WG-EMM-03

Numbers of rockhopper penguins Eudyptes chrysocome breeding at Marion Island decreased from about 173 000 pairs in 1994/95 to about 67 000 pairs in 2001/02. During 1994/95-2002/03 pairs fledged on average 0.40 chicks per annum, an amount thought insufficient to balance mortality of breeding adults, and there was a decrease in the mass at arrival at breeding colonies of both males and females. Read More
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The subantarctic Prince Edward Islands (Marion and Prince Edward) support the largest breeding population of the Vulnerable wandering albatross Diomedea exulans. The numbers of birds breeding in the Marion Island population has fluctuated over the past three decades and appears to be the result of both real changes in the size of the population and changes in the proportion of the population Read More
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The oldest known wandering albatross Diomedea exulans at the Prince Edward Islands is estimated to have been approximately half a century old when last recaptured in 2001. Demographic studies need to continue for several more decades before the true maximum longevity of the species becomes evident.

In 1997/98, breeding at subantarctic Marion Island was exceptionally good for five species of seabirds capable of foraging over wide areas and for a tern. The number of king penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus chicks surviving to the start of spring in 1997 was considerably more than previously recorded. Greater numbers of wandering Diomedea exulans and grey-headed Thalassarche chrysostoma Read More
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South Africa’s subantarctic Prince Edward Islands support substantial proportions of the global populations of a number of surface-nesting seabirds. Populations of most of these have decreased at the islands since the 1980s and 12 of 16 species are regarded as Threatened or Near Threatened regionally or internationally. The main causes of population decreases are thought to be by-catch Read More
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There is indication that numbers of macaroni penguins Eudyptes chrysolophus at subantarctic Marion Island have decreased since the early 1980s. Estimates of the population at the island fell from about 405 000 pairs in 1983/84 and 434 000 pairs in 1994/95 to about 356 000 pairs in 2002/03. Two large colonies, at Bullard Beach and Kildalkey Bay, account for about 85% of the overall population. Read More
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The numbers of gentoo penguins Pygoscelis papua breeding at subantarctic Marion Island fell by 40%, from 1994/95 to 2002/03 from 1 352 pairs to 806 pairs. Apart from a slight increase in 1998/99, there was a steady decrease in numbers breeding between 1995/96 and 2000/01, when the population stabilized. There is indication that in some years not all breeders nested and that some birds Read More
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The number of Crozet shags or cormorants Phalacrocorax [atriceps] melanogenis breeding at subantarctic Marion Island decreased by 68% from 841 pairs in 1994/95 to 272 pairs in 2002/03. The mean number of pairs at colonies also decreased and was significantly related to the overall number of birds breeding in any given season. The decreases coincided with a period of warming and reduced Read More
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During the period 17–22 December 2001, the onshore distribution and the abundance of Antarctic fur seals Arctocephalus gazella and Subantarctic fur seals A. tropicalis were determined for Prince Edward Island (46°38´S, 37°57´E). Two breeding colonies of Antarctic fur seals were located on the south-east coast of the island; the first a mixed (with Subantarctic fur seals) breeding colony with Read More
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Haematozoan infections cause the death of penguins in captivity, but seldom in the wild. No haematozoa were found in 89 blood smears taken from macaroni penguins Eudyptes chrysolophus or 80 smears from eastern rock-hopper penguins E. chrysocome filholi at subantarctic Marion Island between October and November 2001. Discussion centres on the possibility of vector introduction and establishment Read More
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VNIRO has carried out monitoring of sea-surface temperatures (SSTs) in Subarea 48.3 (South Georgia). Current satellite surveys provide constant information for modern appreciation of changing the mean monthly SST and SST anomalies during recent years. Daily satellite data from GOES-E and real-time data from vessels and buoy stations are processed to develop initial weekly SST maps. For Read More
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Krill escapement in different parts of krill trawls and their differentiated catchability have been studied. It is shown that krill possesses behavioural peculiarities representing considerable importance for catching results. It is proved that the estimation of density and size structure of fished krill swarms should be performed on the based of differentiated catchability of krill trawls. A Read More
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The proposed terms of reference of the WG-EMM Advisory Subgroup on Protected areas are presented "in a manner that properly places the tasks in context" of CCAMLR decisions (SC-CAMLR- XXI, paragraph 5.15; SC-CAMLR-XXI, Annex 4, paragraph 5.15).

A history of development and completion of tasks put forward by WG-EMM is summarised for the period from 2001 to 2002 (SC-CAMLR-XXI, Annex 4, paragraph 6.41). This is the first set or records since the adoption by WG-EMM in 2001 of a new five-year plan of work. A history of tasks for the period from 1995 to 2001 is archived in WG-EMM-02/12.

The CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program uses indices derived from data on indicator species and the environment collected by standard methods within the three Integrated Study Regions of the Convention Area. Standardised index values are re-calculated each year as new data become available, and trends and anomalies in these data are presented.

The CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program (CEMP) was established in 1985 with the aim to detect and record significant changes in critical components of the Antarctic ecosystem, and to differentiate between changes due to commercial harvesting of resources and those arising from natural variability. This paper provides general, background information on CEMP including approximate straight line Read More
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A series of power (sensitivity) analyses of CEMP indices was made using the DOS-based software MONITOR (J. P. Gibbs, 1995). In all, 170 time series were investigated for their power to detect change over the range –10% to +10% of a mean survey value. Each run of MONITOR involved the calculation of power for 3 survey scenarios and 3 alpha levels (0.05, 0.10 and 0.20). The 3 surveys scenarios Read More
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As part of the preliminary analyses undertaken in preparation for the CEMP Review Workshop, the Secretariat has documented serial correlation in time series of CEMP indices. The values input to the serial correlation analysis were the ‘transformed’ annual index values reported in WG-EMM-03/24.
Serial correlation in biological indices occurred in 4, 10 and 33 % of the time series at alpha Read More
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A compilation of information and work pertaining to the krill fisheries in CCAMLR waters in presented, including:
• A report on catches for the last, complete season (2001/02) and an update on catches in the current season (2002/03);
• Further development of measures of overlap between the krill fishery and krill predators;
• An updated plan for the krill fishery in Area 48; Read More
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Given the importance and interdependence of diet studies to monitoring work, we compared data on the stomach contents and food load masses among three species of Pygoscelis penguins during chick rearing over the 20-year period from 1981 to 2000. All three penguin species were largely dependent on Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), which accounted for over 93% of each species’ diet by Read More
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Presented are the results of krill acoustic survey carried out by Russian RV Atlantida on the South Georgia shelf within the 500-m isobath. The survey was made during the period from February 14 to March 5, 2002. Average krill density in the survey area was estimated at 45.45 g/m2 and total biomass at 1,898,492 ton. The analysis of krill aggregation distribution was made for identification of Read More
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We made an attempt to estimate krill commercial biomass density within the fleet operation areas and compare it with critical density values for marine animals feeding on krill. The results of acoustic investigation obtained in the Soviet trawler operation areas in Subareas 48.1-48.4 were used. We also analyzed commercial statistics data, including haul by haul data from Soviet trawlers Read More
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Infectious diseases have the potential to cause rapid decline and extinction in vertebrate population and are likely to be spreading with increased globalisation and climate warming. In the Southern Ocean and in Antarctica no major outbreaks of infectious diseases have been reported, perhaps because of isolation and cold climate, although recent evidence suggest their presence. The major Read More
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The distribution and abundance of organisms are affected by behaviors, such as habitat selection, foraging, and reproduction. These behaviors are driven by interactions within and between species, environmental conditions, and the biology of the species involved. Although extensive theoretical work has explored predator–prey dynamics, these models have not considered the impact of behavioral Read More
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1. Changes in species’ abundance and distributions caused by human disturbances can have indirect effects on other species in a community. Although ecosystem approaches to management are becoming increasingly prevalent, they require a fuller understanding of how individual behaviour determines interactions within and between species.
2. Ecological interactions involving krill are of Read More
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The various CPUE indices used in Soviet krill fishery statistics and their main sources and primary data for their calculations were considered. The main CPUE indices were catch per fishing day (CFD), catch per extended fishing day (CEFD) and catch per hour (CH). The primary data for all the calculations were catch per haul and haul duration. There is rather high correlation between mean Read More
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With the intent of stimulating discussion, we present four options for subdividing the precautionary catch limit of krill for Area 48 into the small-scale management units (SSMU) adopted at CCAMLR-XXI. The first three are static allocations: the first is proportional to estimated predator demand in each SSMU; the second is proportional to the estimated standing stock of krill in each SSMU; and Read More
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Chinstrap penguins Pygoscelis antarctica are one of the major consumers of Antarctic krill Euphausia superba in the Southern Ocean. To examine their foraging strategy, we studied foraging trip patterns and diving behaviour of chinstrap penguins breeding at Signy Island, Antarctica, using time-depth recorders. Foraging trips of penguins could be divided into 2 groups, short diurnal (7.8 h) and Read More
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The study examined the distribution of critical habitat for foraging by female Antarctic fur seals breeding at the island of South Georgia. Bathymetric features of the continental shelf around the island of South Georgia were an important indicator for the localisation of foraging. This pattern was consistent among years of different prey availability. Lactating females were constrained to Read More
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Heart rate (fH), abdominal temperature (Tab) and diving depth were measured in thirteen free-ranging breeding female macaroni penguins. Measurement of these variables allowed estimation of the mass-specific rate of oxygen consumption (VO2) while diving and investigation of the physiological adjustments that might facilitate the diving behaviour observed in this species. In common with other Read More
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Mackerel icefish (Champsocephalus gunnari) has a widespread distribution in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean sectors of the low-Antarctic region. Biological characteristics differ considerably between populations in the southern Scotia Arc and those living further to the north. Fish living in the north mature one year earlier than in the south. They have a much shorter life span and die after Read More
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Krill length frequency distribution through subarea 48.3 in 1988 January-February is considered in the frame of hypothesis of krill resources forming from two sources: Antarctic Circumpolar Current and Weddell Scotia Sea water flow. It is shown, that small krill with the mode of about 33 mm is distributed in the coastal zone of about 7-40 miles wide, further is situated the boundary zone at Read More
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Exchange of 61 wandering albatrosses Diomedea exulans has been recorded between the French Crozet Islands and the South African Prince Edward Islands, 1 068 km apart in the Southern Ocean. Most movements of banded birds (57) have been westwards, from the Crozets to the Prince Edwards. In all, 18 fledglings banded at Possession Island, Crozets, have bred at Marion Island, Prince Edwards, but Read More
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Mackerel icefish have been harvested in the CCAMLR Region for over thirty years. In the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean they feed preferentially on krill and are themselves preyed upon by fur seals and several avian species. These attributes make them suitable for consideration within the CEMP. With that in mind the following indices are outlined that might be incorporated in the Read More
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The ability to use upper-trophic level species as ecosystem indicators is determined by the ability to relate changes in indices of their performance to changes at lower trophic levels. Using indices of predator performance from four species of krill-eating predator together with independent ship-based acoustic estimates of krill abundance from South Georgia the relationship between a range of Read More
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Parameters measured under the CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program (CEMP) for Adélie penguins at the Béchervaise Island CEMP site were compared between seasons of contrasting krill availability. Krill biomass estimates were derived from shipboard surveys carried out within the penguins’ normal foraging range during the 2001 and 2003 breeding seasons. More than three times as much krill was Read More
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This paper responds to a request (WG-EMM-02 paragraphs 3.46 to 3.47) for standard methods for determining demographic parameters. It is noted the methods (CEMP A4) as published in CEMP Standard Methods 2003 appear adequate. Revision may be required in the future following consideration of how aspects of predator demographics may be used for management in the CCAMLR context. The considerable Read More
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An assessment of the environmental processes influencing variability in the recruitment and density of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba DANA) is important as variability in krill stocks affects the Antarctic marine ecosystem as a whole. Naganobu et al. (1999) had assessed variability in krill recruitment and density in the Antarctic Peninsula area with an environmental factor; strength of Read More
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An important issue in regional-scale trend detection is the degree of concordance in trend between sites in relation to an average regional trend. If there is much or more variability between sites than within sites over time, inter-site variance can overwhelm the effects of other sources of variation in a system, resulting in low power in trend detection across that scale, despite precise Read More
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We examine the magnitude of a variety of sources of variability associated with CEMP parameters. The CEMP parameters considered in this paper include: A3: breeding population size, A1: arrival weights, A5: duration of foraging trips, and A7: fledgling weights. Sources of variability can generally be considered as either sampling variance or process related variance, although sometimes the two Read More
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There are unresolved issues surrounding the use of power analyses for examining the ability of CEMP data to detect change. The effect size that should prompt a response if observed in a parameter and the likely response of parameters such as arrival or fledgling weights are two of these issues. Understanding the source of the variability required to generate ‘noise’ for the power analysis Read More
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This overview reflects the main points of the feasibility of using the Antarctic Shag as a monitor of inshore demersal fish populations, including species of commercial importance. Likewise, the history of the development of this theme in relation to the EMM and FSA Working Groups of CCAMLR since the onset of the 1990s until the recent five year testing period of the Standard Method, is Read More
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WG-EMM is currently investigating the feasibility of undertaking broad-scale surveys of land-based predators in Antarctica. Such surveys are likely to rely heavily on recent technological developments, such as satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which may allow cost-effective survey in large and remote regions. We describe some specifications and assess the advantages and Read More
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Broad-scale survey of the abundance of colonial breeding penguins requires locating all, or the great majority, of colonies as the first of several survey stages. Given the remoteness of Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands, satellites offer obvious potential for such a task in this region. Past evaluations of the utility of satellites for the detection of penguin breeding sites are Read More
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We used the program MONITOR to conduct a set of power analyses for CEMP indices developed by the US AMLR Program. We consider CEMP indices A2, A3, A5, A6, A7, and A8 for penguins at Admiralty Bay, and indices C1 and C2 for fur seals at Cape Shirreff and Seal Island. Our power analyses describe the likelihood of rejecting null hypotheses stating that the slopes of linear models relating the Read More
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Although world oceans have been warming over the past 50 years, the impact on biotic components is poorly understood because of the difficulty of obtaining long-term data sets on marine organisms. The Southern Ocean plays a critical role on global climate and there is growing evidence of climate warming. We show that air temperatures measured by meteorological stations have steadily increased Read More
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Fifteen predator performance indices for Antarctic fur seals breeding at two sites in the South Shetland Islands are presented. Five indices were derived from CEMP standard methods C1 (female foraging trip duration) and C2b (pup growth rates). Measures of female foraging trip duration, pup growth rates, adult female survival and natality were made at Seal Island from 1986/87-1994/95. Studies Read More
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The CCAMLR Observer Manual details scientific observation guidelines and contains a set of logbook forms with instructions for recording observations. This document proposes some revised versions of the log forms (fish by-catch, krill biological data, conversion factors) and guides in the observer manual which may maximize the opportunity to collect data, and also streamline/prioritize the Read More
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The international workshop on understanding living krill for improved management and stock assessment (referred to Krill workshop here after) was held at Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium, Nagoya from 1-4 October 2002. 35 Participants from 5 nations (Japan, USA, Australia, Korea, Germany, and Mexico) attended the meeting.
Following the series of the presentations, an extensive discussion Read More
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The CEMP Standard Method book comprises a ”Protocol for collecting samples for toxicological analyses” (Part IV, Section 5: 1-3), dated August 1997. This procedure describes the methods to collect samples of organisms to be analyzed for ecotoxicology. The aim is to detect toxic persistent organic pollutants (POPs, such as organochlorine compounds), heavy metals and biomarkers in Antarctic Read More
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Stomach contents (n=43) of Ade lie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) nesting at Edmonson Point (Ross Sea) (74°20'56.7"S, 165°08'10.03"E) were analysed. Gas chromatography revealed concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), including coplanar congeners, at 1.01 ng/g wet wt, pp'DDE at 5.80 ng/g wet wt and and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) at 4.70 ng/g wet wt. Average input of these persistent Read More
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The 2002-03 breeding season in comparison with 2000-01 at Edmondson Point was characterised by unusual sea ice and weather condition. Strong southerly winds and snow were experienced at the colony during December coinciding with hatching and the guard stage. The sea ice in the Ross Sea was held in by the presence of the large icebergs. This resulted in extensive sea ice lasting into February Read More
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Data from single and multi-frequency active acoustic surveys conducted annually in the vicinity of the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica were re-analyzed using updated procedures for delineating volume backscattering due to Antarctic krill, adjusting for signal contamination due to noise, and compensating for diel vertical migration of krill outside of the acoustic observation window. Intra- Read More
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Age, growth rate and age composition of icefish catches in subareas 48.3, 48.2, 48.1 were studied for different periods. The analysis of age composition of icefish in subarea 48.3 showed that the catches consisted mainly of individuals of 2-4 age groups, where more than 60% were represented by fish of two contiguous age groups. It was shown that in the 1980s during a number of years the Read More
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A suite of CEMP and non-CEMP parameters collected at Admiralty Bay and Cape Shirreff, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica were analysed to assess the characteristics of the individual parameters, and their relationships to krill abundance and ice cover indices for the period 1978-2003. Results of the analyses are presented in a series of 6 Tables, following the outline of a Draft paper by K. Read More
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Mackerel icefish, Champsocephalus gunnari (Lönnberg), at South Georgia and Shag Rocks in the Southern Ocean have supported a fishery since the 1970s. This study has analysed the length-frequency distribution of C. gunnari from 10 bottom trawl surveys at South Georgia and 9 at Shag Rocks between 1987 and 2002. Most surveys were between December and February (summer), with one in September ( Read More
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During the 1990s and early 2000s, populations of surface-nesting seabirds at Marion Island showed different trends, but for the majority of species numbers decreased. Reduced numbers of gentoo penguins Pygoscelis papua, eastern rockhopper penguins Eudyptes chrysocome filholi, Crozet shags Phalacrocorax [atriceps] melanogenis and probably macaroni penguins E. chrysolophus are most plausibly Read More
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The first midsummer survey of surface-nesting seabirds at Prince Edward Island was conducted during December 2001. It was also the first census for most species since the early 1980s. Despite concerns about the impacts of longline fishing mortality on various albatrosses and giant petrels, there was no evidence that populations of these species had decreased. Indeed, the estimate of wandering Read More
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