Our Far South – values, sustainability, and stewardship

The Our Far South crew in Antarctica. Picture by
 Mike Wilkinson.

As I write this we are heading into Lyttelton, where the ‘Our Far South’ voyage will reach its final destination.  From there, the 50 members of the ‘Our Far South’ crew will go their separate ways and once again resume their multitude of different activities and interests. This marvelous group of people has looked at issues around the lands and seas south of New Zealand, including the Ross Dependency.  The Crew and I have seen things that were previously just words on a page or a picture in a book.  Our country’s involvement in the history, management, and future of the area has been scrutinised and debated.  There is no doubt in my mind that all aboard have been changed in some way by the experience – I certainly have. The opportunity to  see some of this vast area, with my own eyes and through the eyes of others; combined with access to the extensive collective knowledge of ‘captive’ and willing  experts; mixed with a shared desire to learn and ultimately to educate; and make a difference was a heady brew.

What did I learn? I saw some of the success stories - the clearance of pest mammals from Campbell Island, its turnaround from a bleak sheep-grazed, rat infested southern outpost was one thing that resonated strongly with me.  I also learned that there are still many more challenges to face, such as feral animal control on Stewart Island and other sub-Antarctic Islands, that funding for these important areas was low and very restricted, and that when balancing funding priorities for effective management of our off-shore sub-Antarctic Islands, pest control was the only clear priority – a no-brainer. 

The Ross Sea - a part of 'Our Far South'

From my fisheries perspective it reinforced my belief that as fishers with access to the resources of the area we have a clear responsibility to do our part in protecting both the environment, the ecosystem–particularly the unique and irreplaceable birds, animals, and other creatures that make this region home.  The group discussed the Ross Sea toothfish fishery and generally concluded that it was well managed at a precautionary level at the moment and stacked up as well, if not better, than many domestic New Zealand fisheries.  We looked the potential implementation of Marine Protected Areas

(MPAs) in the Ross Sea Region and favored New Zealand’s research based approach, based on a huge amount of work and extensive consultation over more recent calls for closures of almost the entire area. In my opinion such ill-considered and extravagant proposals would never reach consensus at the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living resources – the responsible Management body - and will probably harden the attitude of Members that might have initially agreed to the New Zealand proposal based on the science grounded Systematic Environmental Planning approach.

From another viewpoint we learned how much the New Zealand science community contributes to international studies on Antarctic fisheries, climate change, geology, and many other polar based disciplines – a huge output and for our size in a world scale, a disproportionate amount of great science.

I learned much more of the real and looming threats that climate change poses to both the sub-Antarctic and the Antarctic regions and of the recent work that has been carried out in Antarctica.

For me the ultimate message was stewardship.  If we call it ours we must look after it.  We assert ownership over and manage our 200 mile economic zone, and we still maintain our claim to the Ross Dependency.  With this ownership comes the responsibility to protect, manage, and where necessary rebuild the ecosystems of this southern region - ‘Our Far South’.

 

Sustainability in our fisheries, protection of our environment, and appreciation for what we still have and what we have already lost were the key things that I will take home with me and remember.

Fishing and the Environment

Royal albatross on Campbell Island.

We left Campbell Island on Sunday evening after a two day exploration of the island.  Until the late 20th century there were still sheep, cattle, and rats on the main island – chiefly a legacy of a failed farming venture that lasted from 1895 to 1931 - a comprehensive control programme has seen the island again predator free.  For me the highlight of the visit was seeing the numbers of nesting southern royal albatross and their recently hatched chicks.  For that alone, as well as  the two marvelous days we stayed and explored, I can find no adjectives that can do justice in expressing my enchantment at the magnificent birds, animals, and scenery we saw there.  It truly sheeted home the importance of procedures in our fishing operations that minimise seabird captures and interactions as discussed in previous blogs. As I write we are on our way to the Antipodes Islands and should arrive tomorrow. 

The visit to a predator free area such as Campbell Island highlights an important issue – that is the risk of reintroduction of pest species.  This is why our vessels have regular checks for vermin such as rats and are not allowed near such islands without certification to prove that this has been done.  The boats carry out their own inspections regularly between checks.

Working within the New Zealand 200 mile Economic Zone (NZ-EEZ) there are also comprehensive regulations governing the disposal of rubbish and sewage; oil and bilge-water; and ballast water and hull inspections for unwanted introduced organisms.  Vessels like San Aotea II that  work further south in Antarctic must comply with even stricter protocols.

So how does running a fishing vessel in Antarctic waters differ from anywhere else?  Much of the debate about fishing and other human activities that are carried out in Antarctic waters pivots about words like 'pristine', 'unspoiled', and 'virgin'.  These words summarise important values to many people concerned about Antarctica and the Antarctic environment and appear frequently in debate about these issues.  

Although not strictly accurate (there is a long history of whaling, sealing and human settlement in many parts of Antarctica including the Ross Dependency) the sentiments expressed are important, and need to be recognized in setting the standards for operation within the geographical area managed by CCAMLR (the Convention Area). 

There are specific challenges to vessel operations presented by the extreme climate, low temperatures, remoteness, and unique and precious wildlife.

Those who fish in the area under CCAMLR approval work under a very strict series of Conservation Measures.  These measures govern items as varied as the reporting of incidental catches of invertebrates in order to map vulnerable marine ecosystems, garbage and sewage management, the ban on strapping bands for bait boxes, disposal of fish waste (not allowed south of 60°south latitude) and galley scraps, the discharge of oil or oily water in the Convention area, and the reporting of lost fishing gear.

Seeing the amazing wild life on Campbell Island sheeted
home the importance of good fishing procedures.

New Zealand vessels must also have a permit under the New Zealand Antarctic Marine Living Resources Act (AMLR 1981). This approval is only given after an extensive process of application and evaluation during which, among other things, the suitability of the vessel for the area, crew experience, past performance, and contributions to research and knowledge of the area is assessed.  For example,  New Zealand requires its vessels to be of an appropriate ice classification to work in the Ross Sea, have well trained and experienced crews and have a good history of compliance with all New Zealand and CCAMLR measures.  In a previous blog I detailed the characteristics of vessels that New Zealand considers appropriate for Antarctic conditions.

Unfortunately under the current CCAMLR regime there are no clear minimum standards for the suitability of vessels for the polar environment, crew experience, required safety equipment and required spare equipment.  Recent casualties in the region strongly suggest that a change is needed in this regard. In my opinion the approval of unsuitable vessels by some CCAMLR Members compromises human safety, the Antarctic environment and gives an unfair perception of the activities of more responsible fishing states.

Hopefully this situation can be improved to the positive benefit of the environment, the crews, and the ultimately those who manage the area.

Next blog – Our Far South – values, sustainability, and stewardship.

The Antarctic toothfish

As winter sets in ice made landing here at
Cape Adare impossible for the Our Far South team.

Well the Our Far South crew are on their way north now.  Unfortunately the ice around Cape Hallett and Cape Adare had moved in and made any landing impossible – the first signs of the winter freeze are appearing down here – pancake ice and the coming of night.  We did get a good close look at the Possession Islands where a number of our intrepid explorers took a sub-zero dip.  We leave with mixed feelings; regret for leaving such a magical place and the anticipation of the welcome call of home we are now heading for Campbell Island which we will reach in a few days time. As we travel north the team is busy with seminars and wide discussions about fishing, climate change and its effects on the Antarctic, and tourism.

It’s about time I talked about the lead actor in the fishing scene down here – the Antarctic toothfish.  A definite case of beauty being in the eyes of the beholder, the one adjective that first comes to mind is ‘big’.  Imagine a blue cod the length of a 12 year old human and of a similar weight, colour it grey, paint a few black bands on its fins, give it several rows of stubby teeth and a wide gaping mouth and you’ll start to get the idea.  The ‘Toothfish’ moniker applies more its close cousin the Patagonian toothfish which has a serious row of wolf-like teeth at the front of its jaw – not so it’s more southern relative. 

Antarctic toothfish can grow to a very large size.  The largest I have seen was over 2 metres in length and weighed 155 kg.  At this size we generally find that their reproductive organs have atrophied - they are long past the age of spawning.  Generally though, they live to about 35 years and by age 13 at least half the males are spawning.  Females seem to mature a bit later so that by 16 years at least half of them are reproductively active.

We know that spawning takes place during the winter, when the Ross Sea Region is covered by ice, on the shallow hills and ridges of the Pacific Antarctic Ridge to the north of the area.  Some of the research I have been working on indicates that before they spawn they feed up and gain condition in the more southern 'slope' region (a steep area of seafloor where the shallower 'shelf' descends into the deep sea).  During this time we think that they 'bulk up' and store energy as lipid fat - like fuel if you like - to sustain them over their spawning period in the north, where food is more scarce and toothfish are crowded on restricted grounds.  As most spawning has finished by the start of the season it is uncommon to find fully developed females.  The few that I have seen have carried huge egg masses, one fish I examined of about 60 kg in weight contained 26 kilograms of eggs, a huge investment in reproduction. The eggs are large - about 3mm in diameter or the size of tapioca, but still very numerous. What happens next is still not fully understood.  The most likely hypothesis, and one we are now piecing together with direct observations, is that the eggs and larval fish drift with the easterly flowing currents associated with the Antarctic Convergence and possibly reach as far as the Drake Passage between Antarctica and South America;  in fact, some may continue further eastwards into the Scotia Sea. Generally however, as the small toothfish develop they move south close to the coast and ice shelves where there is a westerly flowing counter-current, the Antarctic Coastal Current.  Over a number of years as they grow larger they continue a gradual movement back westward.  We can see this trend when we measure the lengths (sizes) of these 'juvenile' fish from different areas of the shelf along the Pacific sector of the continent.  In fact this measurement is a major aim of the pre-recruit survey that I have already covered in another blog. Eventually this westward movement tends northward as they reach Ross Island and the western side of the Ross Sea proper into deeper trench around Terra Nova Bay - from where they move north again onto the 'slope', thus completing the cycle.

What do they eat? Literally anything… As part of our research during the years I have worked down here we have examined the stomach contents of many thousand Antarctic toothfish.  They are non-selective and voracious feeders – we have found many species of Antarctic fish in their stomachs - some of which have been fresh enough to supply as museum specimens to Te Papa.  They also eat, squid, prawns, skates, the remains of penguins killed by leopard seals, we find rocks,  in fact just about anything that they encounter and find remotely interesting and that will fit between their stubby toothed jaws ends up inside.

Interestingly there are records from krill trawlers and whalers from the past era of commercial activity that indicates that these large fish do not restrict their activities to the bottom but move up and down in the water column.  The lack of a swim bladder which suits rapid vertical movements and  the fact that they see using natural light rather than having a yellow filter on the eye (as is the case for many species adapted for the deeper sea) supports this.  The fishery catches them on the bottom in water depths from about 800 to 1700 metres deep.

The New Zealand fleet working in the Ross Sea region have gained Marine Stewardship Certification. This is a reflection of the effectiveness of the CCAMLR management system, an independent evaluation of the sustainability of the stock, and a clear tick to the vessels’ responsible operations.  The effect of this is that another body additional to CCAMLR is monitoring our advances in knowledge and management of this precious resource.

Which leads on to the next blog – Fishing and the Antarctic Environment.