Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English Template:Infobox organization The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, also known as the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, and CCAMLR, is part of the Antarctic Treaty System.

The convention was opened for signature on 1 August 1980 and entered into force on 7 April 1982 by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, headquartered in Tasmania, Australia. The goal is to preserve marine life and environmental integrity in and near Antarctica.

It was established in large part to concerns that an increase in krill catches in the Southern Ocean could have a serious impact on populations of other marine life which are dependent upon krill for food.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref>

In 1989, CCAMLR set up the Ecosystem Monitoring Program (CEMP) to further monitor the effects of fishing and harvesting of species in the area.

On 19 October 2022, Ecuador became a New Member of the Commission, the 26th member state of the CCAMLR.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Member states

Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources Map

Acceding and Member State<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Acceding States only<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:ARG	Template:BGR
Template:AUS	Template:CAN
Template:BEL	Template:COK
Template:BRA	Template:FIN
Template:CHL	Template:GRC
Template:CHN	Template:MUS
Template:ECU	Template:PAK
Template:EU	Template:PAN
Template:FRA	Template:PER
Template:GER	Template:VUT
Template:IND
Template:ITA
Template:JPN
Template:KOR
Template:NAM
Template:NLD
Template:NZL
Template:NOR
Template:POL
Template:RUS
Template:ZAF
Template:ESP
Template:SWE
Template:UKR
Template:GBR
Template:USA
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Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

In 2009, the Commission agreed by consensus to creating a representative network of MPAs by 2012. It was the first international body to do this based on recommendations from the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development. In 2011, it identified nine planning domains within which to designate these protected areas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Marine Protected Area	Size	Status	Proposed	Proposed by	Designated
South Orkneys	94,000 km2	Designated		United Kingdom	2009<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref>
Ross Sea	1,550,000 km2<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Designated	2012<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>	New Zealand, United States	2016<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
East Antarctica	950,000 km2	Proposal	2010<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref>	Australia, France, European Union<ref name=":1" />	N/A
Weddell Sea	1,800,000 km2	Proposal	2016<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Germany, European Union	N/A
Antarctic Peninsula	450,000 km2	Proposal	2018	Argentina, Chile	N/A

South Orkneys MPA

In 2009, the Commission agreed by consensus to establish the world's first high-seas MPA to protect ocean surrounding the South Orkney Islands in the south Atlantic Ocean.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

It was proposed by the United Kingdom and covers 94,000 km2. It came into force in May 2010.<ref name=":2" />

Ross Sea MPA

In 2010, a proposal for an MPA in the Ross Sea were put forward by both the US and New Zealand. These were later combined as a joint proposal.<ref name=":0" />

In July 2013, the Commission held a special meeting in Bremerhaven to consider proposals for MPAs in both the Ross Sea and East Antarctica. Consensus was not reached after Russia voted against the proposals, citing uncertainty about whether the commission had the authority to establish a protected area.<ref>New Scientist, No. 2926, 20 July, "Fight to preserve last pristine ecosystem fails"</ref><ref name=":0" />

On 28 October 2016, after several years of scientific and diplomatic discussions, the Commission agreed by consensus to designate the Ross Sea marine protected area at its annual meeting in Hobart. The protected area covers 1.55 million square kilometres of ocean, of which 72% is a no-take zone. The remaining 28% include some harvesting of fish and krill for the purpose of scientific research.<ref name=":0" />

The Ross Sea MPA will be in force for 35 years. At the end of its review period in 2052, CCAMLR Members must agree by consensus to renew or modify it as needed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":0" />

East Antarctic MPA

In 2010, Australia, France and the European Union submitted a proposal for an MPA in East Antarctica. It originally included seven representative areas with varying degrees of protection and covered 1.8 million square kilometres of ocean. By 2017, these were scaled back to three areas covering just under 1 million square kilometres. This was due to the political concerns and economic interests expressed by some Member states. The proposal was also amended to include an expiration of 30 years after designation and the ability to review its monitoring and management every ten years. It has been under consideration by the Commission since 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":1"/><ref>Template:Citation</ref>

External links

• Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
• CCAMLR Convention text