Scientific Research Program

In April 2001, the CCSBT agreed to implement a Scientific Research Program (PDF 25Kb) (SRP) with five components as priorities. The five elements are:-

• characterisation of the SBT catch;
• improvement in CPUE interpretation and analysis;
• development of a scientific observer program;
• implementation of a SBT tagging program;
• direct ageing.

Overall, CCSBT members are collecting most of the crucial catch characterisation information specified in the SRP. A central database has been established within the Secretariat to hold the core information required for use in assessing the SBT stock. This includes catch and effort data, size composition data, trade information scheme data, and tagging program data. See the Data section of this website for the published subset of this database.

The CCSBT has agreed to a set of scientific observer standards (PDF 207Kb). Members commenced implementing these standards in their respective observer programs in 2003-2004.

A CCSBT tagging program commenced in November 2001. The program now has five elements:-

• a longline tagging program in the western Indian Ocean as part of Japanese research cruises;
• a longline tagging program off the east coast of Australia and in the Indian Ocean involving pop-up tagging of mature SBT by Australia;
• an extensive surface fishery tagging program off the southern coast of Australia which was coordinated by the CCSBT Secretariat was completed in 2007;
• a longline tagging program in New Zealand associated with the commercial fishery in New Zealand’s EEZ; and
• A large scale spatial dynamics archival tagging program conducted by Australia across the SBT range.

The three longline tagging projects are now focused on the placement of archival and pop-up tag deployment for biological research although conventional tagging is also undertaken. The data from the tagging has limited uses for stock assessment activity. Access this link (PDF 2175Kb) for the results of the pop-up tags released in the Australian east coast tagging program in 2004.

The surface fishery tagging program was completed in 2007.  A total of 77,003 SBT have been tagged in the program. As at 31 December 2007, 8236 tagged SBT had been recovered from this tagging program.

The global spatial dynamics archival tagging program involves releasing 500 archival tags over a three year period commencing in 2004. The tags are being deployed across the range of SBT fisheries. The program is supported and operated by Australia, and other members’ fishing activities are being used for tag deployment.

The CCSBT conducted a direct ageing workshop in June 2002, which produced a manual for age determination of SBT (PDF 1697Kb) from recovered otoliths. The manual is used as a training resource for member scientists.

The CCSBT has agreed to a program of direct ageing from an otolith recovery program across the various elements of the fishery. The program commenced in 2003-2004.

In addition to the CCSBT Scientific Research Program, extensive scientific research is conducted by the members of the Commission. The focus is on improving the understanding of SBT's unique biology and reducing uncertainty in stock assessments.  For details of these research programs see the links identified in this website.

A review of the Scientific Research Program was undertaken at the Twelfth Meeting of the Scientific Committee in September 2007. The Commission adopted the Scientific Committee recommendation not to continue deployment of conventional tags in 2007/08, but that monitoring of tag returns should continue.