Beach debris surveys - Prince Edward Islands, 1993 to 1995

Beach debris surveys conducted at the South African Prince Edward Islands are reported for the years 1993/1994 and 1994/1995, the latter period following the CCAMLR standard method for surveys of beached debris within the Convention area. Most non-wooden artefacts were plastic. Fishing floats and other fishing gear formed a variable proportion of the items surveyed. Artefacts that could be identified as to origin were South American, Asian or locally derived from the meteorological station on Marion Island. It is recommended that the use of expanded plastic foams and plastic strapping as packaging material at Marion Island be discontinued. A comparison of annual accumulation rates will become possible after the 1995/96 survey is completed.