A blueprint to collect overwinter information on cetacean distribution in a cost-effective and predictable manner - a pilot study in the Gerlache Strait, Antarctic peninsula

Baleen whales are likely to play a key role in a krill-centric ecosystem, however CCAMLR has no definitive strategy to monitor them. Addressing this monitoring gap is rapidly becoming a significant challenge, particularly along the western Antarctic peninsula (WAP) and Scotia Sea where there are two management initiatives under consideration in this area. However, the heavy financial and logistical strain placed on research vessels to service national infrastructure such as research stations means that alternative monitoring methods are likely to be needed.  We introduce passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) as a useful, relatively low-cost tool for monitoring distribution and habitat use of vocally active cetaceans throughout the year and in all weather conditions and demonstrate the feasibility of deploying these monitoring devices using tourist expedition vessels.  We also extend the at-sea visual data collection approach currently employed using these expedition ships onto fishing trawlers to provide species composition and abundance estimates until the fishery closed in the subarea 48.1. Our initial experiences of using collaborative relationships with tourist and fishing companies indicates that a cost-effective method for monitoring baleen whales can be implemented and recommend CCAMLR consider such approaches in future revisions of CEMP.