The establishment of the world’s largest MPA to date in the Ross Sea area of the Antarctic has been welcomed by both green organisations and fishing companies and organisations.
The Coalition of Legal Toothfish Operators (COLTO) has congratulated the member states of CCAMLR (The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources), their delegations and support teams, as well as the many Government and Civil Society groups who have worked unremittingly and assiduously to achieve the establishment of a Marine Protected Area in the Ross Sea.
‘The achievement of consensus was a difficult and complicated matter, and represents a milestone in the history of the Antarctic Treaty System, and more particularly, for CCAMLR. This victory for the cause of conservation owes much to the diplomats and scientists, informed by many other inputs, in illuminating the scientific issues, and developing mutually acceptable solutions based on rationality and good will,’ a COLTO spokesman said, adding that the membership of COLTO will continue to remain fully engaged in CCAMLR and the support of policies and practices reflecting the highest standards of environmental responsibility and sustainability.
The consensus on establishing the Ross Sea MPA was reached at the 35th Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) meeting, held at Hobart in Tasmania, and the question of the MPA was one of the major subjects for discussion, as well as the discussion centred around the renewal of conservation measure 51-07, which ensures that the krill fishery does not concentrate too much in one area.
According to Aker BioMarine, the MPA was one of the key outcomes of the meeting and the other was the renewal of conservation measure 51-07, supported by the krill fishing industry, which has already taken voluntary action towards further conservation.
‘The industry showed CCAMLR that we are serious about taking responsibility for the Antarctic ecosystem. It was great to see how the industry really came together by going beyond regulation and the expectations of CCAMLR, which led to historic progress in the conservation of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean. Taking care of the ecosystem in which we fish is the best way we can ensure the future of our fishery,’ said Webjørn Eikrem, president of Association of Responsible Krill Harvesters (ARK) and EVP Production and Supply Chain at Aker BioMarine.
