H-38 



RESEARCH PROGRAMMES 



2.7.3 Research programmes 



1. Biological research. 



(a) Extensive taxonomic research on Southern Ocean cephalopods is required before 

 detailed biological studies can be made. A correct assessment of the population 

 and subsequent decisions concerning the management of the stocks are dependent 

 upon accurate identification of species and an understanding of the biology of 

 each species. 



(b) Biological studies on the more important species should include distribution, 

 vertical range, seasonal occurrence and abundance, life history, feeding strategy, 

 reproductive potential, migrations and relationships to environmental factors. 



(c) In order to utilize fully the limited cephalopod material available, research 

 programmes need to take advantage of every potential source of material, such as 

 from krill trawling operations, or predators' stomach contents. 



(d) Studies should be conducted to determine the nutritional qualities of different 

 species and even of different parts of the animals (eg, mantle v viscera) to assess 

 their value to predators and to human consumers. 



(e) Research needs to be conducted, perhaps at laboratories outside the Southern 

 Ocean area, on the behavioural responses of cephalopods to determine the 

 effectiveness of various catching devices. 



(f) Attention should be given to rates of predation as well as to the size (biomass) of 

 the cephalopod stocks. 



2. Sampling techniques. 



The paucity of knowledge about cephalopods is directly related to problems of adequate 

 sampling. Therefore, in order to conduct basic biological studies, we propose that: 



(a) A wide variety of trawling techniques be utilized, including traditional mid-water 

 trawls (eg, 3m IKMT and RMT 1&8) and large commercial trawls (eg, Engel's 

 trawl), and that trawUng with these large nets be conducted at depths greater than 

 is customary for krill operations, ie throughout the water column and especially at 

 the hitherto unsampled bentho-pelagic zone near the bottom. 



(b) Stomach contents from known predators (particularly Sperm Whales, seals, 

 penguins, pelagic birds and fishes) be utilized for sampling cephalopods. A study 

 of cephalopod beaks for identification and biomass assessment should be initiated 

 based on material from identified cephalopod specimens. Eventually this should 

 lead to the abiUty to identify beaks alone, which are so frequently found in 

 predators' stomachs. A study of beaks and statoliths taken by deep benthic 

 dredges should aid in assessing distributions of species. 



(c) Larval collections be conducted utilizing plankton, neuston and micronekton 

 nets and used as an indirect means to assess cephalopod populations. 



(d) Acoustic techniques be developed for locating aggregations of cephalopods and 

 used in association with trawling operations. 



(e) Techniques other than pelagic and benthic trawls be employed to explore 

 alternative methods for sampling and assessing cephalopod populations, for 

 example, large purse seines, night lighting and jigging, baited cameras, 

 submersibles with side-scanning sonar, TV and camera-equipped sleds. 



(f) A standardized sampling protocol be established to allow comparison of results 

 from various programmes, such as depth regime, or catch per unit effort. 



