A preliminary assessment of mackerel icefish (Champsocephalus gunnari) in Division 58.5.2, based on results from the 2016 random stratified trawl survey

The annual Random Stratified Trawl Survey was undertaken in Division 58.5.2 in the vicinity of Heard Island during April 2016. 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 79^o 20’ E using standard CCAMLR methods (CMIX and Generalized Yield Model). A large 2+ cohort is dominating the population. These projections indicate that catches of 561 t in the 2016/17 season and 402 t in the 2017/18 season satisfy the CCAMLR decision rules.