The CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program (CEMP) uses indices derived from data on indicator species collected by standard methods in the three Integrated Study Regions of the Convention Area. Each year the Secretariat updates the standardised index values and provides a summary of trends and anomalies in these data. This report covers biological indices only. Six Members submitted data for 11 sites and 12 CEMP parameters in 2008/09. This continues a decreasing trend in the amounts of data being submitted to the CCAMLR database. No data was received from CEMP sites in Area 88. Since 1989/90, a total of 110 anomalous values (anomalies, see Appendix 1) have been observed in the times series of biological indices. Over that time period, 8 or more anomalies per season were observed in six seasons including 2008/09 when the following anomalies were observed:
- Low number of chicks fledged per egg laid (A6a) for Gentoo penguins at Bird Island;
- Low fledging weight (A7) for Macaroni and Gentoo penguins at Bird Island;
- Low pup growth rate deviate (C2b) for Antarctic fur seals (male and female) at Bird Island;
- Low number of chicks fledged per egg laid (A6a) for Adelie penguins at Signy Island;
- Low stomach contents weight (A8a) for Chinstrap penguins at Signy Island;
- High number of breeding pairs (A3) for Gentoo penguins at Admiralty Bay;
- High number of breeding pairs (A3) for Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins at Cape Shirreff;
- High number of breeding pairs (A3) for Adelie penguins at Esperanza Station;
- High number of breeding pairs (A3) for Macaroni penguins at Marion Island; and
- High number of breeding pairs (A3) for Adelie penguins at Stranger Point Station.