In the Southern Ocean fisheries are increasingly being exploited while the effects of fishing are becoming obscured more and more by climate factors that in themselves are changing marine populations and communities, thus confounding management. It is timely for CCAMLR to develop a network of MPAs, with initial inclusion of the well-researched Ross Sea, the area of the Southern Ocean having relatively little human interference so far. Under present climate change scenarios, it could be among the last stretches of the world’s oceans where sea ice remains an important part of the system. The Ross Sea, therefore, represents a refuge both for science, historical value, and a diverse, sea-ice associated biotic community inhabiting neritic waters.

ASOC submitted a paper to the June meeting of the International Whaling Commission in Santiago outlining the reasons why the IWC, in concert with CCAMLR and other appropriate international bodies, should develop a Management Plan for the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. This was made available as an Opening Statement in accordance with IWC rules. Following the IWC meeting, ASOC prepared an updated version of the paper, which is now in circulation to all of the governments participating in the IWC’s Small Working Group. ASOC is sharing this information paper with the CCAMLR community. In this context, ASOC notes that in August the IWC and CCAMLR Scientific Committees held a joint workshop to share scientific information and methodologies for modeling the Southern Ocean. ASOC hopes that this laid a good foundation for further collaborative work., and looks forward to the report of that workshop and future joint work.

Last year the Commission considered a proposal for a Conservation Measure concerning the adoption of a trade measure that will promote compliance with CCAMLR’s agreed upon rules to bring sustainable fishing. The proposal received the support of all but one State. ASOC would like to support the adoption of this Conservation Measure by the Commission at its XXVII Meeting, and clarify why the adoption of such a measure is a positive step for CCAMLR. ASOC reviews in this paper the relevant international legal framework, and concludes that a measure such as the one proposed does not challenge in any way the existing international legal regime, including neither the rules of the WTO nor the rules and principles of CCAMLR. On the contrary, there is full international support to taking trade measures to combat IUU fishing.