THE AUSTRALIAN SKATE TAGGING PROGRAM AT HEARD ISLAND AND MCDONALD ISLANDS, CCAMLR DIVISION 58.5.2

Tagging of the three species of skates taken as by-catch in the Heard Island and McDonald Islands toothfish fishery, Bathyraja eatonii, B. irrasa and B. murrayi has taken place over the last eight years with nearly 6,000 skates tagged. The recapture rate has been low, less than one percent. Movement after tagging shows that these fish are recaptured only short distances from where they were released. The mean distance between release and recapture was 4.8 nautical miles, even though the majority had been at liberty for several years. In order to enhance the ease of identification of skates and to ensure good quality of the data, one page identification sheets were developed for each species which will be used by observers on board fishing vessels.