NEW REPORT WARNS ANTARCTICA IS APPROACHING CLIMATE CHANGE TIPPING POINT

New report warns Antarctica is approaching a climate change tipping point. Four marine protected areas would protect 26% of the Southern Ocean.

Antarctica and its surrounding Southern Ocean are experiencing unprecedented temperature anomalies, with more frequent marine heatwaves and a step change in sea ice loss, according to a new report by the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC). This information comes as governments responsible for safeguarding Antarctic marine life are set to convene their 43rd annual meeting in Hobart, Australia on October 14 – 25.

The report, titled Protecting a Changing Southern Ocean, identifies a range of disproportionate threats to Antarctica and calls on the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) to take urgent action to build Southern Ocean resilience by creating four proposed marine protected areas (MPAs): the Domain 1 MPA (Antarctic Peninsula MPA), the Weddell Sea Phase 1 MPA, the Weddell Sea Phase 2 MPA, and the East Antarctic MPA.

CCAMLR agreed to establish a representative system of MPAs in the Southern Ocean in 2009. Since then, just two have been created and further development has stalled in recent years, with no MPAs designated since 2016. However, some progress has been made recently on the Domain 1 MPA proposal during a recent CCAMLR Harmonisation Symposium held in July of this year. The symposium brought together scientists, policy makers, industry, and conservationists to align krill fishery management with the proposed Domain 1 MPA , a region that –as the report highlights– is experiencing disproportionate impacts from climate change, tourism, and fishing.

 ASOC is calling on CCAMLR to progress this issue during the annual meeting over the next two weeks. In recent years, fishing for krill  – a small creature that is the linchpin of the Antarctic ecosystem and stores at least 20 million tonnes of carbon in the deep ocean annually – has become increasingly concentrated in the Peninsula. This is causing localized depletion and has negative effects on predators, such as penguins.

“The harmonisation symposium demonstrated that it is possible to make progress on discussions about MPAs and fisheries management – issues that CCAMLR has struggled to resolve. All that’s needed now is for that spirit of cooperation to continue at the upcoming CCAMLR meeting so that we can designate the Domain 1 MPA and improve the precautionary management of the krill fishery.” said Claire Christian, Executive Director of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition.

“The Antarctic Peninsula faces increasing threats from surging tourism, concentrated krill fishing, and record-breaking temperatures year after year. With these warning signs flashing in the Southern Ocean, it’s more crucial than ever for CCAMLR to fulfill its role as the steward of Antarctic marine life. This year, CCAMLR must take decisive action by establishing a network of MPAs to build resilience in this climate-vulnerable region, starting with the Antarctic Peninsula MPA, and by enhancing krill fishery management to better protect the region’s iconic wildlife,” said Andrea Kavanagh, director of Antarctic and Southern Ocean conservation work for the Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Project.

“Climate change has outpaced decision-making in the Antarctic. The science is clear – establishing a MPA in the Antarctic Peninsula would protect critical foraging grounds for wildlife, like whales, penguins and seals, and ensure that critical services that krill provide to the planet – including carbon sequestration – remain intact,” added Emily Grilly, Ocean Conservation Manager for WWF-Australia.

As the report also concludes, this network of MPAs would protect 26% of the Southern Ocean and nearly 3% of the global ocean. Twenty-six of CCAMLR’s 27 members are signatories to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which commits nations to protect 30% of the global ocean by 2030 (30×30) through the establishment of MPAs. Achieving this target requires the rapid expansion of MPAs in the High Seas, including in the Southern Ocean, which constitutes approximately 10% of the global ocean. International progress towards the 30×30 target will be assessed during the Convention of Biological Diversity 16th Conference of the Parties (CBD COP16) in Colombia on 21 October – November 1, while the CCAMLR annual meeting is ongoing.

“As leaders race to find ways to make conservation commitments a reality at CBD COP16, it’s high time for CCAMLR member governments to catch up with the pace of change in Antarctica and with global commitments to protect the ocean. CCAMLR is in a unique position to spearhead protection in international waters and lead the world in taking major step towards protecting the global ocean by creating a network of ocean sanctuaries,” said Jehki Härkönen Ocean Policy Advisor with Greenpeace International

“The decisions made at this CCAMLR meeting could define the future of the Southern Ocean – and our planet. The world is watching to see whether the members of the Commission will fulfill their mission to protect the Southern Ocean and will take the bold steps needed to protect this fragile, climate-vulnerable region,” said Sascha Müller-Kraenner, Executive Director of Deutsche Umwelthilfe.