AOA: Ross Sea, East Antarctica Must Be Declared Marine Protected Areas

As representatives of the 25 Members of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) meet in Hobart, where they will decide the fate of two key protection proposals in the Ross Sea and East Antarctica, the Antarctic Ocean Alliance (AOA) called on the member countries to honour their conservation commitments and finally agree to lasting and significant Southern Ocean protection.

A joint U.S.-New Zealand proposal to designate a Ross Sea marine protected area (MPA) of 1.32 million km2 (with 1.25 million km2 area proposed as “no take”) is under consideration. The Ross Sea, is often referred to as “The Last Ocean” due to its status as one of the most pristine oceans remaining on Earth.

Australia, France and the EU are once again proposing an MPA to protect 1.2 million km2 of East Antarctic waters. Their proposal would allow for exploratory and research activities within the MPA if they are consistent with the maintenance of the MPA’s objectives.

Both MPA proposals have undergone a number of iterations, and several compromises have been made.

“During the past three CCAMLR meetings, we have hoped for action on marine protection in Antarctica’s waters, protection that CCAMLR promised to put in place by 2012. Instead we have seen three years of inaction,” said Mark Epstein, Executive Director of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition. “While this meeting provides another opportunity for global leaders to live up to their overdue commitments, the time is now for action on marine protection. “

The Southern Ocean is home to more than 10,000 unique species including most of the world’s penguins, whales, seabirds, colossal squid and the commercially targeted Antarctic toothfish.

The Commission, the consensus-based body made up of 24 countries and the European Union, will have another opportunity to create two large-scale Southern Ocean MPAs when they once again convene in Hobart, Tasmania, in October 2014. The proposals up for discussion would establish reserves in the waters of the Ross Sea and East Antarctica and if agreed upon, would create some of the world’s largest MPAs.