Weddell Seals and Antarctic Toothfish: POSTPONED

Postponed. Date TBD.

Science, politics and philosophy in the Ross Sea region.

Dr Matt Pinkerton, principal scientist at NIWA, gives an overview of the research, management, and politics of the Ross Sea region with a focus on the fishery of Antarctic toothfish and potential consequences for Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii).

Weddell seals are one of the few known predators of Antarctic toothfish, but understanding and managing the risk to these seals from fishing and climate change remains challenging.

This talk introduces the Ross Sea Marine Protected Area (MPA) – the world’s largest MPA. Taking effect in December 2017, some 1.55 million square kilometres of ocean gained protection from commercial fishing for 35 years. As part of New Zealand’s commitment to monitoring this MPA, teams of international researchers led by New Zealand carried out tagging and foraging studies on Weddell seals near Scott Base in the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons.

Matt Pinkerton has worked on the ecology of the Ross Sea since 2004. He is a member of the Antarctic working group (MPI), MFAT’s Ross Sea stakeholder group, and has represented New Zealand at meetings of CCAMLR and at Southern Ocean bioregionalisation workshops. He has led two government-funded projects on the ecology of the Ross Sea, co-led the Antarctic top predator initiative, authored the Ross Sea MPA research plan and was co-author of the MPA threat analysis. He currently leads the MBIE Ross Sea Monitoring and Research Programme.

Image courtesy of David Morrison from Box of Light.

Unfortunately due to uncertainty of COVID restrictions, this event has been delayed until further notice. We have will update this event listing when we have a confirmed date.
(September 30 has been used to keep this event live but is NOT the confirmed date)
Kia kaha