A proposal for the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area

The delegation of the United States proposes the establishment by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Living Marine Resources (Commission or CCAMLR) of a marine protected area (MPA) in the Ross Sea Region (“Ross Sea Region Marine Protected Area”).  In 2010, the Commission endorsed the Scientific Committee’s work program to develop a representative system of Antarctic MPAs with the aim of conserving marine biodiversity in the Convention Area.  Consistent with this goal and to safeguard the exceptional ecological value and scientific importance of the Ross Sea Region for current and future generations, our delegation proposes to establish this MPA to conserve marine living resources, preserve ecological structure and function, protect vital ecosystem processes and areas of ecological significance, and maintain a reference area for scientific research and monitoring.  This proposal is consistent with Conservation Measure 91-04 (2011) and the scientific conclusions and processes, endorsed by the Scientific Committee, from which the United States developed its original MPA scenario for the Ross Sea Region.