Southern Ocean pelagic ecosystems

2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin V. Angel
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Sustainable Management ◽  
Scientific Basis ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Anthropogenic Influences ◽  
Zooplankton Species ◽  
Biological Oceanography ◽  
Antarctic Treaty ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
Pelagic Ecosystems

In 1902 the Discovery sailed into an ocean that was almost totally unknown biologically. Even so, its living resources of seals had been extensively hunted almost to the point of extinction. Exploitation of the whales was about to begin. The expedition resulted in the discovery of 23 new zooplankton species; 5% of the presently known mesozooplankton fauna. The results were worked up within six years, and paved the way for the next century of research. The ultimate target was to provide the scientific basis for the sustainable management of the Southern Ocean especially the whale stocks. This paper summarizes the knowledge base at the start of the expedition and how the various strands of research became woven into our understanding of the biological oceanography of the Southern Ocean. The science has been both technology driven and technology limited. It failed to convince decision-makers in time to prevent the gross overexploitation of the whales, but the Antarctic Treaty now provides a framework of protection. However, within the last two decades we have come to realize that it is not just whales that are at risk, and that the remoteness of the Southern Ocean is proving no protection against the pervasiveness of anthropogenic influences.

Conservation in the Antarctic

1977 ◽  
Vol 279 (963) ◽  
pp. 97-104 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Falkland Islands ◽  
Voluntary Agreement ◽  
South Georgia ◽  
Tristan Da Cunha ◽  
Conservation Measures ◽  
Antarctic Seals ◽  
Antarctic Treaty ◽  
The Antarctic

Formidable legal and administrative complexities arise from conflicting claims to jurisdiction and the continued absence of generally recognized sovereignty over much of the region. Existing conservation measures fall into three groups: elaborate laws made by governments claiming Antarctic territories, more restricted laws, and simple instructions for particular expeditions. The Antarctic Treaty, 1959, made it possible to begin coordinating all these separate instruments. No claimed jurisdiction has been surrendered or recognized: each government has started to harmonize its own control measures with the ‘Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora’, 1964. This scheme applied only to land areas and has since been evolving in the light of experience. Although not yet formally approved by all the governments concerned, it is working effectively by voluntary agreement. Different approaches are necessary for conservation of Southern Ocean resources, especially krill. A start has been made with the ‘ Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals’, 1972. There are many outstanding problems: all require effective cooperation between scientific and legal advisers, diplomats and politicians. Mention is made of recent British conservation legislation for South Georgia, the Falkland Islands and the Tristan da Cunha group. Some of the next steps are outlined.

Responsive Antarctic Law-Making in the Asian Century

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Saul ◽  
Tim Stephens
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
International System ◽  
Significant Shift ◽  
Asian State ◽  
Antarctic Treaty ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
Law Making ◽  
Antarctic Treaty System

One aspect of the ‘Asian Century’ has been the growing interest from Asian states in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean that surrounds the continent. There has been a significant shift in the approach by a number of Asian states to the Antarctic Treaty and the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) that has been built upon and around it. While Asian states continue to be under-represented in the ATS (there are seven Asian state parties to the Antarctic Treaty), participation has grown, and more significantly the view that the ATS is an ‘exclusive club’ dominated by developed states has given way to a more pragmatic, more cooperative and less ideological approach to Antarctic affairs. Broadening ATS membership and increasing interest from existing Asian state parties to the ATS, most notably China, prompts questions as to whether there are distinctive Asian–Antarctic issues, and if so whether the Antarctic regime can evolve to address them. Specifically, are the governance and law-making processes of the ATS, which have not changed significantly for decades, up to the task of providing an effective international system of Antarctic management in this Asian Century?

scholarly journals CCAMLR and Southern Ocean Fisheries

2001 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 465-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Jaap Molenaar
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Regulatory Regime ◽  
The Core ◽  
Iuu Fishing ◽  
Antarctic Marine ◽  
Antarctic Treaty ◽  
International Instruments ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
Natural Characteristics

AbstractThe Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR Convention) forms the core of the regulatory regime for Southern Ocean fisheries. This article analyses the scope and extent of the Convention and the competence of the bodies established under it while also addressing the role of states and other international intergovernmental organisations with relevant competence. As part of the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS), the CCAMLR Convention is characterised by a unique sovereignty situation. The analysis thereof is complemented by a comparison with (other) regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs) and illustrated by the difficulties in addressing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The article concludes inter alia that the CCAMLR Convention is unlike other RFMOs due to the special natural characteristics, its integration into the ATS and the ensuing sovereignty situation, and its conservationist objective. This notwithstanding, it seems justifiable to treat the CCAMLR Convention as "something more" than an RFMO for the purpose of international instruments on fisheries.

scholarly journals Marine protected areas in the north east Atlantic Ocean and Southern Ocean : the role of regional organisations in areas beyond national jurisdiction

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Dhaxna Sothieson
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
East Atlantic ◽  
North East ◽  
The North ◽  
National Jurisdiction ◽  
Regional Organisations ◽  
Antarctic Treaty ◽  
The Antarctic

<p>The international community has recognised Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) as an important tool for area-based management of ecosystems. Regional organisations have taken the lead in areas beyond national jurisdiction to create MPAs. This paper will compare the issues facing the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) and the relevant Antarctic Treaty bodies in the Southern Ocean, to the North-East Atlantic Ocean where the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR) and the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) are the lead bodies. Many of the issues that face each region in designating MPAs differ due to geopolitical differences; resulting in the North-East Atlantic producing more success in designating a network of MPAs. The North-East Atlantic organisations, however, face more difficulties to ensure the comprehensive management of MPAs. As CCAMLR and the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty sit within the Antarctic Treaty System, the potential exists for a better integrated management framework in the Southern Ocean. The themes from both regions will then be put into a wider global context to provide some guidance and identify issues for other regional organisations seeking to establish MPAs in ABNJ.</p>

scholarly journals The Krill Problem in Antarctica

Oryx ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Nigel Bonner
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Wildlife Conservation ◽  
British Antarctic Survey ◽  
Antarctic Marine ◽  
Acute Form ◽  
Antarctic Treaty ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
Do So

Krill fishing in the Southern Ocean has raised in acute form the question of wildlife conservation in Antarctica: what will be the effect on the ecosystem? how much krill can be taken? who can take part? what regulations are needed? The author, a scientist of the British Antarctic Survey, considers the answers in the light of the Antarctic Treaty of 1959 and the Canberra Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources of 1980, and looks at some criticisms of the latter put forward in a recently published book. He suggests that the Convention, while not ideal, is to be welcomed because it provides a framework for conservation and rational exploitation that can be made to work – if the nations that signed it are determined to make it do so.

The Antarctic Treaty and the law of the sea: fifty years on

Polar Record ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher C. Joyner
Keyword(s):  
Decision Makers ◽  
Law Of The Sea ◽  
Antarctic Treaty ◽  
The Law ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
New Strategies ◽  
Antarctic Treaty System

Since the Antarctic Treaty was negotiated in 1959, it has undergone major substantive legal transformations as it grew into a multifaceted regime known as the Antarctic Treaty system. Many of those transformations stemmed from actions by the principal decision makers, the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties (ATCPs), as they adopted new strategies and values alongside binding legal agreements for managing their activities in circumpolar southern waters. This essay examines the evolution of the modern law of the sea and seeks to explain how it embellished (has it at times challenged?) the character, significance and purposes of the Antarctic Treaty.

scholarly journals The State and Future of Antarctic Environments in a Global Context

2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven L. Chown ◽  
Cassandra M. Brooks
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
International Agreements ◽  
The State ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressure ◽  
Earth System ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressures ◽  
Global Context ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Antarctic Treaty ◽  
The Antarctic

Antarctica and the Southern Ocean comprise a critical part of the Earth System. Their environments are better understood than ever before, yet the region remains poorly considered among international agreements to improve the state of the global environment. In part the situation owes to isolated regional regulation within the Antarctic Treaty System, and in part to the dated notion that Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are well conserved and relatively free from human impact. Here we review growth in knowledge of Antarctic environments and anthropogenic pressures on them. We show that the region's unusual diversity is facing substantial local and globally mediated anthropogenic pressure, on a par with environments globally. Antarctic environmental management and regulation is being challenged to keep pace with the change. Much benefit can be derived from consideration of Antarctic environmental and resource management in the context of global agreements.

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