A survey series in the Southern Ross Sea was started in 2011 to index juvenile abundance.
In 2015, an additional source of data from a standardised longline survey of juveniles from the southern Ross Sea shelf area was included in the stock assessment model, to provide information about the relative abundance of juveniles of different ages as they become caught in the fishery.
NIWA
The San Aotea II picking up scientists at Cape Royds to conduct the Ross Sea shelf survey.
Ross Sea shelf survey
NIWA
A Ross Sea shelf survey has been conducted annually since 2012 to monitor juvenile toothfish abundance in three core areas (A,B,C) and to monitor abundance in two additional areas where toothfish predators are most common (N,O).
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Survey results have shown that it is possible to track the progression of particular age classes through the shelf portion of population. Knowledge about the relative abundance of each new year class also serves as an early warning system of changes in the population several years before those year classes are fully recruited to the fishery as adolescents on the slope.
NIWA
Estimated annual relative biomass, and confidence interval, for Antarctic toothfish in the core areas (A, B, and C) in the Ross Sea shelf survey, 2012–2016. The trend of decreasing biomass though 2015, followed by an increase in 2016, is consistent with the growth and movement of one strong year class followed by the appearance of a new strong year class entering the area in 2016.
NIWA
Age composition of female Antarctic toothfish from the core areas (A,B,C) of the Ross Sea shelf survey, 2012-2015. The graphs show age class progression through the 4 years available. Note: the vertical line in each graph is at the 7 year mark.
