International Survey of Antarctic Seabirds

In the early 1980s the ongoing International Survey of Antarctic Seabirds (ISAS) was initiated, with the aim to document the distribution, abundance and where possible, long-term trends in Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic seabird breeding populations. The data presently forms the basis for SCAR’s advice to the Scientific Committee of CCAMLR on the status and trends of Antarctic and Subantarctic seabirds, and to the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM). In the 1981-82 season information on the species composition and biomass of marine birds observed between New Zealand and the pack ice was conducted from the flying bridge of a ship and included birds seen inside a 180°C arc from the vessel. Observations were recorded on 10 min Australasian Seabird Mapping Scheme cards run consecutively for up to 4 hours, however, most observations were of 20 to 30 minute duration. Visits were made to the Adelie penguin colonies from Cape Adare to Beaufort Island in the Ross Sea and photographed for ISAS in additions to photographs taken by scientists work and visiting other colonies in the region. In the 1982-1983 season, pelagic observations were made while travelling between New Zealand and Cape Hallett with similar methods.