COLTO at CCAMLR 2017

This year’s CCAMLR meeting marked an historic moment for COLTO, with the COLTO flag being flown outside the CCAMLR building for the first time (alas, we couldn’t control the lack of wind!).

Once again, we were delighted to be able to promote collaboration between the fishing industry and science by sponsoring the 2016/17 CCAMLR tag return lottery. This year’s winners were selected at random by the Secretariat from tag returns in CCAMLR’s New and Exploratory fisheries, with the results as follows:

  • 1st Prize went to the Korean flagged vessel, Kingstar, tagging an Antarctic toothfish in Division 58.4.1 on the 19th February 2015, which was recaptured 15km away by the same vessel on the 9th March 2017 (749 days later), still in the same Research block.
  • 2nd Prize went to the Japanese flagged vessel, Shinsei Maru No. 3, tagging an Antarctic toothfish in Subarea 48.6 on the 9th January 2016, which was recaptured 6 km away by the same vessel on the 26th March 2017 (442 days later), still in the same Research block.
  • 3rd Prize went to the South African flagged vessel, Koryo Maru No. 11, tagging an Antarctic toothfish in Subarea 48.6 on the 19th January 2016, which was recaptured 3 km away by the same vessel on the 9th March 2017 (371 days later), still in the same Research block.

COLTO congratulates the winners, as well as the crew and officers of the many fishing boats who participate in the mark-recapture processes, to help better understand the stock dynamics of toothfish.  We have once again agreed to sponsor the Toothfish Tag Return Lottery for 2018.

Over the past two weeks, COLTO has found that CCAMLR XXXVI represented a valuable opportunity to both observe and contribute to the objects of CCAMLR in eliminating IUU activities, and in supporting responsible, well-managed fishing. The virtual elimination of avian impacts and the initiatives and data provided in scientific fields again demonstrated that COLTO members are jealously protecting the last pristine continent.

Finally, we wish outgoing CCAMLR Executive Secretary, Mr Andrew Wright, all the best in his future endeavours, and thank him for the exemplary service to CCAMLR over the last 8 years.