CCAMLR

A beach litter survey was carried out on Signy Island, South Orkney Islands during the 1993/94 austral summer. Similar surveys were carried out during the 1990/91, 1991/92 and 1992/93 summers. Debris was cleared from three study beaches, Foca Cove, Cummings Cove and Starfish Cove, in December 1993, January and February 1994 and items recovered were identified, counted, weighed and any clues regarding their origin noted. At Foca Cove, a total of 118 items were recovered with a combined weight of 18.35 kg. At Cummings Cove, a total of 170 items were recovered (6.21 kg) and at Starfish Cove, a total of 6 items were found (0.30 kg) .
It is clear that almost all debris found originates from accidental or deliberate dumping of rubbish from ships or discarded gear from fishing vessels, rather than from any scientific research stations in the South Orkney Islands.
The beach litter surveys carried out in 1990/91, 1991/92 and 1992/93 showed a drop in both the weight of debris and the total number of items recovered on all three study beaches. However, results from the 1993/94 survey show that this trend has been reversed. For example, at Foca Cove, the total weight of debris recovered rose to 18.35 kg in 1993/94 compared to 4.45 kg in 1992/93, and the number of items recovered increased to 118 items compared to 23. However, both the total weight and numbers of items recovered from this beach are still less than the amounts recorded in 1990/91.
The reasons for the increase in the incidence of beach debris at Signy Island are unknown. There has been no increase in the number of research or tourist vessels visiting Signy Island, no reported expansion in krill fishing around the South Orkney Islands and the sea area is still closed to fin-fishing.

In this paper the Australian experience with using transponders in fisheries management is described. The implications of this experience for CCAMLR are outlined and issues that have occurred in the development of vessel monitoring systems are described. These issues include selection of an appropriate transponder system, security of data, use of the information and equipment installation and maintenance. The major conclusion of the paper is that transponders have the potential to enhance the overall compliance with fisheries conservation measures and to improve the ability to gather fisheries management data.

The third year of survey of beach debris at Main Bay, Bird Island reported only a small (14%) reduction in overall debris levels, comprising a 12% increase and 25% decrease in summer and winter accumulation, respectively. Nylon suing formed 79% of debris; most fragments were identical to those used in the local longline fishery as indicated by sections of longline washed ashore. Packaging bands were not found until August, coinciding with the arrival of krill fishing vessels off northwest South Georgia; however all bands found had been cut.