Worldwide, invasive alien species are contributing to a global biodiversity crisis. In the marine environment, invasive alien species are recognized as the fifth largest threat to global marine biodiversity. To date Antarctica has escaped the most significant impacts from invasive alien species, but the continent and Southern Ocean can no longer be considered immune. More than 200 non-native species have been discovered on the sub-Antarctic islands and several non-native species have been found south of 60° South, including, for example, male and female specimens of the North Atlantic Spider crab Hyas araneus.
It is no longer possible to regard Antarctica’s isolation and harsh climate as a natural barrier to introduced species. Increased visitation through national programmes, tourism and fishing activity, as well as a changing, more benign climate (particularly on the Antarctic Peninsula) mean that the risks of new species being introduced and becoming established are increasing.
To assess these risks and begin to consider actions to address them, New Zealand hosted a workshop on non-native species and Antarctica, in April 2006. The outcomes to the workshop were presented in a series of papers to the ninth meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP).
CCAMLR’s Article II requires its Parties to take account of the effects of introduction of alien species. CEP IX suggested therefore that the workshop outcomes be presented also to CCAMLR’s Scientific Committee.
SC-CAMLR is invited to consider the findings of the “Non-native Species in the Antarctic” Workshop, and consider actions that may need to be taken to minimize the risk of introducing invasive species as a result of activities within CCAMLR’s purview.
In light of the requirements of Article II of the Convention, the Scientific Committee is invited to consider:
• What data collected under the auspices of CCAMLR may assist the CEP’s consideration of this matter?
• What aspects of commercial fishing activity may prove to be high risk in respect of transporting non-native species into Antarctic waters?
Abstract:
We inquired several social aspects of two Brazilian crews working in pelagic longline fisheries. Settings were made in southeast Brazilian waters between May and August 2004. Daily working schedules, habits, as well as leisure habits while onboard were observed and registered. A query was made in order to investigate the social and professional character of each crew member. Overall, our results show a low level of studies among these professionals. We suggest the implementation of a new concept of fisheries and biology observer. The Educational Observer, that could be used as informal teacher using as working tool long distance education, as well as informal education focusing environment issues, allowing improvement of educational level and awareness towards the surrounding environment among crews while on board.
We believe seabird mortality rate due to incidental capture by fishing vessels can be greatly reduced if level of awareness is increased through environmental education for it increases the chances of having mitigation measures applied instinctively onboard in areas where no legislation/obligation on the usage of these measures is in force.
There is no abstract available for this document.
Abstract:
The nature of the composition (structure) and distribution Antarctic marine living resources to determine by position of the South Ocean and originaly it's geographic isolation unity enormous water basin. This unity and circumpolar waters space lead to formation not only to Circumpolar Carrent sistem (ACC), but to circumpolar distribution of the whales, seals, seabirds, fishes, squids, species of macro- and mesoplancton, algaes and protosoa, in other words all the components of ecosistem and food chains. At the same time naturel boundary, in the form of the Antarctic Convergence (AC) in different Sectors of Antarctica is located in different latitudes, and the structure of ACC modify greatly under the influence submarine topography. As a result of these general geological and oceanographic features of the Antarctic sphere, how we all very good know, we can identified a diversity of Insular, Coastal and Open sea areas, with proper scheme of the currents, composition of bioresources species and good isolation ecosistem. In my book (Shust,2001), take into account the general geological and oceanographic features of the Antarctic area are responsible for the formation of variously sized biotope/ecosystems in which one can, based on the composition of fish fauna (especially of the most highly abundant species), I identify eight ichthyogeo-graphic zones (IZs). From mine point of view, this experience could be use today for Bioregionalisation of the South Ocean.
Abstract:
Lors de la CCAMLR XXIV, la France s’était engagée à réaliser une campagne d’évaluation de la biomasse du plateau de Kerguelen. Le présent document rend compte de l’évolution de cette campagne d’évaluation de la ressource halieutique en cours.
Dans la zone de Crozet (58.6) la campagne de marquage a débuté en septembre 2005. Le document soumis ci-dessous rend compte de l’évolution positive de la campagne de marquage.
There is no abstract available for this document.
Abstract:
The results of the eighth annual survey of entanglement of Antarctic fur seals at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands are reported for the 2005/2006 summer season. There was 1 sighting of a seal wearing a neck collar of man-made debris. Data are compared with results from a parallel study undertaken at Bird Island, South Georgia in 2005/06. In the case of Bird Island, data indicated that the number of entangled fur seals had decreased by 75% compared to the previous year, this being the lowest number recorded at Bird island between the austral summers of 1988/89 and 2003/04. Although such a decrease is encouraging, the number of seals with neck collars at Bird Island, highlights the need for CCAMLR members to continue their campaign to ensure that vessels are aware of and comply with regulations prohibiting the disposal of man-made debris at sea.
Abstract:
During the 2005/06 austral summer the sixteenth annual beach debris survey was carried out at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands. Debris was cleared each month between December and March from the three study beaches. The debris was counted, measured and classified by type, material, mass and size categories. A total of 27 items weighing 24.36kg were collected. The number of items found was lower than the total found during the previous season, though the total mass of the waste recovered had increased (a decrease of 28.94% and increase of 55.04% since 2004/05 respectively). There was a fall in the number of plastic packaging bands (9) from the total recorded the previous season (12), this decrease representing a contrast to the rise in packaging bands experienced over the previous four seasons with the exception of 2003/2004 and marking a return to what has otherwise proved a declining trend since 1993/94. These findings highlight the fact that they continue to appear as beach debris and indicate that the ban on their use aboard fishing vessels brought into force by CCAMLR in 1995/96 has yet to prove entirely effective and should continue. Plastic waste was predominant, as in previous seasons, making up 55.42% of all items recorded, followed by metal at 28.74%. The results of this season's litter survey clearly show that the longevity of plastics and other materials with a high resistance to degradation in the marine environment remains a problem. The need for continued monitoring to ensure that vessels are aware of, and comply with, regulations prohibiting the disposal of debris at sea is paramount.
Abstract:
Results of the survey of entanglements of Antarctic fur seals at Bird Island, South Georgia for the sixteenth consecutive winter (2005) and eighteenth consecutive summer (2005/06) are reported here. Two entanglements were observed in the winter, a decrease of 60% from the previous year, and the lowest number seen since records began in 1990. One of these involved a male pup entangled in fishing net and was classified as being very severe. The other observed entanglement during winter occurred to an adult female entangled in a plastic packing band causing slight constriction to the individual involved. In contrast there was double the number of observed entanglements during summer of 2005/06 compared to the previous summer. Of these 14% caused severe injury to the seal involved. Half of these entanglements involved juveniles. Of the entanglements where the animal could be sexed, females made up the majority during the summer, in contrast to previous years. The majority (63%) of summer entanglements were caused by plastic packing bands, this is a 67% increase from the previous year’s observations. Fishing nets were responsible for entanglements in both winter (50%) and summer (14%). The presence of plastic packing bands and fishing nets during both seasons highlights the need for continued monitoring and increased effort in ensuring correct disposal of debris with the potential to entangle wildlife at sea.
Abstract:
During the fifteenth year of standardised beach surveys of man-made debris at Bird Island, South Georgia, a total of 251 items were collected. This represents an encouraging reduction of 43% on the 361 items recorded in 2003/04 that corresponded to the highest levels of summer beach debris since the 1999/00 season. The distribution of debris between summer and winter was more biased than the previous recording period with only 23% of the total number of debris items being collected in the winter compared to 36% last season. The total weight of debris collected has remained relatively stable with 4.1135kg collected this year, whilst 5.3957 kg was gathered in 2003/04. For the second consecutive year, nylon line has been absent from the shores of Bird Island, having once been at a peak of 546 pieces in 1995/96. Over the same 15-year period packing bands are still regularly recovered from the beaches and these findings reaffirm that the ban on their use aboard fishing vessels brought into force by CCAMLR in 1995/96 has yet to prove entirely effective and should continue.. The proportion of miscellaneous debris is commensurate with 2003/04 (98.5%) but when actual quantities of debris are considered since 1990 when the survey began, the amount of miscellaneous debris is much higher though not at the peak levels of 2003/04. This indicates that debris is still being lost by vessels into the marine environment and marine vessels working in this region should therefore continue to make efforts to comply with not only the correct waste disposal procedures for fishing-related waste, but also domestic waste.