2025 update on the status and trends of CEMP indicator species in U.S. AMLR Program studies

The U.S. Antarctic Marine Living Resources Program (AMLR) conducts annual field studies to assess the status and trends of CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program (CEMP) penguin and seal indicator taxa in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Here, we provide an annual update to the time series of observations from several populations that have been monitored since the late 1970s. Notable results from 2024/25 include the 4th highest krill recruitment event observed in predator diets and continued, rapid growth in gentoo chick production. We also report on the first census since 1980/81 of a large colony of chinstrap penguins at False Round Point, King George Island, and the first survey of South Shetland Antarctic fur seal pup production throughout the South Shetland Islands since 2008. This report updates results first presented in WG-EMM-2024/18rev1.