CCAMLR

As the first large-scale MPA in an area beyond national jurisdiction, the Ross Sea region MPA sets a precedent for design, adoption and implementation of other MPAs on the high seas and in the Southern Ocean. This ASOC Background paper includes an article in press in Marine Policy: “The Ross Sea, Antarctica: A highly protected MPA in international waters,” which presents a detailed explanation of the governance of the Ross Sea region MPA, including the active and ongoing management, research and monitoring. The paper further described how and why the majority of the MPA qualifies under the new MPA Guide as a highly protected MPA. As CCAMLR moves towards establishing a network of Southern Ocean MPAs, the Ross Sea region MPA can provide valuable guidance. Currently, three additional Southern Ocean MPAs remain under negotiation – in East Antarctica, the Weddell Sea, and around the Antarctic Peninsula. The prohibitions and restrictions coordinated through CCAMLR’s Conservation Measures, and the active management, research, monitoring and enforcement of the Ross Sea region MPA illustrate that CCAMLR and its Member States can and will actively manage and enforce MPAs. The paper concludes that the Ross Sea region MPA is currently, and for the foreseeable future, highly protected from potentially destructive human activities, and is thus exemplary of a large-scale highly protected MPA.

Cooperation between the Scientific Committee of CCAMLR (SC-CAMLR) and the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) has been steadily increasing to the mutual benefit of both. In order to avoid duplicate reporting between the two committees and following discussions between the Chairs of the CEP and SC-CAMLR, the report of the CEP meeting is presented to SC-CAMLR by the CEP Observer to SC-CAMLR and the report of the meeting of SC-CAMLR is presented to the CEP by the SC-CAMLR observer to the CEP. An agreed standard reporting template, to be routinely followed by both committees, has also clarified and simplified the reciprocal reporting. Accordingly, this report provides the CEP’s annual report to SC-CAMLR-40. Due to the pandemic, both the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) and the CEP meeting were cancelled in 2020. The 2021 ATCM/CEP meetings were held virtually, with less time available for discussion than during in-person meetings.

At CCAMLR-39 (2020), the Commission agreed to establish an e-group to allow for information exchange between Members to facilitate a thorough investigation regarding the issue of allegations against the Russian-flagged fishing vessel (FV) Palmer (CCAMLR-39, paragraph 6.11). No such group was established. New Zealand understands that the Russian Federation’s investigations are ongoing.

This paper summarises, for the Commission’s reference, the information that has been tabled to date in support of those investigations including regarding activities in January 2020 that led to New Zealand’s recommendation to include FV Palmer on the CP-IUU Vessel List (COMM CIRCs 20/47, 20/76, 20/130, 20/135 and 20/149 and in CCAMLR-39/11 Rev. 1), and further investigation of the 2017 pre-season fishing activities.