Analyses of ice conditions in the research area proposed by Ukraine for a multi-year Dissostichus research program in Statistical Subarea 48.1

The Ukraine submitted to WG SAM 2018 a proposal for a new toothfish research program in Subarea 48.1 (see document WG-SAM-18/11). The research area, which Ukraine intends to use for the new fisheries research program, is located within CCAMLR Subarea 48.1. Detailed analyses of the sea ice concentration and the repeated accessibility of this research area were carried out using the method presented at SAM 2018 (WG-SAM-18/01). The results demonstrate that in the months from January to April (when the survey proposed by Ukraine is to be carried out), difficult sea ice conditions prevail especially the southern parts between 64° S and 65° S of the suggested research area. Here, the mean sea ice concentrations range from 50 to 100 % and mean repeated accessibility is low (between 0 and max. 60 %), even for vessels able to operate under 60 % sea ice concentration.