SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION OF FLOATING MARINE MACRO DEBRIS IN THE INDO-PACIFIC REGION OF THE ANTARCTIC

  • Isoda Tatsuya
    Institute of Cetacean Research
  • Matsuoka Koji
    Institute of Cetacean Research
  • Tamura Tsutomu
    Institute of Cetacean Research
  • Pastene Luis A.
    Institute of Cetacean Research Project Microbiomes as Bioindicators of the Aquatic Ecosystem Health in Chilean Patagonia, Centro de Estudios del Cuaternario de Fuego-Patagonia y Antártica (CEQUA)

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<p>Marine debris can affect marine species including whales through ingestion and entanglements. Surveys of marine debris in the Antarctic waters are very limited. This study investigated the floating marine macro debris occurring in the Indo-Pacific sector of the Antarctic (35°E–145°W), south of 60°S, based on Japanese sighting surveys conducted between the austral summer seasons 1991/92 and 2018/19. In order to examine the spatial differences in distribution and density, the marine macro debris data were divided into IWC management Areas IIIE, IV, V and VIW as well as into CCAMLR Convention Areas. Furthermore, to investigate temporal differences, the data were divided into two periods: 1991/92–2004/05 and 2005/06–2018/19. A total of 175 objects were found, consisting mainly of metal and polymer products. Buoys/floats constituted the most frequent sightings, representing 67% of all marine macro debris found. The density indices (number of marine macro debris observed by 100 n.miles) increased from the first to the second period in all Areas. The increase in the number of marine macro debris between the first and second periods was statistically significant in Areas IV and V. The larger number of marine macro debris in the second period (represented predominantly by buoys/floats) coincides with an increase in fishing activities in the surveyed area. However, the overall number of floating marine macro debris in the Indo-Pacific sector of the Antarctic is low and much lower than that reported for the North Pacific and North Atlantic, and this result is consistent with the low incidence of marine macro debris found in the stomach of Antarctic minke whales reported for the same sector. Continued monitoring of floating marine macro debris is recommended given the increasing trend in the number of fisheries and tourist activities in the Antarctic.</p>

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  • 鯨類資源研究

    鯨類資源研究 3 (0), 198-211, 2021-12-28

    鯨類資源研究刊行会

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