IAATO 2019 ~ Cape Town

IAATO Supporting Antarctic Marine Protected Areas

Information for Members 2019

The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) has agreed to develop a representative system of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Southern Ocean. The first MPA was established in 2009 around the South Orkney Islands, followed by the Ross Sea MPA in 2016. Three other MPAs are currently under discussion – in East Antarctica, in the Weddell Sea, and in the Western Antarctic Peninsula.

An MPA is a marine area that offers protection for all or part of the natural resources that it contains. They are developed with specific objectives in mind, such as conservation, fisheries management, habit protection or ecosystem monitoring. Many MPAs are multi-purpose areas that include human activities like fishing, tourism or research. Research shows that the establishment of protected areas results in improved biodiversity, productivity and in increased resilience of ecosystems to climate change.

IAATO plans its activities to support the long-term protection and preservation of Antarctica’s unique natural, scientific and heritage values. It therefore seeks to contribute to the success of Antarctic MPAs by:

Delivering safe, environmentally responsible and well managed tourism activities;

Supporting evidence-based science and decision-making to meet agreed objectives in MPA development and management;

Contributing positively to the Antarctic Treaty System community by providing information that will facilitate discussions on managing human activity (e.g. at Antarctic Treaty Consultative and CCAMLR meetings). Multi-stakeholder participation is widely acknowledged as being key to MPA success;

Collaborating with the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) to develop a Systematic Conservation Plan (SCP) for the Antarctic Peninsula that will enhance the development of the Western Antarctic Peninsula MPA;

Continuing its commitment to monitoring, evaluating and sharing information on its activities. IAATO maintains the most comprehensive database on human activity in Antarctica;

Supporting the view that MPAs should provide for the long-term protection, understanding and enjoyment of Antarctic marine resources and heritage;

Adding value to MPAs by creating a corps of ambassadors for Antarctica’s continued protection through environmental education and providing first-hand learning experiences.

Adapted from IUCN (1988) list of objectives that MPAs should aim for. General Assembly Recommendation 17.38. 17th Session of the General Assembly of International Union for Conservation of Nature. San Jose, Costa Rica, 1-10 February