Antarctica and the surrounding Southern Ocean are experiencing unprecedented temperature anomalies, with more frequent marine heatwaves and a step change in sea ice loss, according to a new report from the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC). . This information comes as governments responsible for safeguarding Antarctic marine life prepare to convene their 43rd annual meeting in Hobart, Australia, from 14 to 25 October.
The report, titled Protecting a Changing Southern Ocean, identifies a number of disproportionate threats to Antarctica and calls on the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) to take urgent action to increase the resilience of the Southern Ocean by creating of four proposed marine protected areas (MPAs): the Domain 1 MPA (Antarctic Peninsula MPA), the Weddell Sea Phase 1 MPA, the Weddell Sea Phase 2 MPA and the Antarctic MPA Eastern.
CCAMLR agreed to establish a representative system of MPAs in the Southern Ocean in 2009. Since then, only two have been created and their development has stalled in recent years, with no MPAs having been designated since 2016. However, recent have made some progress on the Domain 1 MPA proposal during a recent CCAMLR Harmonization Symposium held in July this year. The symposium brought together scientists, policymakers, industry and conservationists to align krill fishery management with the proposed Domain 1 MPA, a region that – as the report highlights – is experiencing disproportionate impacts from climate change, tourism and fishing.
ASOC calls on CCAMLR to make progress on this matter during the annual meeting in the next two weeks. In recent years, fishing for krill – a small creature that is the lynchpin of the Antarctic ecosystem and stores at least 20 million tons of carbon in the deep ocean annually – has become increasingly concentrated on the Peninsula. This is causing localized depletion and has negative effects on predators such as penguins.
‘The harmonization symposium demonstrated that it is possible to advance discussions on MPAs and fisheries management, issues that CCAMLR has struggled to resolve. “All that is needed now is for that spirit of cooperation to continue at the next CCAMLR meeting so that we can designate the Domain 1 MPA and improve precautionary management of the krill fishery,” said Claire Christian, Executive Director of the Coalition. Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.
Tourism, krill fishing and high temperatures
“The Antarctic Peninsula faces increasing threats due to increased tourism, concentrated krill fishing and record-breaking temperatures year after year. With these warning signs flashing in the Southern Ocean, it is more crucial than ever for CCAMLR to play its role as guardian of Antarctic marine life. This year, CCAMLR must take decisive action by establishing a network of MPAs to build resilience in this climate-vulnerable region, starting with the Antarctic Peninsula MPA, and by improving krill fishery management to protect better the region’s iconic fauna,” said Andrea Kavanagh, director of Antarctica and Southern Ocean conservation for the Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Project.
«Climate change has overtaken decision-making in Antarctica. The science is clear: establishing an MPA on the Antarctic Peninsula would protect critical feeding areas for wildlife, such as whales, penguins and seals, and ensure that the critical services that krill provide to the planet – including carbon sequestration – remain intact,” added Emily Grilly, Director of Ocean Conservation at WWF-Australia.
As the report also concludes, this network of MPAs would protect 26% of the Southern Ocean and almost 3% of the global ocean. Twenty-six of CCAMLR’s 27 members are signatories to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which commits nations to protecting 30% of the global ocean by 2030 (30×30) through the creation of MPAs. Achieving this goal requires the rapid expansion of MPAs in the high seas, including the Southern Ocean, which constitutes approximately 10% of the global ocean. International progress towards the 30×30 goal will be assessed during the 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16), which will be held in Colombia from 21 October to 1 November, while CCAMLR’s annual meeting takes place. .
“As leaders race to find a way to make conservation commitments at CBD COP16 a reality, it is time for CCAMLR member governments to catch up with the pace of change in Antarctica and the commitments global efforts to protect the ocean. “CCAMLR is uniquely positioned to spearhead protection in international waters and lead the world in taking important steps to protect the global ocean by creating a network of ocean sanctuaries,” said Jehki Härkönen, Ocean Policy Advisor at CCAMLR. Greenpeace International.
‘Decisions made at this CCAMLR meeting could define the future of the Southern Ocean and our planet. The world is watching whether the members of the Commission will fulfill their mission to protect the Southern Ocean and take the bold measures necessary to protect this fragile and climate-vulnerable region,” said Sascha Müller-Kraenner, CEO of Deutsche Umwelthilfe.
#Antarctica #approaching #tipping #point #climate #change
