Australia will continue to seek a way forward following the outcome of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) special meeting. Most nations supported the proposal to establish a system of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in East Antarctica, however it was not adopted.

Australia, France and the European Union had proposed a system of seven marine protected areas totalling 1.63 million square kilometres for special management and to ensure conservation values.

The proposal is the result of many years of work by Australia and other nations, and was considered by CCAMLR at its annual meeting in October last year. At that time consensus could not be reached, leading to a special meeting in Bremerhaven, Germany, to specifically consider the proposal, along with another for the Ross Sea Region by New Zealand and the United States.

Issues were raised regarding the legal mandate of CCAMLR to adopt MPAs. This issue blocked substantive discussion on the proposals. Australia and most CCAMLR nations are of the view that CCAMLR does have such a mandate.

Nonetheless, consensus was not able to be reached on either plan. For a decision to be carried, there must be agreement by all CCAMLR member nations.

The leader of the Australian delegation to CCAMLR and Director of the Australian Antarctic Division, Dr Tony Fleming, said that while today’s decision was disappointing for Australia and others, he believes progress has been made.

“We worked hard to collaborate, consult and develop the proposal with all CCAMLR nations, and we were hoping that all nations would come on board and support the proposal,” Dr Fleming said.

“Between now and the next CCAMLR meeting we will continue to work hard with all CCAMLR nations to progress the East Antarctic proposal, and address any outstanding concerns in order to reach agreement.

”Australia remains optimistic. We received many positive and constructive comments on the proposal that has been developed on the basis of the best available science,” Dr Fleming said.

The next CCAMLR Meeting will be held in Hobart, Australia, from 23 October to 1 November 2013.

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