CCAMLR

During the 1999/2000 austral summer the tenth annual beach debris survey was carried out at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands. Debris was cleared each month between November andMarch from three study beaches. The debris was counted, measured and classified by type,material, mass and size categories. A total of 55 items weighing 10.78kg was collected. The number of items was 35% less than 1998/99, and the second lowest ever recorded. The total mass of the waste recovered has decreased since 1998/99 by 17% but was still the second highest since 1995/96. Plastic waste was predominant, as in previous seasons, although the proportion of plastic items (38%) was the lowest ever recorded and follows a declining trend since 1996/97. The proportion of polypropylene packaging bands removed was also the lowest recorded (18%) and may indicate that the ban on their use aboard fishing vessels brought into force by CCAMLR in 1995/96 has been effective and should continue. Classifying the waste by source revealed that 60% had come from ships or fishing vessels and7% were from Signy Research Station. The rest comprised wood (11%) and items with noobvious source (22%). Of particular concern was the quantity of polystyrene foam whichaccounted for 31% of all items recovered and 46% of items small enough to be ingested byseals and seabirds. The proportion of polystyrene foam items washed ashore has been increasing since 1996/97. It is recommended that CCAMLR should advise its members touse alternative, less persistent forms of packing material where possible. With the exception of 1998/99, the quantity of waste recorded at Signy Island has been showing a declining trend since 1993/94. This is promising. The longevity of plastics and other materials with a high resistence to degradation in the marine environment remains a problem and highlights theneed for continued monitoring to ensure that vessels are aware of, and comply with, regulations prohibiting the disposal of debris at sea.

The ninth year of surveys of beach man-made debris at Bird Island, South Georgia revealed a total of 213 items, 51% less than the total of 430 items in 1997/98 and the second lowest total noted. The winter (April - September) total was 66 % lower than in 1997/98 and is the lowest total since 1990. The number of items collected in the summer was 172, a decrease of 45% from the 1997/98 total of 310. Nylon line, identical to that attached to longline gear, accounted for 51 % of items.The lower levels of debris collected in the winter months is encouraging although the totals of summer debris still remain at least three times the level of the early 1990's and provide continued cause for concern, suggesting that CCAMLR needs to enhance its campaign to reduce the amount of man-made debris being jettisoned into the Southern Ocean.

This report describes and quantifies occurrences of oil, marine debris and fishing gear associated with seabirds at Bird Island, South Georgia. In this, the seventh year of standardised recording, an unprecedented quantity of hooks (both with and without long-line attached) and monofilament long-line originating from fishing vessels was recorded in association with wandering albatrosses. Quantities of fishing gear remained within the levels of previous years for all other species, except black-browed albatross, which increased by133% from the previous maximum. Marine debris (the vast majority of which were plastics) showed 75% and 93% increases from the previous maxima for wandering albatross and grey-headed albatross respectively. The recently noted trend of black-browed albatrosses regurgitating marine debris continued. A single wandering albatross feather-soiled by oil was observed. Human food waste was associated with wandering albatrosses and giant petrels.

The results of the fourth annual survey of entanglement of Antarctic fur seals at Signy Island,South Orkney Islands are reported for the 1999/2000 summer season. There were five sightingsof seals wearing neck collars of man-made debris. One additional sighting was of an animal that had been previously entangled but had lost its collar by the time of observation. All of the animals involved were juvenile males, the main component of the population at this time of year.The number of sightings was the lowest ever recorded, a decrease of 50% compared to the previous season. This was despite the fact that the number of fur seals arriving at Signy Island in 1999/2000 was the highest observed since entanglement surveys began in 1996/97. Data are compared with results from a parallel study undertaken at Bird Island, South Georgia in1999/2000. These indicated that the number of entangled fur seals had also decreased (by 42%) since 1998/99. Over the past four years, fluctuations in the incidence of entanglement between years at Bird Island have been mirrored at Signy Island. ‘Severe’ and ‘very severe’ injury was being caused to 60% of animals at Signy Island, which was the lowest on record. As usual this was higher (by 46%) than the proportion of fur seals sighted with the same injuries at Bird Island.This suggests that the majority of fur seals arriving at Signy Island had been entangled for sometime and had likely been entangled in other areas, such as South Georgia, where fishing activity is higher. Fishing net was the most common entangling material at Signy Island (60%) followed by packaging bands (20%) and a neck collar made of unknown material (20%). The proportion of animals entangled in packaging bands was the second lowest recorded, a decrease of 20% compared to the previous year. At Bird Island, packaging bands were the most common entangling material, increasing by 12.5% since 1998/99. The continued presence of packaging bands, despite the CCAMLR restrictions imposed since 1995/96, may be due to their persistence in the environment or illegal un-monitored fishing activity. The decrease in the incidence of entanglement at Signy Island and Bird Island is promising. CCAMLR needs to continue this monitoring and its campaign against the disposal of man-made debris at sea.

Results of the survey of entanglements of Antarctic fur seals at Bird Island, South Georgia for thetenth consecutive winter (1999) and twelfth consecutive summer (19999/2000) are reported here. Only six entangled seals were observed during the winter, representing a 53% decrease from1998 and a 94% decrease on the highest previous total (1992). Four of these animals wereentangled in plastic packaging bands, double that observed in the 1998 winter, and a return to thehigh levels observed before the CCAMLR prohibition on their use in1994. The number ofanimals showing severe injuries was down on the 1998 winter. The number of seals observed entangled in the summer was the second lowest recorded to date,being 42% lower than in the 1998/99 season. The proportion of adult animals affected was down1% on the previous summer and constitutes the lowest total recorded. The proportion of animalsshowing severe injuries (21%) is down 4% on the previous year and is the second lowest total onrecord. The number of entanglements in polypropylene straps showed an increase by12.5% onthe 1998/99 season. The low occurrence of entanglements in summer and winter has continued the downward trendin numbers since the peak in the early 1990's. Incidences of severe injury have also decreased. Entanglements in polypropylene bands comprise the major proportion of observations, despitethe ban on their use introduced by CCAMLR. This highlights the need for sustained monitoringand continuing publicity aimed at preventing the disposal of debris at sea.