CCAMLR

It is shown that the WS MPA boundaries should be revised in compliance with sea-ice conditions for vessel navigation being a fundamental factor for the successful completion of assigned research tasks in designated areas.   Spatial planning in the Weddell Sea should make provisions that ice-free areas are areas for planning MPAs and fishing activities.

Gentoo (Pygoscelis papua) penguin colony population behavior/dynamics have been studied during 2018-19 season. The detailed observation of bird arrival, nesting, hatch and crèche has been provided in two colonies at GAI CEMP site at Galindez Island nearby the Vernadsky station. We inform on the results of visual survey of penguin population and penguin count. During the 2018/19 season biologist winterer at Vernadsky station at Galindez Island, provided continuous observations every day/each five days of gentoo GBV and GPP sites. The results of visual observations of penguin population changes are discussed. The two seasons of the data validation experiment have been provided for pictures from time-lapse cameras of the CEMP camera monitoring project of CCAMLR at Galindez Island gentoo (Pygoscelis Papua) penguin colonies are discussed. During 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons, biologists-winterers at Vernadsky station (Galindez Island), GAI CEMP site, provided daily observations of 15 gentoo nests chosen in the three monitoring sites GBW, GPP1, and GPP2, simultaneously with automatic time-lapse cameras picturing. The results of visual observations have been compared with data from camera pictures, which registered the same nests. The comparison of the events of lay, hatch, and crèche dates was undertaken. The preliminary results exhibit the reasonable correspondence within 0-3 days between visual observations and time-lapse camera data for both seasons. The standard deviation for each event varies from ±1 to ±3 days for 15 control nests at the three test sites. However the time delay in 1 to 3 days (7 days maximum) between the registered dates by camera and visual observations was recorded. This delay should be taken into account when the event dates from camera data analyzed without correspondent visual observations.

The scientific background in support of the Weddell Sea Marine Protected Area (WSMPA) has been discussed in the SC-CAMLR for 3 years. Some agreements has been reached in the SC-CAMLR, while substantial issues remain outstanding. China has actively engaged in those discussions and have provided serious and constructive suggestions on the issue.

This report summarizes activities of Oceanites since CCAMLR-XXXVII and SC-CAMLR-XXXVII, including: 

• Results from the latest, 25th consecutive field season of the Antarctic Site Inventory 

• Update on the Mapping Application for Penguin Populations and Projected Dynamics (MAPPPD); and its use within the Antarctic Treaty system and in CCAMLR

• Working Group on Ecosystem Monitoring and Management (WG-EMM) 
• Buffer zone analyses

• Re-analysis of gentoo penguin populations in the Antarctic Peninsula 

• State Of Antarctic Penguins 2019 Report and penguin population changes 

• Update on Oceanites’ climate analyses

• Recent, Notable Scientific Papers Relating to the Antarctic Site Inventory and MAPPPD.

In compliance with the commitments undertaken within the framework of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), the State of Chile conducts Fishing Inspection Operations in the area of the Convention. Every year, the Second Commanders of Navy vessels participating in the Antarctic Campaign are trained as inspectors for this Agreement. In this context, the Chilean Navy vessel, OPV - 83 “MARINERO FUENTEALBA”, during the 2018/19 season, carried out 2 inspections to fishing vessels to the South of the 60^th parallel with the aim to verify the effective compliance of the Conservation Measures established within this international Agreement.

Marine debris data were collected at Bird Island and King Edward Point, South Georgia, at Signy Island, South Orkneys and at Goudier Island, Antarctic Peninsula for the period April 2018 to March 2019. Surveys of beached marine debris at Bird Island recorded a total of 141 items during austral winter (April to September 2018) and 404 items during summer (October 2018 to March 2019). Twelve items of beached debris were recorded at Signy Island (operational during summer only; 14 November 2018 to 4 March 2019). Fifteen items of beached marine debris were recovered from Goudier Island (operational 10 November 2018 to 8 March 2019). Entanglements of three Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) were observed at Bird Island and two at King Edward Point with no marine mammal entanglements recorded at Signy Island or Goudier Island. In total, 81 items of marine debris were found in association with seabird colonies at Bird Island, most commonly in association with wandering albatrosses (35 items; 43 %). One incidence of an entangled wandering albatross (Diomedia exulans) was reported; a bird with fishing line around its leg - this was removed successfully. There were no observed incidences of hydrocarbon soiling at any site during the reporting period. Overall, the occurrence of beached marine debris was above the long-term mean at Bird Island during summer, around the mean level at Goudier Island and below the mean at Signy Island and Bird Island during winter. The incidence of marine mammal entanglements was below the long-term mean at all sites surveyed. Debris associated with seabird colonies was above the mean level for black-browed Thalassarche melanophrys) and grey-headed albatrosses (T. chrysostoma), but below the mean for wandering albatrosses and giant petrels (Macronectes. halli, M. giganteus).

At SAM 2019, there were again reports on damage and/or loss of longline gear, most likely due to impact by sea ice. Especially when operating in areas with difficult sea ice conditions and quickly varying sea ice cover, there is an increased risk that any parts of longline gear floating on the surface might get caught up and ensnarled by drifting sea ice flows or sea ice pressure ridges. This paper informs FSA about the very successful experience gained by the Alfred Wegener Institute in using pop-up buoy recovery systems for short-term deployment of scientific instruments on the sea floor and invites FSA to: (1) to (re-)discuss the issue of damage or loss of longline gear due to sea ice, including the potential environmental impact this causes; (2) to consider recommending to SC-CAMLR that longline fishing vessels, especially when fishing in areas with high or rapidly changing sea ice cover, should use systems such as acoustic pop-up buoy recovery systems; (3) to determine whether there is adequate information available on this issue and/or whether there is a need to collect further, specific / targeted data.