TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION



Members are advised that the British Antarctic Survey has deployed a sub-surface mooring in the Inaccessible Islands Trough, west of Coronation Island, South Orkney Islands, Subarea 48.2. This mooring is fitted with instruments which will provide a continuous record of salinity, temperature, depth and acoustic backscatter for the next 12 months. The acoustic backscatter will be used to generate year-round estimates of krill density that should complement the data collected during annual surveys and by the krill fishery in this region.



The mooring is located near latitude 60°34.52'S and longitude 46°31.05'W, and the sub-surface buoy is approximately 170 m below the surface. The depth of the sub-surface buoy has been calculated so that it is deeper than the normal depth of fishing operations in the region. A diagram of the mooring configuration is attached.



Members should avoid fishing in depths below 170 m in the vicinity of the mooring.



Andrew Wright

Executive Secretary



Attch.