Distribution of Patagonian toothfish(Dissostichus eleginoides) by bottom longliner in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean

Patagonian toothfish(Dissostichus eleginoides) was investigated in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean during the period of 19 March to 7 July 2007 by commercial bottom longliners. The number of 116 hauls were carried out individually in this study area by two bottom longliners during 111 days. The total catches were 89,559kg(9.91kg/100hooks) and 66,758kg(7.38kg/100hooks), respectively. Most Patagonian toothfishes were caught on the 46-48 S, 6-11 E of southeastern Atlantic Ocean. Patagonian toothfish comprised 67.01- 92.49%(by weight) of the catches in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean. No Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) was caught during the surveys. Patagonian toothfish was found throughout the experimental area, but the density was considerably greater in the layer of 1,300-1,900m, where 49.88% of the fishes were caught. Smaller fishes were generally distributed to the shallow waters and larger fish were more frequently caught with the depth. Mean size of Patagonian toothfish increased with depth of capture. Accordingly economically profitable fishing activities for the Patagonian toothfish fishery requires an understanding of the size distribution of the Patagonian toothfish by depth.