The main purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution and areas of mixing of two stocks of the humpback whale, a krill predator, in the Indo-Pacific region of the Antarctic. These were breeding Stock ‘D’ off Western Australia and breeding Stock ‘E1’ off Eastern Australia. Both stocks have shown sign of recovery after heavy commercial exploitation in the last century. Information on distribution and areas of mixing in the Antarctic feeding grounds is essential to assist the interpretation of abundance estimates. Published mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences were available for Western Australian (n= 185) and Eastern Australian (n= 104) whales. These were compared with sequences of humpback whales in the Antarctic feeding grounds for Areas IIIE (35°-70°E, n= 95), IVW (70°-100°E, n= 140), IVE (100°-130°E, n=90), VW (130°-160°E, n= 69), VE (160°E-170°W, n=85) and VI (170°-120°W, n=64). In addition, the Antarctic samples were analyzed with a set of eleven microsatellite DNA loci (independent nuclear DNA marker). The genetic analyses were based on biopsy samples. Results of the combined analyses suggested the following: i) Western Australian whales distribute mainly in Areas IV, and probably mix with a different stock in Area IIIE; ii) Western Australian whales do not distribute in Areas V and VI, at least in substantial numbers; iii) Eastern Australian whales distribute mainly in Area VW, and probably mix with a different stock in Area VE; Area VI is occupied by a different stock. This information on distribution and areas of mixing should be used in the interpretation of the abundance estimates of the Western and Eastern Australian stocks in the Antarctic, which has been based on the boundaries of IWC Management Areas. Several additional analyses were suggested to refine the information on pattern of distribution and mixing of humpback whales stocks suggested in this study.

We provide an analysis of zooplankton distributions in the circumpolar Southern Ocean based on samples collected by the international Southern Ocean Continuous Plankton Recorder Survey (SO-CPR) between 1991 and 2018. We analysed SO-CPR measurements in relation to satellite and oceanographic observations over the period 1997–2018. These environmental data were: phytoplankton biomass, primary productivity, sea-surface temperature (SST), mixed layer depth, sea ice and the spatial gradient of SST (as an indicator of ocean fronts). Boosted Regression Tree models were used to investigate relationships between the abundances of key groups of zooplankton, occurrence of characteristic zooplankton communities, and environmental conditions. Analysis is presented on the environmental suitability for six broad zooplankton groups: Copepoda, Euphausiidae (numerically dominated in SO-CPR data by Thysanoessa macrura), Foraminifera, Fritillaria spp., Oithona similis and pteropods. Trend analysis suggests that the environmental suitability for copepods, Foraminifera, and Fritillaria spp. may lead to increasing abundances at between 0.59–0.83% per year averaged across the Southern Ocean, and with much higher rates of increase in some regions. In contrast, the environmental suitability for pteropods is predicted to be decreasing in the Ross Sea region. Eight characteristic zooplankton communities were identified based on multivariate cluster analysis. The analysis suggests that the areal extent of the northern (Subantarctic) communities have not changed or decreased in area between 1998 and 2018, whereas the main Polar Frontal communities have expanded, and the area occupied by the southernmost (sea-ice) zooplankton community has decreased in area. These analyses are relevant to evaluating the conservation value of the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area against its specific objectives.

In 2019, the annual IMR regional krill monitoring survey off the South Orkneys was conducted by RV Kronprins Haakon as part of the Scotia Sea large scale krill monitoring effort. To allow for comparison with previous survey years and provide some context for the large scale survey estimate, we here present the results from the 2019 regional survey processed and analysed in the same way as the annual surveys from 2011 to 2018. The distribution was similar to previous years with most krill along the shelf edge north of the Islands. Also the krill areal density measured on the 120 kHz of 69.87 g/m² was very close to the long term average. Sampling variance, however, expressed as coefficient of variation was the second lowest on record, indicating a less patchy krill distribution than a typical year. 

A collection of published papers about population variability of several biological parameters and factors affecting penguins biology along the Antarctic Peninsula is presented in order to contribute to the general knowledge of penguin biological variation, to generate a data baseline in the context of environmental changes such as climate change and human activity and to support the proposal of the Western Antarctic Peninsula protected marine area. The results show higher levels of immunological parameters, higher abundance of ectoparasites and a higher stress in northern populations. Contaminant levels and genotoxic damage are associated with human activity mostly located in the northern populations as well.

As a part of the international krill synoptic survey, the National Antarctic Scientific Center of Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine has conducted research program on mesozooplankton studies in the Bransfield Strait (CCAMLR subarea 48.1) during “More Sodruzhestva” voyage from 13 to 18^th of November 2018. The stratified samples were done at the same stations as for krill hydroacoustic survey in order to map vertical distribution, abundance and species composition of zooplankton, mostly copepods. Here we present our preliminary results for the station_ID 1735 (62⁰09'883"S, -64⁰92'767"W) according to the krill synoptic survey protocol.

Information on status of development of small-scale marine protected areas in the Argentine Islands Archipelago

Within the framework of the 23rd Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition 2018, complex marine expeditions last conducted in 2001 were resumed aboard Ukrainian fishing vessel More Sodruzhestva which carries out regular fishing activities in the CAMLR Convention Area. The vessel equipped with modern measuring systems, and this is one of the most prominent examples of public-private partnership in Antarctic research. In particular, during the marine expedition, continuous monitoring of the physical and chemical fields of the Southern Ocean was introduced to determine tendencies of their climate variability, long-term monitoring of the spread of polluting chemicals in coastal ecosystems, as well as prediction of zones of increased biological productivity in the CAMLR Convention Area.

In December 2018 the Ukrainian krill fishing vessel More Sodruzhestva took part in the 2018/2019 International synoptic survey in Area 48 in accordance with the decision of the Scientific Committee and the Commission (CCAMLR-XXXVII). Acoustic work, trawl stations, data collection and biological analysis of Antarctic krill catches and bycatch were carried out.

Gentoo (Pygoscelis papua) penguin colony population behavior/dynamics have been studied during 2018-19 season. The detailed observation of birds arrival, nesting, hatch and crèche has been provided in two colonies at GAI CEMP site at Galindez Island nearby the Vernadsky station. We inform on the results of visual survey of penguin population and penguin count. During the 2018/19 season biologist winterer at Vernadsky station at Galindez Island, provided continuous observations every day/each five days of gentoo GBV and GPP sites. The results of visual observations of penguin population changes are discussed.

The two seasons of the data validation experiment provided for pictures from time-lapse cameras of the CEMP camera monitoring project of CCAMLR at Galindez Island gentoo (Pygoscelis Papua) penguin colonies are discussed. During 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons, biologists-winterers at Vernadsky station (Galindez Island), GAI CEMP site, provided daily observations of 15 gentoo nests chosen in the three monitoring sites GBW, GPP1, and GPP2, simultaneously with automatic time-lapse cameras picturing. The results of visual observations have been compared with data from camera pictures, which registered the same nests. The comparison of the events of lay, hatch, and crèche dates was undertaken. The preliminary results exhibit the reasonable correspondence within 0-3 days between visual observations and time-lapse camera data for both seasons. The standard deviation for each event varies from ±1 to ±3 days for 15 control nests at the three test sites. However the time delay in 1 to 3 days (7 days maximum) between the registered dates by camera and visual observations was recorded. This delay should be taken into account when the event dates from camera data analyzed without correspondent visual observations.