Toward a System of Marine Protected Areas in the Southern Ocean

ASOC commends CCAMLR for its historic decision in 2016 to designate a large-scale marine protected area (MPA) in the Ross Sea region, which will come into force on December 1^st this year. To continue momentum, CCAMLR Members must realize the extent of the commitment they made in 2009, and again in 2011 (CM 91-04) toward establishing a representative system of MPAs in the Convention Area. To realize this commitment, ASOC recommends that CCAMLR designate an MPA in East Antarctica this year, and in the Weddell Sea and the Antarctic Peninsula in 2018. Here ASOC provides an overview of these proposals and recommendations to ensure they meet their respective conservation objectives.