IFOP’s scientific observer will collect information on cod in Antarctica
December 6th, 2023
Chilean Fisheries Development Institute scientific observer, Gino Liche, embarked in Punta Arenas on Puerto Ballena factory ship, owned by Pesca Chile, which will carry out commercial cod fishing in Antarctica in Ross Sea, for approximately 90 days. This fishing campaign, which began on November 10th, considers biological collection fishing and ecosystemic data, and target resource and its accompanying fauna sampling, along with cod specimens measurement, marking and release activities in Antarctic waters, according to demanding protocols established by Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) Commission. The process of recapturing already measured cod specimens allows estimating resource´s growth rates and migratory routes or patterns in the area.
Considering the importance of carrying out joint activities for the country’s benefit, IFOP together with Pesca Chile, which is a fishing company dedicated high-level Chilean fishing products capture, exploitation, development and marketing to the rest of the world, signed in October 2023 a collaboration agreement to carry out strategic research on the fishing resources captured in Antarctica.
The Antarctic Marine Living Resources Conservation Commission (CCAMLR) was established by an international convention in 1982 with the aim of conserving Antarctic marine fauna and flora.
Currently, fisheries targeting Antarctic cod (Dissostichus mawsoni) and secondarily targeting toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) are carried out in the Convention Area. These fisheries management is carried out by adopting a precautionary approach and management objectives seek to find a balance between “conservation” and “rational utilization” of living resources, in addition to preserving pre-existing ecological relationships. Catch limits for each fishery are determined by decision criteria that ensure fishery long-term sustainability.
Currently, a total of 26 European Union States are Members of the Commission. The list of Parties to the Convention is maintained by Australia, as Convention’s Depositary.
Fisheries status and management are annually reviewed by Scientific Committee and its specialized working groups, using the best scientific knowledge and data available, including detailed data obtained from fisheries and fisheries surveys, as well as from “CCAMLR System of International Scientific Observation (SOCI)”.
The SOCI is one of the main sources of essential scientific information to be able to evaluate fishing impact on the ecosystem and the state of both the populations of target species and populations of dependent and related species. All vessels operating in CCAMLR fisheries must carry a scientific observer on board throughout their fishing activities. Observers record details of fishing gear configuration (this includes measures taken to reduce incidental mortality of marine birds and mammals), fishing operations, biological measurements of target species and by-catch, fish tagging programs, boat sighting data and data on indicator species of the presence of vulnerable marine ecosystems.