Marine debris and fishing gear associated with seabirds at sub-Antarctic Marion island, 1996/97 and 1997/98: in relation to longline fishing activity

摘要

Marine debris found in association with seabirds at sub-Antarctic Marion Island for the period May 1996 to April 1998 is reported. Standardised searches and incidental finds show a large increase between the 1996/97 and the 1997/98 field seasons. Fishing gear increased at a rate 10 times higher than 'other' (non-fishing) marine debris over this period. Sixty 'rope nooses' apparently used for suspending Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) in blast freezers and 23 toothfish hooks were found. Prior to this study only three hooks (all from the southern bluefin tuna longline industry) had been found in association with seabird nests at Marion Island. Fishery-related marine debris was found most frequently in association with wandering albatross nests, while 'other' (non-fishing) marine debris was found most frequently in association with grey-headed albatrosses and southern giant petrels. Three seabirds (a southern giant petrel, a northern giant petrel, and a sub-Antarctic skua) were found entangled in fishing gear, while five seabird carcasses (three wandering albatross chicks, one white-chinned petrel chick and a southern giant petrel adult) were found to contain ingested fishing gear.