Tract of Ross Sea wins protection as CCAMLR members agree to Southern Ocean’s first Marine Protected Area

THE Southern Ocean will get its first Marine Protected Area in a landmark agreement by 35 CCAMLR member governments.

The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources headquarters in Hobart.

THE Southern Ocean will get its first Marine Protected Area – a 1.55 million km2 tract of the Ross Sea – following a landmark agreement by 35 Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources member governments.

“CCAMLR made history today by declaring the world’s largest marine protected area in the Ross Sea, protecting penguins, seals, whales and countless other creatures,” said Andrea Kavanagh from The Pew Charitable Trust, who was an observer at the CCAMLR meeting, which ends in Hobart today.

“This decision shows that CCAMLR takes its role as protector of Antarctic waters seriously.”

Antarctic Ocean Alliance project director Mike Walker said the deal was an important milestone for ocean conservation, but urged countries to go further.

Many member nations, including Australia, along with environmental observer groups, had been pushing for the reserve to continue in perpetuity, but the final agreement included a 35-year sunset clause.

“The limited 35-year restriction for protection of the Ross Sea contradicts the scientific advice that marine protection should be long-term,” Mr Walker said.

“Nevertheless, we are confident that the significant benefits of protecting the Southern Ocean will soon be clear and the international community will act to safeguard this special place long into the future.”

Two additional proposals for marine protected areas in East Antarctic waters and the Weddell Sea are still being discussed. The Antarctic Ocean Alliance is advocating to ensure these proposals are based on the best available science.

“Although there was not a decision on the proposed protection of the Weddell Sea and the East Antarctic this year, we are confident that these areas will be protected in the coming years, adding to the system of marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean,” Mr Walker said.

Today’s decision follows years of hard work by governments and the member groups of the Antarctic Ocean Alliance.

The Alliance has proposed areas covering about 40 per cent of the Southern Ocean for lasting protection.

Activist group Greenpeace sees the Ross Sea decision as a victory for the last intact marine ecosystems in the world, home to penguins, Weddell seals, Antarctic toothfish and a unique type of killer whale.

“This is a victory for the whales, toothfish, and penguins that live in the Ross Sea, as well as for the millions of people who supported this effort,” said John Hocevar, a marine biologist with Greenpeace.

“We urge the international community to take notice and designate additional, permanent protections in other areas of the Antarctic Ocean and around the world.”

Ms Kavanagh said the decision to protect the Ross Sea would not have been possible without Russia joining with other countries to achieve the historic decision.

“The governments of the United States and New Zealand should also be commended for their tireless work these past six years,” she said.

Originally published as Tract of Ross Sea wins protection as CCAMLR members agree to Southern Ocean’s first Marine Protected Area