Review of CCAMLR activities on monitoring marine debris
in the Convention Area

The current status of national surveys on monitoring of marine debris and their impact on marine mammals and seabirds in the Convention Area has been reviewed. The CCAMLR Marine Debris Database contains data from 11 sites, all within Area 48. Uruguay submitted data on beached marine debris at King George Island for the fourth consecutive year. There are now 4 sites that have data for more than 3 consecutive years, these are: Cape Shirreff, (Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands); Bird Island, (South Georgia); Signy Island, (South Orkney Islands), and King George Island, (South Shetland Islands).
Marine debris, principally packaging items, fishing gear, and wood items, reached a peak in the period 1994-1996 at Bird Island and Signy Island, but have declined thereafter. The level of marine debris found in grey-headed albatross and wandering albatross colonies at Bird Island in 2004 has substantially declined from previous seasons. Fishing gear such as lines and hooks continue to form the major part of the debris associated with seabird colonies. Marine mammal (Antarctic fur seal) entanglements were reported for the first time from Cape Shirreff. The number of Antarctic Fur seal entanglements at Bird Island reached a peak in 1993 and has showed a general decline since, with the lowest levels on record being reported for the 2003 and 2004 seasons. Packaging bands, synthetic string and longline fragments continue to be the main entangling materials. For the first time an Adélie penguin was reported entangled at King George Island during the 2002 season, with nylon wrapped around its wing. The number of seabirds contaminated with hydrocarbons remains low.