Expedition Report: Jason Islands 1. Logistics 1.1 Vessel: Golden Fleece , Capt. Dion Poncet 1.2 Expedition dates: 23 Oct 2008 – 4 Nov 2008 1.3 Expedition participants: Karen Neely
[email protected] Paul Brickle
[email protected] Wetjens Dimmlich
[email protected] Judith Brown jbrown@smsg -falklands.org Vlad Laptikhovsky
[email protected] Dion Poncet
[email protected] Steve Cartwright
[email protected] Sarah Crofts
[email protected] Vernon Steen
[email protected] Claire Goodwin
[email protected] Jen Jones
[email protected] 2. Scientific rationale and objectives The inshore marine systems and resources of the Falkland Islands make up one of the nation’s most diverse, unique, and valuable assets. From its historical reputation as a safe harbour to its present dependence on fishing and wildlife-based revenues, this archipelago is defined by the sea and its resources. Though perhaps best known ecologically for its bird life, the islands hold numerous organisms and environments that are all closely linked. Of the ten bird species of global conservation concern that breed within the Falklands, eight are seabirds and two are closely associated with offshore islands that contain seabird colonies. These species rely on the marine productivity of the waters around the Falkland Islands and in turn cycle nutrients among the soils, plants, and invertebrates of coastal areas. Knowledge and management of the marine environments are thus important for the knowledge and management of all Falklands ecosystems. Surprisingly, very little of the Islands’ immense coastline has been the subject of scientifically sound investigation, and identification of shallow marine species and habitat types is still in its infancy.