The Antarctic marine environment has relatively few direct sources of man-made marine debris; however, there is concern over the dangers posed to wildlife by increasing amounts of such debris. Between 1990 and 1995 beached debris was monitored at Bird Island, South Georgia. This was part of a programme developed by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) to monitor compliance with waste disposal under MARPOL and the effectiveness of additional regulations to reduce entanglement of marine mammals and birds. Overall, and in all but one year, the highest incidence of debris occurred during the winter months when 75 % of all items were collected. The most numerous category overall (76 %), and in all samples since 1991, was pieces of synthetic lone as used in the longline fishery for Patagonian toothfish Dissostichus eleginoides around South Georgia. Packaging bands (6 %) and polythene bags (6 %) were the next commonest items. There was a substantial increase in the number of items found ashore in 1995 which coincided with an apparent increase in long-line fishing effort in the area. The increase in the incidence of synthetic line found ashore corresponds to the increase in the proportion of Antarctic fur seal Arctocephalus gazella entangled in this material at South Georgia in a parallel study. An increasing use of environmentally-aware scientific observers on all fishing vessels, leading to an increased awareness of existing legislation, should result in less man-made debris entering the marine environment in the area around South Georgia.
Abstract:
The fifth year of survey of beach debris at Main Bay, Bird Island reported a 3-fold increase in overall debris levels (725 items reported in 1994/95 compared with 225 items in 1993/94). Debris accumulated throughout the summer accounted for 33% of the total (three times the summer proportion in 1993/94). Of the 67% of debris occurring during the winter, 43 % occurred during July. Nylon line, comprising 80% of debris, was mainly identical to material used in the long-line fishery, as indicated by sections of long-line washed ashore. Packaging bands formed only 16% of debris and were found throughout the study period. Of the 16 plastic packing bands found, 2 (13%) were uncut.
