H-31 



RESEARCH PROGRAMMES 



LiNDSEY, A. A. 1937. The Weddell Seal in the Bay of Whales, Antarctica. Journal of Mammalogy, Vol 18, 



p 127-44. 

 Mackintosh, N. A. 1965. The stocks of whales. London, Fishing News (Books) Ltd. 

 OrITSLAND, T. 1970. Seahng and seal research in the south-west Atlantic pack ice, Sept. -Oct. 1964. /«: 



HOLDGATE, M. W. ed. Antarctic ecology. Vol 1. London and New York, Academic Press, p 367-76. 

 RepENNING, C. a and others. 1971. Contribution to the systematics of the Southern Fur Seals, with 



particular reference to the Juan Fernandez and Guadalupe species. By C. A. Repenning, R. S. Peterson, 



and C. L Hubbs. In: BURT, W. H. ed. Antarctic Pinnipedia. Antarctic Research Series. Vol 18. 

 SiNIFF, D. B.and others. 1970. Population densities of seals in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica, in 1968. By 



D. B. Siniff, D. R. CUne, and A. W. Erickson. In: HOLDGATE, M. W. ed. Antarctic ecology. Vol 1. 



London and New York, Academic Press, p 377-94. 

 Watson, G. E. and others. 1971. Birdsof the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic. By G. E. Watson, G. E. Angle, J. 



PhiUip, P. C. Harper, M. A. Bridge, R. P. Schlatter, W.L.N. TickeU, J. C. Boyd, and M. M. Boyd. 



Antarctic Map Folio Series, FoUo 14. 



2.6 Fishes 



2.6.1 Introduction 



A large number of species of fish occur in the Antarctic, but most of these are small or few 

 in numbers (Andriyashev, 1965; Dewitt, 1971; Everson, 1970; Hureau, 1970). At the present 

 level of our understanding, Antarctic fishes do not significantly contribute to the general 

 dynamics of the Antarctic ecosystem. Attention, therefore, has been concentrated on the 

 following 12 species which are believed to be of major importance in the Southern Ocean (see 

 also Figures 3, 4 and 5). 



(a) Notothenia rossiL 



Found in all coastal areas of the Scotia Arc, from South Georgia south to the Antarctic 

 Peninsula; at Kerguelen, Crozet, Macquarie and Marion islands, and probably also at Bouvet 

 Island. It grows to about one metre in length. The species at South Georgia spawns during April 

 or May, and at Kerguelen at the end of May. It has probably been the most heavily exploited of 

 Antarctic fishes. However, since the FAO statistical reporting areas combine South Georgia and 

 the Kerguelen islands with the respective areas to the north, and because A', rossii is not on the 

 list of reported species, it is combined with the 'other demersal percomorphs' category. 

 Estimates of catches at South Georgia range from 400 tons to something in excess of 400 000 

 tons annually. 



(b) Champsoceptialus gunnari. 



Distribution essentially the same as for A', rossii. The species grows to about 60 to 70 cm. 

 Information about spawning is not available. Recent expeditions by the Federal Republic of 

 Germany and Poland have found commercial quantities. It is one of the major species believed 

 to have made up catches totalling 120 000 tons taken around the Kerguelen archipelago during 

 1971-72. 



(c) Micromesistius australis. 



Found in the Magellanic and New Zealand regions and known to migrate south into the 

 Antarctic Zone during the summer to feed on krill. It reaches a length of over half a metre and 

 spawns north of the Antarctic Zone during the spring. Total annual catches up to 7 900 tons 

 have been reported for the south-west Atlantic Ocean, which probably represent fishing efforts 

 in the Scotia Sea. 



(d) Notothenia gibberifrons. 



Found throughout the Scotia Arc region and off the Antarctic Peninsula. It reaches a 

 length of about half a metre. Information about spawning is not available. Also not available are 

 catch statistics, but the recent West German expedition took large numbers, and circumstantial 

 evidence indicate^ *hat the USSR may be using it for at least local consumption. 



