This paper summarises the incidence of entanglements and incidental mortality of birds and seals reported by CCAMLR Members for the CCAMLR Convention Area and adjacent waters from 1985 onwards. A bibliography on entanglement, incidental mortality and effects of marine debris on seabirds and marine mammals is attached. The bibliography includes references taken from papers submitted to CCAMLR.
Abstract:
In recent years, a new longline fishery for the fish Dissostichus eleginoides has developped in the vicinity of South Georgia and Kerguelen islands, two internationally important breeding areas for procellariiform birds. Attractiveness of this fishery for seabirds, together with the incidental capture of birds and a method to reduce mortality were investigated during 13 days of fishing activity in Kerguelen waters in February 1994. Between 100 and 600 seabirds were always observed behind the longline vessel. The main ship-following species were the white-chinned petrel (67% of the counts), the giant petrels (8%) and three species of albatrosses, the wandering (11%), black-browed (6%) and grey-headed (2%) albatrosses. All these species are attracted by sinking hooked baits during line settings, more attempts to feed on baits being made by skilled divers such as the white-chinned petrel (87% of the total number of tries), the black-browed (7%) and the grey-headed (6%) albatrosses, than by species never observed submerged such as the wandering albatross (
