Status and conservation of Antarctic seals and seabirds: a review
Present threats to Antarctic seabirds and seals when ashore include disturbance and habitat destruction and serious predation by introduced rats and cats at sub-Antarctic islands. In the marine environment threats are posed by pesticides (widespread but at low levels), pollution (mainly a potential problem associated with oil exploration), incidental takes and competition with commercial fisheries, which is reviewed in detail. Even in areas where harvesting of fish may be exceeding sustainable yield, predator-prey interaction data are inadequate to assess the level, or significance, of the effect on predators. Present krill harvests are small but likely to increase, especially in favored areas; species of potential vulnerability are noted. Existing legislation offers excellent protection for wildlife, but formally protected areas by no means cover the major breeding concentrations of seabirds and especially seals in all sectors and zones. There is a need for a comprehensive review, which in some areas will require extensive survey work. Programs for the control and elimination of alien predators need proper planning and major support. Marine reserves may be of limited benefit to pelagic seals and seabirds, and further research in some key areas is needed. Realistic environmental impact assessments will require more detailed information on predator distribution and movements than is available now; appropriate surveys and research need starting. Sensitive management of marine fisheries is difficult with the present level of quantitative data on predator-prey interactions. Difficulties in monitoring aspects of predator biology as indices of the state of prey stocks are reviewed.
- Research Organization:
- Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge, England
- OSTI ID:
- 6552053
- Journal Information:
- Environ. Int.; (United States), Vol. 13:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BIRDS
PREDATOR-PREY INTERACTIONS
PESTICIDES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
PETROLEUM
PINNIPEDS
ANTARCTIC REGIONS
FISHERIES
HABITAT
INFORMATION NEEDS
REVIEWS
WATER POLLUTION
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MAMMALS
POLAR REGIONS
POLLUTION
VERTEBRATES
020900* - Petroleum- Environmental Aspects
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
510100 - Environment
Terrestrial- Basic Studies- (-1989)