CCAMLR

This study reviews the impact of longline fishing on populations of white-chinned petrels and grey petrels from 2004 to 2006 at Crozet and Kerguelen (58.6 and 58.5.1 respectively).
It shows that the population of white-chinned petrels at Possession Island (Crozet) decreased sharply between 1983 and 2004, with the main cause being changes in environmental variables. Nevertheless, the decrease in the population was more marked as a result of previous levels of incidental mortality. At present, the level of mortality of white-chinned petrels in Subarea 58.6 has not reached the critical point beyond which the population would be at risk of declining.
Past levels (up to 2003) of incidental mortality of white-chinned petrels in Division 58.5.1 have probably had a negative effect on the population. At present, incidental mortality of this petrel has a limited effect on the population.
The population of grey petrels in the Kerguelen archipelago (Division 58.5.1) is also very sensitive to changes in environmental variables and particularly to positive values of the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI). The legal toothfish fishery had a significant negative impact on adult survival and population growth rate between 2001 and 2004. Since 2005, incidental mortality of this species is no longer at the levels above which the number of birds killed could cause a decline in the population. In order to limit the decrease, new conservation measures were established for the 2006/07 fishing season.

Incidental mortality has diminished considerably in comparison with the period from 2001 to 2003 (Delord et al, 2004).
During the 2003/04, 2004/05 and 2005/06 fishing seasons the incidental mortality of seabirds was reduced by approximately half each year.
A multivariate analysis has revealed that the incidental catch of white-chinned petrels and grey petrels is caused by a complex set of variables relating to the environment and fishing techniques. Results suggest that a significant proportion of the mortality of white-chinned petrels and grey petrels can be explained by the effects of season and geographical area, as was the case for the period 2001-2003.
Incidental mortality varies according to geographical area, being higher at Kerguelen (where there are some geographical disparities, with higher mortality in the northern and central areas in the east, and northern and southern areas in the west) than at Crozet.
Analyses show that a proportion of the incidental mortality can be explained by other factors, such as, for example, the type of lines used (integrated-weight lines or otherwise, or a mixture of both). The number of streamer lines is also a factor which influences incidental mortality, the rate of which is lower when the number of streamer lines deployed behind the vessel is increased.
This study highlights the phenomenon of incidental capture of live birds during hauling, and of the larger number of species involved than is the case during setting.

The results of the eleventh annual survey of entanglement of Antarctic fur seals at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands are reported for the 2006/2007 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 2006/07.

During the 2006/07 austral summer the seventeenth 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 50 items weighing 7.6 kg were collected. The number of items found was greater than the total found during the previous season, although the total mass of the waste recovered had decreased (an increase of 85.2% and decrease of 68.8% since 2005/06 respectively). There was a rise in the number of plastic packaging bands (18) from the total recorded the previous season (9), this increase representing a continuation of the rise in packaging bands experienced over recent seasons. The likely source of these bands is fishing vessels, so these findings highlight the fact that packaging bands 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. Plastic waste was predominant, as in previous seasons, making up 80% of all items recorded, followed jointly by metal and wood, both at 10%. The results of this season's debris 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.

This report describes and quantifies occurrences of fishing gear, marine debris and oil associated with seabirds at Bird Island, South Georgia from 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007. It is the fourteenth such annual report. As in previous years, more items of marine debris and fishing gear (mostly longline fishing gear) were found in association with wandering albatrosses than with any other species. The total number of items encountered (n =170) increased after a recent short-term decline with large numbers of fishing hooks and line (n=70) recovered from wandering albatross chick regurgitations reflecting discard of used baited hooks at sea. Entanglements continue to be observed with hooks being typical of those used in the Patagonian Toothfish industry.

During the sixteenth year of standardised beach surveys of man-made debris at Bird Island, South Georgia, a total of 544 items were collected, the highest number of debris collected since 1995/96. Compared to the previous recording period, 170% more items were collected during winter and 101% more during summer, a mass increase of 1.19kg overall (29%). For the third consecutive year, nylon line was absent from Bird Island, an encouraging result after the peak of 546 pieces in 1995/96. However plastic packaging bands are still regularly recovered. In the reporting period 16 pieces were found, more than in any of the previous 9 years, suggesting that the ban on their use aboard fishing vessels brought into force by CCAMLR in 1995/96 has yet to prove entirely effective. Sixty-nine pieces of multifilament (multi-strand) gillnet were found on the survey beach this year (mainly in winter) compared to 11 in 2004/05. Miscellaneous debris comprised the greatest proportion of items (84% of the total).