Vast Antarctic marine reserves in focus at Australia talks

Campaigners Monday urged global leaders to put aside differences and create two vast Antarctic marine sanctuaries to protect one of the world’s last untouched wildernesses and a unique array of species including whales and giant squid. The fate of the plans to shield critical areas of ocean around the frozen continent is in the hands of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), which opened its annual meeting in Hobart. CCAMLR is a 25-member body tasked with overseeing conservation and sustainable exploitation of the Antarctic Ocean, also known as the Southern Ocean. Another key area of discussion includes the effective and sustainable management of fishing krill, a cornerstone of the Antarctic eco-system and the staple diet of many animals, including seals, whales, fish, squid, penguins and other seabirds.

Antarctica is one of the world’s last untouched wildernesses and is critical for scientific research, both for studying how intact marine ecosystems function and for monitoring the impacts of climate change.

Maritza Schaefer, Greenpeace International

Maritza Schaefer, Greenpeace International’s global campaign leader for oceans, said: “Fully protected marine reserves are the single most powerful tool that CCAMLR has for fulfilling its mandate and protecting the astounding array of Antarctica’s marine life and enabling the Southern Ocean ecosystem to best withstand the impacts of climate change and ocean acidification." Australia, France and the European Union first put forward a bid for a 1.9 million square kilometre (760,000sq m) Marine Protected Area encompassing seven stretches of the pristine continent in 2011. But it was again knocked back last year with Russia and China citing geo-political issues and concerns about its size.

Science Antarctic