CCAMLR

A census of breeding Southern Royal Albatross was undertaken at Campbell Island during the period 4 January to 6 February 1996 of the 1995-96 breeding season. A total of 7787 occupied nests was counted. Comparisons of different field census techniques and a measure of the rate of egg loss suggest that 8200-8600 pairs were nesting in the 1995-96 breeding season. The count WDS 23% higher than in January-February 1995, much of which could be explained by some larger survey blocks being counted more thoroughly. Interpretation of population trend data from previous censuses Is difficult because of the likely variability in counting effort between years. Nevertheless, numbers of nests have increased since the first census in January-February 1958, and increased or fluctuated since the 1970s. Accurate counts at study areas (1988-1996) show that numbers are currently increasing.

The results of the second annual survey of entanglement of Antarctic fur seals at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands are reported for the 1997/98 summer season. There were six sightings of seals wearing neck collars of man-made debris, half the number reported in 1996/97. All of the animals involved were juvenile males, the main component of the population seen at Signy Island at this time of year. The prolonged presence of sea ice around the South Orkney Islands probably accounted for the low number of fur seals in total that came ashore during the season. Data are compared with results from a parallel study undertaken at Bird Island, South Georgia in 1997/98 where the number of reported entanglements had also decreased. At Signy Island, fishing net was the most common entangling material (83%) and had increased in occurrence since the previous season. The percentage of entanglements in packaging bands (17%) had decreased since 1996/97. In contrast, the percentage of animals entangled in packaging bands at Bird Island was higher than in recent years and there was a decrease in the incidence of net fragments forming collars. Severe injury was being caused to 67% of seals with neck collars at Signy Island (nil at Bird Island), a slight drop (8%) from 1996/97. The decrease in observed entanglements is encouraging although the prevalence of packaging bands and the high incidence of synthetic line and fishing net highlights the need for CCAMLR Members to take further steps to ensure that vessels are aware of, and comply with, regulations prohibiting the disposal of debris in the southern ocean.

Results of the survey of entanglements of Antarctic fur seals at Bird Island, South Georgia for the eighth consecutive winter (1997) and tenth consecutive summer (1997/98) are reported here. Only seven seals were observed entangled in the winter, a drop of 59% from 1996. Four of these records were from adult females, a much higher proportion than in previous years. The number of entanglements in the summer was the lowest recorded to date, being 52% lower than in 1996/97. The percentage of entanglements in packaging bands was higher than recent years in both summer and winter. Only one seal sustained a severe injury in the winter, no such cases were observed in summer. The summer observations were mainly of juvenile fur seals, with equal numbers of each sex when identified. The observed drop in entanglements is encouraging, but the incidence of packaging bands as collars has not decreased. This highlights the need for sustained monitoring and continuing publicity aimed at preventing the disposal of debris at sea.

This report describes and quantifies the occurrence of oil, paint, marine debris and fishing gear associated with seabirds at South Georgia. In this, the fifth year of standardised recording, a marked increase in the quantity of plastic debris associated with seabirds was evident; quantities of fishing gear remained within the levels of previous years for all species (although the number of squid jigs associated with grey-headed albatrosses increased); feather soiling (by oil and paint) was observed on two wandering albatrosses; human food waste was associated with wandering albatross and plastic debris with black-browed albatross for the first time in this study.

A pilot census of light-mantled sooty albatross Phoebetria palpebrata nests was conducted on western Campbell Island in November 1995. An extrapolation from 292 nests counted on 19 km of coastline, more than 77 seen on offshore islands, and 32 found in four inland areas, suggests that there were at least 1600 nests on the island in 1995-96. Standard vantage points were established for future index counts. Sixty nests were monitored, and 50% were still successfully rearing chick in January-February. Five nests at Beeman Hill and 12 nests at north-west Lyall ridge were monitored closely, and adults banded.

The black petrel (Procellaria parkinsoni) is a vulnerable endemic seabird, which breeds only on Little and Great Barrier Islands, New Zealand. During late January and February 1997, within the main breeding area around the highest point on Great Barrier Island, Kirakimata (Mount Hobson), 100 burrows that had adults present were selected as long-term study burrows. The burrows were either accessible through the entrance or easily excavated to reach their contents. Eighty four of these burrows were used by breeding paris, and the remainder by non-breeding adults. The threee 1600 m2 census areas set up in 1996 around the summit were monitored over the 1997 breeding season. A total of 54 burrows were located within the census grids and 36 were being used by breeding pairs. A preliminary estiate extrapolating from the grid burrows shows the population consists of 4 500 breeding birds and at least 685 non-breeding birds.