Abstract

Fishing magnifies the sensitivity of ecosystems to the effects of climate change. In the Southern Ocean, CCAMLR has the capacity to reduce this sensitivity by appropriately adapting fishing strategies. ASOC advocates that the role of CCAMLR in the climate change context continues to lie in: 1) coordinating with the Committed on Environmental Protection (CEP) in addressing climate change, including monitoring efforts, data collection and area protection; 2) extending the use of Marine Protected Area (MPAs) networks; 3) extending the application of the Precautionary Approach to include the uncertainties raised by climate change; 4) strengthening the CCAMLR Ecosystem and Monitoring Program (CEMP); and 5) providing leadership in reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases during the course of fishing activities.

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.