Antarctica and the Southern Ocean comprise one of the fastest-warming regions on the planet, home to a massive, melting ice sheet that will push sea levels higher and the source of ocean currents that affect weather and biodiversity around the world. All are reasons the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), the international body charged with conserving Antarctica’s Southern Ocean, should look to build on recent momentum that its 27 member governments have gained for safeguarding the region’s marine environment during its annual meeting, which begins today in Hobart, Tasmania, and concludes on Friday, Oct. 25.
At a July symposium in Incheon, South Korea, CCAMLR members advanced efforts to develop a marine protected area (MPA) along the western Antarctic Peninsula in harmony with a new ecosystem-based management to the increasingly concentrated commercial krill fishery there. This is the first time in years that all CCAMLR members—which operate by consensus, meaning decisions must be unanimous—have shown a willingness to adopt new marine protections. Encouragingly, the deliberations in Incheon focused in part on the needs of krill predators, such as penguins, whales, and seals, and included efforts to incorporate the best available science to spread out the krill catch in both space and time.
Other promising developments followed the symposium. Later in July, Chilean President Gabriel Boric confirmed his commitment to fighting climate change, including through Antarctic and Southern Ocean protections. Chile is a cosponsor of the CCAMLR Antarctic Peninsula MPA proposal, and in the weeks since Boric made his comments, Pew has noticed strong efforts by Chile and Argentina to secure added protections at this month’s annual meeting.
Antarctica was still the focus in Chile in August, when the annual Open Science meeting of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), an independent body that advises CCAMLR, took place in the southern city of Pucón. Thousands of Antarctic scientists from around the world attended, presenting the latest science and data from the region. Pew marine fellow and renowned Antarctic photographer John Weller took advantage of the audience of Southern Ocean enthusiasts, including decision-makers from the host country and Antarctic Peninsula conservation champion Chile, and premiered his immersive exhibit, “Antarctica: Peace through Science,” with stunning, large-format images of wildlife and the dazzling-yet-vulnerable region, all helping tell the story of successful international collaboration.
Ahead of and during the SCAR meeting, members of the Southern Ocean campaign were able to meet with various members of the Chilean government, including representatives of the ministries of foreign affairs, environment, and science, as well as the national congress of Chile and the Chilean Antarctic Institute, to promote the MPA proposal in support of Boric’s commitment to take on a leadership role in boosting Southern Ocean conservation. It was evident during the meetings that the enthusiasm for finalizing the Antarctic Peninsula MPA was gaining momentum.
Lastly, enthusiasm for new Southern Ocean protections was high during Climate Week in New York, held annually in conjunction with the United Nations General Assembly. In a speech to the assembly, Boric reaffirmed his country’s commitment to protecting Antarctica’s icy waters, saying, “We are doing our part … protecting our seas and wilderness areas, taking care of Antarctica. Chile is an Antarctic country and will continue to be so.”
At the Time Magazine Climate Leadership Forum, also part of Climate Week, Jacinda Ardern, former prime minister of New Zealand and currently on the board of trustees of Prince William’s Earthshot Prize, told the audience, “We’re fighting for four additional marine protected areas [in the Southern Ocean], and if we are successful … we’ll see the largest singular set of marine protected areas that we’ve ever had in our history.” Those four areas—the one along the Antarctic Peninsula, one in east Antarctica, and two in the Weddell Sea—along with the existing Ross Sea Region MPA would cover 26% of the Southern Ocean and would be roughly equal to the European Union in size. Ardern remains highly influential in the international conservation policy community.
If CCAMLR cannot reach consensus over the next two weeks on the Antarctic Peninsula MPA and krill fishery management updates, it must extend the existing interim krill management measure for one year and also agree to intersessional discussions so that the MPA and new krill measure can be adopted in 2025.
But the best move would be adoption of the MPA and the ecosystem-based management measure for the krill fishery this October. Not only would these actions benefit ocean health and wildlife in and around Antarctica, they would help the global community meet its commitment to protect 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030.
At this year’s annual meeting, CCAMLR faces a clear choice: to do what’s best for humankind and our planet or to shirk responsibility and ask people worldwide to live with the consequences of inaction.
Nicole Bransome is a senior officer and Nicholas Kirkham is a senior associate with the Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Project.