Bottom Fishing Impact Assessment (BFIA) for planned fishing activities by Australia in the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) Area – 2020 update

This paper updates the SIOFA Scientific Committee on Australia’s bottom fishing impact assessment for the SIOFA area. We have revised the historic Australian fishing footprint to include a small amount of fishing effort which was not included in the original footprint presented to SIOFA (Williams et al. 2011; Delegation of Australia 2018), and take into account updated bathymetric data. We also provide an assessment of Australia’s intention to undertake fishing using integrated weight longline to target Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) on Williams Ridge, according to CMM 2019/05, and potting for spiny lobsters (Palinurus spp. and Jasus paulensis) within its historical fishing footprint, from 2020/21.