Fishery research proposal - The acoustic-trawl survey Champsocephalus gunnari in the Statistical Subarea 48.2

Mackerel icefish (Champsocephalus gunnari) is one of the most common and widespread species of Antarctic fish. That is a proposal to conduct a local acoustic-trawl survey of Champsocephalus gunnari in the statistical Subarea 48.2, beginning from the 2025/2026 fishing season (during three fishing seasons). Species identification by acoustic methods is considered the greatest challenge in fisheries and plankton acoustics. The main objective of the research is to determine the distribution and the abundance of Champsocephalus gunnari in the Subarea 48.2.