Poster abstracts and manuscripts from the Third International ...

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surveys, in the context of CCAMLR, are aimed at monitoring the
incidence of marine debris and its impact on marine living
resources in the Convention Area. In particular, beach surveys
should yield information to determine how effectively measures
related to the prevention of pollution of Antarctic waters
adopted by CCAMLR, the Antarctic Treaty (Annex IV to the Protocol
on Environmental Protection), MARPOL 73/78 (Annex V) and London
(Dumping) Convention, 1972, have been implemented.
The first results of marine debris surveys in the Convention Area
and adjacent waters were reported to CCAMLR in 1988 although some
surveys were conducted by CCAMLR members as early as in 1984.
The length of sampling units have varied considerably between
surveys but recent surveys tend to use sampling units of about
500 to 1000 m. From 8 to 104 items were generally found per 1 km
of the sampling unit (all debris items combined). The debris
items have been typically classified according to what the items
are made from, their size and the manufacturer's intended use.
Major categories of beached marine debris found in the Antarctic
waters are wood and plastic. In general, an amount of beached
marine debris found in the Antarctic is small in comparison with
other parts of the World Ocean. However, some persistent plastic
objects, such as strapping bands and small plastic fragments,
represent a threat to marine mammals and birds.
A comparison of survey methodologies used by CCAMLR members has
indicated a lack of standardization in the timing, duration and
frequency of surveys, length and-width of the selected surveyed
units (beaches), classification of objects and presentation of
data. Although surveys are generally aimed at monitoring the
accumulation of marine debris by type and its change over time,
the sampling effort and the amount of data collected do not
justify the planning of assessment studies which require
statistically planned survey designs. Therefore, it was proposed
that current studies should be designed as baseline studies and
continued until a baseline required for planning of assessment
studies, is established. It was also proposed that the planning
of surveys should meet certain minimum data requirements in order
to collect statistically comparable data and to establish a
baseline for conducting future assessment studies.
The Standard Method for Surveys of Beached Marine Debris was
drafted- and adopted by CCAMLR in 1993. The Method establishes a
set of standard requirements for conducting surveys while
allowing members to do more intensive work if felt necessary. In
particular, more intensive work is required because the number of
sites being surveyed is few and wide spaced and some of the areas
with active fisheries have no survey for debris being undertaken.