Australia has expressed its disappointment that the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) has failed to adopt marine protected areas in East Antarctica at its annual meeting. It has highlighted however that important progress has been made on MPAs in the Southern Ocean at the meeting that finished in Hobart today.

Australia, France and the European Union put forward a proposal for the establishment of a representative system of seven MPAs in East Antarctica, totalling 1.6 million square kilometres.

There was substantial support for the proposal expressed by Member nations of the Commission. However, there were some outstanding issues that prevented the Commission from adopting the MPAs.

“We are closer than ever to coming to agreement on the East Antarctica MPA,” said Dr Tony Fleming, Australia’s Commissioner to CCAMLR.

Dr Fleming said that Australia, France and the European Union, remain undeterred and will continue to work on the proposal for adoption at next year’s meeting.

“All CCAMLR Members have made a commitment to establishing MPAs, recognising that MPAs are an important mechanism for ensuring the health and sustainability of the Southern Ocean.

“We understand that this is a significant undertaking for CCAMLR, and that it is important that all Members enter into negotiations in good faith to see the best possible outcome for the Antarctic environment. We look forward to working with all CCAMLR Members to see progress on the East Antarctic proposal next year.”

It is the third time in two years the MPA proposal has been brought to CCAMLR but it is not unusual for a proposal of this significance to take some time to adopt. CCAMLR works by consensus meaning that all Member nations must agree before the MPAs can be established.

The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) was established in 1982 under the Convention of the same name. The sole objective of the Convention is the conservation of Antarctic marine living resources where the definition of conservation includes rational use. The 24 Member Nations and the European Union make up the 25 Members of CCAMLR.

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