As the 25th anniversary of the environmental protocol to the Antarctic Treaty approaches (October 4), I thought you might like an update about the upcoming international Antarctica talks in Hobart (CCAMLR) that could result in the creation of the first-ever, large scale marine protected area on the high seas.
October 4 – Anniversary of the most successful environmental agreement in modern history
Exactly 25 years ago on October 4, 1991, countries signed the Madrid Protocol to ban mining in Antarctica. Spearheaded by former Australian prime minister Bob Hawke, the agreement is widely regarded as one of the most successful examples of diplomacy in modern history and has ensured that Antarctica remains “a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science”.
CCAMLR: October 17 – October 28
Why protect the frozen land if not also the surrounding ocean upon which so many creatures rely e.g. Adélie penguins and orcas? For the past four years, 25 countries have been discussing that very issue, and recent events indicate 2016 could be the year they overcome their differences.
On October 17, the annual meeting of the the Commission for the Conservation of Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) begins in Hobart. CCAMLR works by consensus. That means all 24 member countries, and the EU, must support any proposal for a marine protected area before it is adopted.
Last year, Russia was the only country not to support proposed protection of the Ross Sea – a pristine stretch of the Southern Ocean that is home to Weddell seals, Adelie penguins and giant toothfish. But recent events indicate that Russia’s position may be shifting just in time for the next meeting.
Two weeks ago, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry revealed that top-level discussions with Russia are underway:
“I will tell you that I have had conversations about that with President Putin, with Minister Lavrov, and they told me that they were engaged in interagency assessment last week. I don’t know what the results of that assessment will be, but we obviously all remain hopeful that Russia will step up and join us in this endeavor.
“We are hopeful that that number (of marine protected areas – MPAs) is going to grow as the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources convenes next week to consider an MPA in the Ross Sea.”
What’s on the table?
For the last four years the members have deliberated over two MPA proposals: The Ross Sea (proposed by New Zealand and the United States) and East Antarctica (proposed by Australia and France). This year, a third proposal will be tabled by Germany in the Weddell Sea. The proposals are coming thick and fast, and as more and more countries protect their own waters in marine reserves, it is likely that Antarctica will be home to the first-ever internationally negotiated marine protected area on the high seas.
What happened last year?
The 34th meeting of CCAMLR ended as a cliffhanger with China agreeing to the Ross Sea MPA proposal at the last minute, but with Russia holding out.
What has happened since then?
Since last year’s negotiations, we have had the Paris Climate Conference which has set clear targets for the reduction of greenhouse gases and highlighted the need to mitigate the effects of climate change.
President Putin has declared 2017 the Year of Ecology, (and appointed his long-term confidante, Sergei Ivanov, Special Advisor on Ecology & the Environment). And earlier in September, Russia announced the expansion of its Arctic National Park in Franz Josef Land to protect 8.8 million hectares of ocean. Around the same time, IUCN delegates voted overwhelmingly in favour of a motion calling for designation of 30 percent of the ocean as MPAs by 2030. And then on September 16, U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, revealed that he has been having top-level discussions with Russia about the Ross Sea proposal. In short, momentum is building for the creation of of long-awaited marine protection for Antarctica.
Who is Antarctic Ocean Alliance?
The Antarctic Ocean Alliance is a coalition high profile individuals and environmental and conservation organisations including WWF, Greenpeace, Pew and Humane Society International, working to support the creation of a network of marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica.
Elsa Evers
