submitted under CM 24-01, including advice from WG-SAM-2025 and the trend analaysis results and advise the Scientific Committee on their implementation and recommended catch limits.

The Working Group will review work regarding the management of bycatch in CCAMLR fisheries, including potential impacts to VMEs and habitats.

The Working Group will review work on the status and management of macrourids, skates, and other fishes.

The Working Group will discuss by-catch reporting in the krill fishery including developing methods to estimate fish by-catch.

The Working Group will review work on VMEs and other habitat impacts of fishing.

The Working Group will review a summary of SISO observer programe in the 2024/2025 season.

The Working Group will consider items of future work and intersessional work including any proposed workshops.

The Working Group will consider any items under Other Business.

Advice from all agenda items is consolidated for SC-CAMLR-44.