Review of activities in monitoring marine debris in the CAMLR Convention Area

In 2011 data on beach surveys, debris associated with seabird colonies, marine mammal entanglements and hydrocarbon soilings were received from South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay.  Non-fishing items such as packaging and wood remain the most common type of debris items found in beach surveys.  The fishing items found were mostly from longline origin. Plastic packaging bands continue to be found in beach surveys with closed bands found at Bird Island (1) and King George Island (3), despite Conservation Measure 26-01 requiring packaging bands to be cut up into 30 cm pieces.

The amount of debris in colonies of grey-headed albatrosses and black-browed albatrosses at Bird Island has increased recently, and the major category of items found was plastics.  The amount of fishing related items (fishing lines and hooks) found in wandering albatross colonies remains the foremost debris item found in each season.

The number of marine mammal entanglements increased in 2011 with packaging bands and fishing gear the main entangling materials.

There was only one new hydrocarbon soiling reported from King Edward Point in 2010.  

The reported hook loss from the longline catch and effort data shows that while it is a small percentage of the total hook set, it is a considerable amount of gear that is lost in the water.