Entanglement of Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) in man-made debris at Bird Island, South Georgia, during the 2004 winter and 2004/05 breeding season

The number of entanglements in the fifteenth consecutive winter surveyed, decreased by 64% from last year. For the first time since records started in 1990, none of the injuries were classified as severe. The seventeenth consecutive summer (2004/05) of reporting also saw a decrease of 64% compared to last year; the lowest number of entanglements recorded since 1989. As in previous years, most individuals observed entangled in debris were juveniles (80% of winter and 50% of summer observations). Of the entanglements where the animal could be sexed, males made up the majority of both seasons. After the high numbers in the previous winterit was encouraging to see no observations of entanglements in plastic packaging bands. Fishing nets were observed to have caused entanglements in both the winterand the summer, this is after an absence of 3 years from the winter records and 2 years from the summer. These findings highlights the need for continued monitoring and increased effort in ensuring correct disposal of debris with the potential to entangle wildlife at sea.