A report by the Antarctic Ocean Alliance (AOA) has called for over 40% of the Antarctica region to be protected from commercial fishing and other industries.
The new report ‘Antarctic Ocean Legacy: A Vision for Circumpolar Protection’ revealed a new vision for the creation of the world’s largest network of Marine Protected Areas and no-take marine reserves to protect 19 key marine habitats.
Antarctic waters make up almost 10% of the world’s seas and are some of the most unique and valuable environments left on earth. They are home to almost 10,000 rare and diverse species such as penguins, whales and seals but the growing demand for seafood means there is greater interest from commercial fishing and other industries.
The AOA - which includes Greenpeace, WWF and Blue Marine Foundation - is campaigning for the body that regulates this marine environment, the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), to adopt its new protection plan urgently. CCAMLR has agreed to create a network of marine protected areas in some of the ocean this year and next.
Steve Campbell, the AOA’s co-ordinator explained: “The AOA is calling on the UK Government to maintain and enhance this momentum at CCAMLR this year and support our call for the world’s largest network of MPAs and no-take marine reserves in the ocean around Antarctica as a legacy for future generations.”
