CCAMLR

Six records of entanglements of six species of birds from 1986 to 1994 at sub-Antarctic Marion Island are briefly reported. This low level seems typical for Southern Ocean seabirds.

Forty-two sightings of 28 individual pinnipeds with neck collars were observed from April 1991 to June 1995 at Marion Island, Southern Ocean. One of the individuals was an elephant seal, Mirounga leonina, six were Antarctic fur seals, Arctocephalus gazella, and 21 Subantarctic fur seals, A. tropicalis. Fifty percent of neck collars on fur seals were removed. The incidence of entanglement of fur seals lies between 0,014 and 0,16 % of the population.

Incidental captures of seabirds were observed during 1994/1995 fishing campaign around Kerguelen islands (division 58.5.1). The most significant mortality has been noted during longlining operations for Dissostichus eleginoides (0.28 birds / line in November - December). Trawlers caused high mortality only for Champsocephalus gunnari fisheries’ operations, mainly in February (chick's rearing period).The species mainly affected is the White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis, because of its diving faculty. Ways of reducing mortalty are discussed for each fishery.

This report describes and quantifies the occurrence of marine debris and fishing gear associated with seabirds in the same way as in 1993/1994. In 1994/1995 there was a decrease in both the number of plastic debris items and fishing hooks and lines found. Although this result is encouraging, the decrease is due at least in part to, first, fewer birds examined than last year as a consequence of the very low breeding numbers of mollymawks at Bird Island in 1994/1995 and, second, because the 1994/1995 commercial fishery around South Georgia did not start until March 1995, the end of the data recording year at Bird Island.