Entanglement of pinnipeds at Marion Island

Abstract

During the period April 1991–March 1996, 10 entangled Antarctic fur seals Arctocephalus gazella, 28 entangled Subantarctic fur seals A. tropicalis and one entangled southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina were observed at Marion Island, Southern Ocean. Entanglement of fur seals was estimated at between 0.01 and 0.15% of the combined population of both species.

Keywords: entanglement, marine debris, Marion Island, pinnipeds

African Journal of Marine Science 2002, 24: 383–386