Marine debris, entanglements and hydrocarbon soiling at Bird Island and King Edward Point, South Georgia, Signy Island, South Orkneys and Goudier Island, Antarctic Peninsula, 2010/11

Data were collected at Bird Island and King Edward Point, South Georgia and at Signy Island, South Orkneys for the period April 2010 to March 2011. Surveys were also undertaken at Goudier Island, Antarctic Peninsula, but there were no incidences of beached marine debris, entanglements or hydrocarbon soiling at this location during the reporting period. Surveys of beached marine debris at Bird Island recorded a total of 179 and 111 items during winter 2010 (April to September) and summer 2010/2011 (October 2010 to March 2011) respectively. Surveys at Signy Island recorded a total of 46 items during summer 2010/11 (January to March 2011). Plastic was the most commonly observed item during the two seasons at Bird Island, and the majority of items collected at Signy Island were wood/lumber. Entanglements of 27 Antarctic fur seals were observed at Bird Island, 12 at King Edward Point and four at Signy Island. In total, 177 items of marine debris were found in association with seabird colonies at Bird Island, with the highest overall number (80 items) associated with grey-headed albatrosses, and the highest incidence of fishery-related debris (39 items) associated with wandering albatrosses. No incidences of hydrocarbon soiling were observed at any of the three sites. Overall, levels of marine debris at Bird Island and Signy Island during 2010/11 were below the long-term mean for beached debris in summer but above the mean at Bird Island during winter. Marine mammal entanglements were below the long-term mean in summer and winter at Bird Island but slightly above the mean at Signy Island. At King Edward Point the number of entanglements was significantly higher than the single incidence reported in 2009/10. Debris associated with seabird colonies was below the mean level in wandering albatross and giant petrels, but above the mean in grey-headed and black-browed albatross.