CCAMLR

We have compiled the records of Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) entangled in marine debris (neck collars) at SSSI N°32 and CEMP site 'Cape Shirreff and San Telmo islets', Livingston island, Antarctica, obtained during the summer seasons between 1988 and 1997.
Our results indicate that 45% of the entanglement material found in a total of 20 individuals (nine subadult males, four juvenile males, five females, and two pups) corresponded to plastic debris and synthetic packing bands, in contrast to the remaining percentage (55%) which corresponded to discarded fishing debris like net fragments (ghost nets) and nylon ropes. We have managed to liberate 35% of the total entangled animals (four females, one juvenile male, and two pups).
The total percentage of entangled animals versus total population in the area per season is considered to be low, and never surpass percentages of entanglement reported for the South Georgia islands, where the most important longlining fishery in the Southern Ocean is developed, nevertheless, we consider that our estimates could be underestimations.
To reduce this type of occurrences, we propose: (1) the monitoring of entangled Antarctic fur seals in marine debris . over the South Shetland archipelago area through a cooperative inter-institutional sighting network to assess with more complete data the impact that marine debris is causing on the marine biota, specially over individuals of A. gazella, and for this purpose we present as an annex to the document, a form for its completion by every Antarctic base, refuge, or camp present in the mentioned area, given the case of observing entangled animals; (2) the implementation of more regulations over fishing vessels operating in CCAMLR's regulated areas of the Southern Ocean, with further instruction of scientific observers in relation to discarded debris; (3) directed education to captains and tripulations of fishing vessels with the aid of an informative booklet; and (4) the ratification and implementation of Annex V of MARPOL (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) by members who have not yet done so.

Observations of natural and man-made floating megalitter, macrolitter and mesolitter in the Pacific section of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary from December 1994 to March 1995 are reported. Natural megalitter, mostly seaweed, was concentrated In the more northern latitudes near the start and finish of the expedition, especially near the Antarctic Convergence south of the Tasman Sea. Man-made megalitter was nowhere common, but was seen mostly near and to the west of the Antarctic Peninsula, and north and northwest of the Ross Sea, and consisted mostly of plastic Items, especially styrofoam fragments. Fishing gear was not a major component of man-made debris. Macrolitter consisted mainly of seabird feathers. A very high density (544 per 10nm) of penguin feathers occurred northeast of the Ross Sea, whereas non-penguin feathers dominated north and northwest of the Ross Sea. In the southern Ross Sea a single sample contained 31 small dead fish. Natural mesolitter quantities were usually low, but high densities (to 391/ha) of penguin feathers occurred northeast of the Ross Sea, and pumice granules were concentrated near the Antarctic Convergence south of the Tasman Sea. Man-made mesolitter was usually absent but reached 8.7/ha midway between the Antarctic Peninsula and the Ross Sea. Most items were individual styrofoam beads, but north of the convergence small numbers of hard plastic fragments were encountered. Biological associations with debris were not common, but included a filamentous green alga and small goose barnacles.

The first reports of commercial catches of Patagonian toothfish Dissostichus eleginoides made in the vicinity of the Prince Edward Islands, a South African territory in the Indian Ocean Sector of the Southern Ocean, surfaced early in 1996. This generated both national and international interest in the fishery leading to a great influx of vessels to the area. By the end of 1996 up to 40 vessels had already landed catches of more than 23 000 tons in South Africa and Namibia. It is against this backdrop that permits were issued in October 1996 to five vessels, each with an allocation of 240 tons per year, to fish in the South African zone at the Prince Edward Islands. The sanctioned fishery was conducted according to CCAMLR guidelines and Scientific Observers were deployed on most of the trips.
From October 1996 to June 1997 sanctioned vessels at the Prince Edward Islands deployed around 3.7 million hooks and landed 2 100 tons of toothfish. Although catch rates were initially high at around 0.7 kg per hook at the end of 1996 a steady decline in CPUE to less than 0.4 kg per hook towards the end of the season was noticed. The length frequency distribution showed that fish caught at the Prince Edward Islands were generally smaller than those reported from the South American and South Georgia longline fisheries. A decrease in fish sizes was also noted since the inception of the fishery. Although probably related to the over-exploitation of the resource by unregulated vessels, a trend was also discerned that vessels were targeting shallower areas as the season progressed, possibly influencing the size of fish caught.
Intensive fishing for D. eleginoides over the past year at the Prince Edward Islands, mostly by unregulated vessels, was probably largely responsible for the sharp decline in catch rates. There are, however, indications that catch rates have stabilized during the latter half of the season, although any sound management of the fishery in the future will depend on the curtailment of the unregulated exploitation of the resource,