The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) is urging governments at a key meeting this week to bolster political will and make urgently needed progress towards protecting the Antarctic Peninsula and strengthening management of the krill fishery, which threatens this keystone species relied on by iconic predators, from emperor penguins to blue whales.
The Antarctic Peninsula is one of our planet’s most rapidly warming places. It is also a globally important biodiversity hotspot being targeted by industrial fishing.
Representatives of the Member States of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) are meeting in South Korea from July 16-20 for a ‘Harmonization Symposium’ to discuss how to move forward with a proposed marine protected area (MPA) in the Antarctic Peninsula in combination with updated ecosystem-based krill fishery management. The symposium provides an opportunity to break out of the stalemate that has hampered CCAMLR from honoring its 2009 commitment to establish a representative system of large MPAs in the Southern Ocean. Just two MPAs have been created since then, with no further protection agreed since the Ross Sea MPA designation in 2016.
“The Harmonization Symposium should be a turning point for Southern Ocean protection. With this fragile and hugely important region under threat, we can’t afford to miss this chance for real progress. Leaders need to end the political deadlock that’s been crippling CCAMLR for too many years. Opportunities for serious discussions like this don’t come around very often: countries need to make the most of it!”, said Claire Christian, ASOC’s Executive Director.
ASOC is urging CCAMLR Members to seize the opportunity to set a clear pathway towards designating the Antarctic Peninsula MPA, while taking steps to limit the environmental impact of the krill fishery. Protecting 260,000 square miles of pristine marine habitats in the Peninsula –and putting the rest under responsible management – will allow Antarctica’s species to adapt and build resilience to climate-driven environmental changes.
Marine scientists overwhelmingly agree that combining effective MPAs and ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) is essential for protecting the ocean’s biodiversity and building resilience to climate change. This is particularly critical in the case of krill fishing in the Antarctic Peninsula as the little shrimp-like creature is at the center of the region’s complex food web.
“A marine protected area in the Antarctic Peninsula, coupled with a plan for new ecosystem-based krill catch limits, would help protect the thousands of creatures – from penguins to the mighty blue whale – that depend on a healthy food web. And the benefits of MPAs extend far beyond lines drawn on a map. A network of MPAs throughout the Southern Ocean would build ecosystem resilience to climate change and could even help replenish fish stocks outside of the protected area, making them a win-win for conservationists and commercial fishing alike,” said Andrea Kavanagh, director of Antarctic and Southern Ocean conservation work for the Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Project.
As the region warms, sea-ice coverage changes affect the marine ecosystem and reduce Antarctic krill habitat in some areas. Krill are also being extracted from the ocean by large factory fishing vessels and ending up in food supplements or farmed fish meal. Research shows that localized depletion of krill, combined with climate change, is causing declines in some penguin species.
“Antarctic krill are superheroes of the Southern Ocean. They are the center of life above the ocean floor, feeding vast populations of seals, whales, penguins and other seabirds. And that’s not all. Krill are climate heroes too! They are vital for their role in drawing down and storing CO2. They help to transport carbon to the ocean floor when they excrete waste and shed their exoskeletons, drawing down roughly the equivalent of UK domestic carbon emissions year on year.” said Rhona Kent, Polar Oceans Specialist at WWF.
Designating large-scale MPAs in the Southern Ocean is also essential for meeting the global commitment to protect at least 30% of the ocean by 2030 (the 30×30 target) to solve the biodiversity crisis. “We need a bold 30×30 vision for the Southern Ocean. By agreeing to the four Antarctic MPAs currently being proposed to the two existing MPAs, CCAMLR can protect 2.5% of the global ocean – and make a major contribution to achieving this global goal. Global leaders can accelerate this 30×30 vision, starting this week with the Antarctic Peninsula MPA,” said Pilar Marcos, Campaigner at Greenpeace.
