CCAMLR

A beach litter survey was carried out on Signy Island, South Orkney Islands during the 1994/95 austral summer. Similar surveys were carried out during the four previous summers. Debris was cleared from three study beaches, Foca Cove, Cummings Cove and Starfish Cove, in December 1994, and February, March and April 1995 and items were identified, counted, weighed and any clues regarding their origin noted. At Foca Cove, a total of 91 items were found with a combined weight of 18.26 kg. At Cummings Cove, a total of 90 items were found (22.79 kg) and at Starfish Cove, a total of 27 items were found (11.23 kg).
It is clear that almost all beached debris originates from accidental or deliberate dumping of rubbish from ships or discarded gear from fishing vessels, rather than from either of the scientific research stations in the South Orkney Islands. For example, only six of the 208 items recovered ( The beach litter surveys carried out in 1990/91, 1991/92 and 1992/93 showed a steady reduction in both the weight of debris and the total number of found on all three study beaches. This trend was reversed in 1993/94. The results from 1994/95 are again higher than those recorded in 1992/93. Of particular concern was that the total number of plastic items found remained high. However, the composition of plastic items has changed considerably since 1992/93, with a steady reduction in the percentage of packaging bands. Unfortunately, many of the bands found during 1994/95 had not been cut, as required by CCAMLR Conservation Measure (63/XII).
It had been hoped that the annual surveys would reveal a major and sustained decline in the incidence of marine litter found at Signy as ships complied with international regulations designed to protect the Southern Ocean (e.g. CCAMLR Recommendations, IMO Antarctic Special Area requirements! Annex IV of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty). This has, unfortunately, not yet been the case.

Beach debris surveys conducted at the South African Prince Edward Islands are reported for the years 1993/1994 and 1994/1995, the latter period following the CCAMLR standard method for surveys of beached debris within the Convention area. Most non-wooden artefacts were plastic. Fishing floats and other fishing gear formed a variable proportion of the items surveyed. Artefacts that could be identified as to origin were South American, Asian or locally derived from the meteorological station on Marion Island. It is recommended that the use of expanded plastic foams and plastic strapping as packaging material at Marion Island be discontinued. A comparison of annual accumulation rates will become possible after the 1995/96 survey is completed.

The fourth year of survey of beach debris at Main Bay, Bird Island reported a 20% decrease in overall debris levels (225 items in 1993/94 compared with 280 items reported in 1992/93). Debris accumulated throughout the summer accounted for only 16% of the total (a similar proportion to that in 1992/93). Of the winter debris, 60% occurred in September, following severe gales. Nylon line, comprising 77% of debris, was mainly identical to material used in the long-line fishery, as indicated by sections of long-line washed ashore. Packing bands formed only 4% of debris and were found from June onwards, coinciding with fishing activity in the South Georgia area. All polypropylene packing bands found had been cut.