CCAMLR

The eighth annual beach debris survey was carried out at Cape Shirreff (62º 28' S., 60º 48' W.), Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica during the austral summer 2000/2001. All debris were collected once a month during January and February 2001 from 36 places, just when the snowmelt occurred.
The debris were counted by beaches, measured, weighed and classified into four categories: Plastic, metal, glass, and paper. A total of 1,774 articles was studied, with a weight of 124, 5 kg. As it used to occur during all previous Antarctic seasons plastic material was the most abundant item with 1,736 articles which represent 97.86% of the total. The other items consisted of metal, 15 articles (0,85%), glass, 16 articles (0.90%), and paper, 7 pieces (0.30%).
It is important to note that 589 plastic bands were found at the site, which represent 34% of all plastic items. From these bands, 40 were ringlike, and 48 had the form of loops with knots. This is an evidence of an act against the Conservation Measure 63/XV, and against the Annex IV of the Madrid Protocol. Besides, several articles, mainly plastics, were total or partially oiled, as well as a single wing of a kelp gull Larus dominicanus, and as it occurred in previous seasons, some plastic articles were found partially burnt.
Sixty three plastic items were identified as of Korean origin (3.6%) including several printed plastic bands, corresponding to a 51% of the total identified items. For the first time it was recorded an article from Philippines.
It is necessary to reinforce the CCAMLR plan to divulge the poster and cards calling to all Parties to cooperate with the protection of the marine environment.

In this paper the boundaries of the CCAMLR statistical areas are examined for their relevance to the management of the krill fishery. A rationale for developing some new areas is developed based on data on krill distributions. The overall aim of the exercise was to reduce the large size of many of the existing statistical areas to the point where all areas where krill occur could be surveyed by a single vessel. Areas where krill appeared to be generally absent were separated from those areas where krill appeared to be abundant. Areas where there were identified concentrations or “stocks” were kept intact wherever possible. The resultant map of suggested management areas results in a series of subdivisions of far more regular size than the existing map of Statistical Areas.

El Uruguay ha desarrollado un Programa de Relevamiento de Desechos Marinos en
las áreas costeras próximas a sus instalaciones en el Area del Tratado Antártico y por
tanto en el Area de la Convención correspondiente a la Subárea Estadística 48.1, donde
se encuentra la B.C.A.A. (Base Científica Antártica Artigas), en Isla Rey Jorge (o Isla
25 de Mayo), realizándose el relevamiento de desechos en las playas seleccionadas en la
costa accesible desde la base en la Antártida.
La finalidad del programa es la de colaborar con las funciones de la Comisión en el
análisis de la efectivización de la conservación, mediante el seguimiento de indicativos
que a través de su manifestación como factores que pueden afectar los recursos vivos
marinos antárticos, dan pautas de la orientación de las actividades de recolección y
conexas hacia la utilización racional de estos recursos, en el cumplimiento de las
disposiciones de la Convención y las medidas acordadas en su conformidad.

This paper reports on a 4 day forum for fishers held in New Zealand in 2000, to exchange information and develop practical measures to minimise incidental capture of seabirds in longline fisheries. Participants committed to undertake a number of activities and report back at a second forum that will be held in Hawaii in late 2002.

En este documento se resume el planteamiento de los autores expuesto en cuatro
documentos enviados la reciente reunión del WG-EMM-2001, ante el hallazgo de anticuerpos
contra enfermedades infecciosas en Pinnipedia antárticos, como resultado de las investigaciones
realizadas en el Sitio CEMP Nº2 “Cabo Shirreff e islotes San Telmo”, durante las últimas tres
temporadas de verano. Se discute el resultado del informe de dicha reunión y se argumentan los
puntos discordantes con tales planteamientos, justificando la necesidad de incentivar y enfocar
esfuerzos de investigación en patologías de depredadores tope. Se plantea que no se debe esperar
que ocurra algún evento catastrófico para investigar estos temas, que no son más que otro
componente activo del ecosistema marino antártico. Por lo tanto, se solicita el apoyo del Comité
Científico para con estas investigaciones, ya que su aprobación significaría un gran respaldo para
que se acepte la información que sobre estas materias se presente, como un avance ante el
desconocimiento que sobre esta materia había y como una contribución al conocimiento de
patologías propias de los depredadores tope del ecosistema marino antártico, cuya dinámica y
efectos son aún desconocidos en esas latitudes.

This paper has been prepared by the Secretariat of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) in response to a request from CEP-IV for information on actions taken by CCAMLR on marine debris from fishing vessels, especially in relation to compliance with Annex IV of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (CEP-III Final Report, paragraph 19).
A number of measures have been adopted and implemented by CCAMLR to monitor and assess the level of marine debris and its impact on marine living resources in Antarctic waters. Long-term programs have been initiated at a number of sub-Antarctic and Antarctic sites. These programs include surveys of beached marine debris, surveys of fishery-related marine debris associated with colonies of marine mammals and seabirds, ingestion by seabirds of plastic materials and entanglement of marine mammals in fishery-related debris. During recent years surveys of beached marine debris have been conducted in accordance with a standard method. Standard forms have been created for the collection and submission of data from other marine debris studies. All data collected are submitted to the CCAMLR database for analysis. As the number of long-term marine debris programs established by CCAMLR Members is still relatively small, the amount of information collected at present is insufficient to ascertain trends in the accumulation of debris and of its impact on marine animals.
A special conservation measure was adopted by CCAMLR to regulate the use and disposal of plastic packaging bands on fishing vessels. In order to prevent pollution from marine debris in the CCAMLR Convention Area, a large proportion of which appears to originate from fishing vessels, CCAMLR launched an educational campaign aimed at fishermen.
CCAMLR keeps the issue of marine debris under annual review.