Antarctica
Despite its harsh environment and remote location, Antarctica and the Southern Ocean is the source of life for some of the world’s most awe-inspiring creatures, including thousands of species that live nowhere else. Beyond the geographic region itself, the area plays a pivotal role in the global climate system and is key to understanding the impacts of climate change.
Until recently, the region’s inhospitable climate protected it from the worst excesses of human exploitation. But that has changed during the past few decades and now Antarctica and the Southern Ocean waters are under threat.
Illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing is responsible for overfishing of vulnerable fish stocks and irresponsible fishing practices are impacting on threatened seabirds. Local endemic species are particularly susceptible to invasive species that may be carried to the region on board fishing vessels. Discarded plastics, nets and hooks have littered the Southern Ocean, causing injury and death to birds and mammals. And of course climate change is causing the ice-shelf to melt and glaciers to shrink, which will have physical, biological and ecological consequences for Southern Ocean and global populations of marine species
In 1980, an international body to regulate resource use in the Southern Ocean was established – the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). Made up of representatives from 24 countries, this group is tasked with developing a strategy to protect the region.
But the efforts of CCAMLR are not enough. As a close neighbour, Australia has a particular responsibility to look after this precious place and to protect it from harm.
Until recently, the region’s inhospitable climate protected it from the worst excesses of human exploitation. But that has changed during the past few decades and now Antarctica and the Southern Ocean waters are under threat.
Illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing is responsible for overfishing of vulnerable fish stocks and irresponsible fishing practices are impacting on threatened seabirds. Local endemic species are particularly susceptible to invasive species that may be carried to the region on board fishing vessels. Discarded plastics, nets and hooks have littered the Southern Ocean, causing injury and death to birds and mammals. And of course climate change is causing the ice-shelf to melt and glaciers to shrink, which will have physical, biological and ecological consequences for Southern Ocean and global populations of marine species
In 1980, an international body to regulate resource use in the Southern Ocean was established – the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). Made up of representatives from 24 countries, this group is tasked with developing a strategy to protect the region.
But the efforts of CCAMLR are not enough. As a close neighbour, Australia has a particular responsibility to look after this precious place and to protect it from harm.
