BEACH DEBRIS SURVEY – MAIN BAY, BIRD ISLAND, SOUTH GEORGIA 2006/2007

During the seventeenth year of standardised beach surveys of man-made debris at Bird Island, South Georgia (covering the period 1 October 2006 to 30 September 2007) a total of 365 items were collected. This represents a reduction by 33% on the 544 items recorded in 2005/06 and a decrease in mass of 1.72 kg (32%). The distribution of debris between the summer and winter was similar to the five previous years: 73% during summer (265 items) and 27% during winter (100 items). After three consecutive years in which no fisheries related debris was observed, one nylon fishing line and one snood were found on the survey beach during the summer, plus another snood in winter (August). Both snoods were clearly identified as being the end of a multifilament line where a hook would have been attached. Five multifilament fishing lines (from longliners) were found on the beach, all during the winter fishing season. Six plastic packaging bands were recovered, suggesting that measures introduced by CCAMLR to control their use onboard fishing vessels have yet to prove entirely effective. Fifty-six pieces of trawl web were recovered, mainly during the summer period. Miscellaneous debris such as plastic sheeting, Styrofoam packaging and other plastic items comprised the greatest proportion of items removed from the study beach (96% of the total).