The composition, abundance and reproductive characteristics of the demersal fish fauna in the Elephant Island-South Shetland islands region and at the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula (CCAMLR Aubarea 48.1) in March - early April 2012

A bottom trawl survey for demersal finfish was undertaken by Germany aboard R/V ‘Polarstern’ around Elephant Island, the South Shetland Islands and at the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula from 17 March to 5 April 2012. In this paper we provide information on species composition, biomass, and size composition of the abundant fish species encountered during the survey. Catches in the Elephant Island – South Shetland Islands suggest that biomass of N. rossii and C. gunnari have increased since the last survey in 2006/07