Fulfilling CCAMLR’s commitment to create a representative system of Marine Protected Areas

The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) first committed to adopting a representative network of marine protected areas (MPAs) in 2009. This paper summarises CCAMLR's progress in fulfilling this commitment to date. Following recent progress with adoption and entry into force of the Ross Sea MPA, ASOC calls on CCAMLR to make swift progress towards adopting a Southern Ocean representative system of MPAs by 2020. ASOC recommends that this year CCAMLR:

• Adopts the East Antarctica MPA proposal including the MacRobertson, Drygalski and D’Urville Sea-Mertz areas.
• Adopts the Weddell Sea MPA, keeping the boundaries intact so that the MPA contains the ecological boundaries of the Weddell Sea Gyre, as previously supported by SC-CAMLR and WG-EMM.
• Takes further steps towards the adoption of the Domain 1 MPA, including the adoption of no-take zones in all critical areas.
• Continues to develop and implement research and monitoring Plans for current MPAs.