CCAMLR

The results of the eighth annual survey of entanglement of Antarctic fur seals at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands are reported for the 2005/2006 summer season. There was 1 sighting of a seal wearing a neck collar of man-made debris. Data are compared with results from a parallel study undertaken at Bird Island, South Georgia in 2005/06. In the case of Bird Island, data indicated that the number of entangled fur seals had decreased by 75% compared to the previous year, this being the lowest number recorded at Bird island between the austral summers of 1988/89 and 2003/04. Although such a decrease is encouraging, the number of seals with neck collars at Bird Island, highlights the need for CCAMLR members to continue their campaign to ensure that vessels are aware of and comply with regulations prohibiting the disposal of man-made debris at sea.

During the 2005/06 austral summer the sixteenth annual beach debris survey was carried out at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands. Debris was cleared each month between December and March from the three study beaches. The debris was counted, measured and classified by type, material, mass and size categories. A total of 27 items weighing 24.36kg were collected. The number of items found was lower than the total found during the previous season, though the total mass of the waste recovered had increased (a decrease of 28.94% and increase of 55.04% since 2004/05 respectively). There was a fall in the number of plastic packaging bands (9) from the total recorded the previous season (12), this decrease representing a contrast to the rise in packaging bands experienced over the previous four seasons with the exception of 2003/2004 and marking a return to what has otherwise proved a declining trend since 1993/94. These findings highlight the fact that they continue to appear as beach debris and indicate that the ban on their use aboard fishing vessels brought into force by CCAMLR in 1995/96 has yet to prove entirely effective and should continue. Plastic waste was predominant, as in previous seasons, making up 55.42% of all items recorded, followed by metal at 28.74%. The results of this season's litter survey clearly show that the longevity of plastics and other materials with a high resistance to degradation in the marine environment remains a problem. The need for continued monitoring to ensure that vessels are aware of, and comply with, regulations prohibiting the disposal of debris at sea is paramount.

Results of the survey of entanglements of Antarctic fur seals at Bird Island, South Georgia for the sixteenth consecutive winter (2005) and eighteenth consecutive summer (2005/06) are reported here. Two entanglements were observed in the winter, a decrease of 60% from the previous year, and the lowest number seen since records began in 1990. One of these involved a male pup entangled in fishing net and was classified as being very severe. The other observed entanglement during winter occurred to an adult female entangled in a plastic packing band causing slight constriction to the individual involved. In contrast there was double the number of observed entanglements during summer of 2005/06 compared to the previous summer. Of these 14% caused severe injury to the seal involved. Half of these entanglements involved juveniles. Of the entanglements where the animal could be sexed, females made up the majority during the summer, in contrast to previous years. The majority (63%) of summer entanglements were caused by plastic packing bands, this is a 67% increase from the previous year’s observations. Fishing nets were responsible for entanglements in both winter (50%) and summer (14%). The presence of plastic packing bands and fishing nets during both seasons highlights the need for continued monitoring and increased effort in ensuring correct disposal of debris with the potential to entangle wildlife at sea.

During the fifteenth year of standardised beach surveys of man-made debris at Bird Island, South Georgia, a total of 251 items were collected. This represents an encouraging reduction of 43% on the 361 items recorded in 2003/04 that corresponded to the highest levels of summer beach debris since the 1999/00 season. The distribution of debris between summer and winter was more biased than the previous recording period with only 23% of the total number of debris items being collected in the winter compared to 36% last season. The total weight of debris collected has remained relatively stable with 4.1135kg collected this year, whilst 5.3957 kg was gathered in 2003/04. For the second consecutive year, nylon line has been absent from the shores of Bird Island, having once been at a peak of 546 pieces in 1995/96. Over the same 15-year period packing bands are still regularly recovered from the beaches and these findings reaffirm that the ban on their use aboard fishing vessels brought into force by CCAMLR in 1995/96 has yet to prove entirely effective and should continue.. The proportion of miscellaneous debris is commensurate with 2003/04 (98.5%) but when actual quantities of debris are considered since 1990 when the survey began, the amount of miscellaneous debris is much higher though not at the peak levels of 2003/04. This indicates that debris is still being lost by vessels into the marine environment and marine vessels working in this region should therefore continue to make efforts to comply with not only the correct waste disposal procedures for fishing-related waste, but also domestic waste.

This report describes and quantifies occurrences of fishing gear, marine debris and oil associated with seabirds at Bird Island, South Georgia from 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006. It is the thirteenth such annual report. As in previous years, more items of marine debris and fishing gear (mostly longlining gear) were found in association with wandering albatrosses than with any other species. Although the total number of items encountered has decreased significantly since a peak between 2000 and 2002, more items were encountered this season than in the previous season for all species monitored with the exception of black browed albatross. Entanglements continue to be observed at a rate similar to that of previous seasons, hooks being typical of those used in the Patagonian toothfish industry. Whilst the occurrence of debris and fishing gear at Bird Island remains substantially lower than during a peak that occurred half a decade ago, the recent increase is of concern.

The current status of national surveys on monitoring of marine debris and their impact on marine mammals and seabirds in the Convention Area has been reviewed. The CCAMLR Marine Debris Database contains data from 12 sites, most within Area 48. There are 4 sites that have data for more than 3 consecutive years, these are: Cape Shirreff, (Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands); Bird Island, (South Georgia); Signy Island, (South Orkney Islands), and King George Island, (South Shetland Islands).
Marine debris, principally packaging items, fishing gear, and wood items, reached a peak in the period 1994-1996 at Bird Island and Signy Island, but have declined. The number of debris items found had increased in 2004 (Bird Island) and 2005 (Signy Island and King George Island), but has since declined again at Bird Island (2005), Signy Island (2006) and King George Island (2006). The majority of items found were packaging materials and wood.
The level of marine debris found in grey-headed albatross, black-browed albatross colonies in 2006 has remained low. Debris from wandering albatross colonies at Bird Island in 2006 has increased by 41.2%. Fishing gear such as lines and hooks and miscellaneous broken plastics continue to form the major part of the debris associated with seabird colonies.
The number of Antarctic fur seal entanglements at Bird Island reached a peak in 1993 and has showed a general decline since, with the lowest levels on record being reported for the 2005 season. This increased to 10 entanglements in the 2006 season, five of which were by packaging bands. The number of seabirds contaminated with hydrocarbons remains low.