Marine Debris Monitoring Program

CCAMLR established the Marine Debris Monitoring Program in 1986, with the aim of monitoring the potential impacts of fishing debris on the marine environment The program compiles, archives, and reports on data collected by CCAMLR Members from beach surveys, seabird colony surveys, observations of marine mammal entanglements, hydrocarbon soiling events as well as any opportunistic sightings. In addition, CCAMLR holds data on gear lost by fishing vessels, and marine debris recorded by CCAMLR Scheme of International Scientific Observation (SISO) observers in logbooks and cruise reports. 

Members annually submit data using a standardised set of forms and monitor 15 sites, predominantly in the Antarctic Peninsula and on Sub-Antarctic islands.