Prepared by scientists from both countries, the proposal seeks to protect biodiversity and at the same time promotes a responsible use of resources in a unique ecosystem on the planet.
Since 2002, the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) has been working on the development of a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) around Antarctica. The main goal of this work is the conservation of biodiversity, as well as the rational and responsible use of the region's resources, meaning it considers activities such as commercial fishing.
As part of the long-standing binational cooperation in Antarctica, Argentina and Chile have worked together since 2012 to develop an MPA proposal in the Western Antarctic Peninsula and South Scotia Arc. This proposal, prepared by scientists from the Argentine Antarctic Institute (IAA in the Spanish acronym) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH in the Spanish acronym), was presented to CCAMLR in a preliminary version in 2017. It seeks to protect areas that are important for the development of the life cycle of zooplankton (such as Antarctic krill, a key component of the ecosystem), fish, birds and marine mammals. During those years they have also worked with scientists from other interested nations and a valuable diplomatic task has been carried out with the fishing industry, NGOs and the other CCAMLR member countries, in order to find a model that considers the interests of all, with an open, transparent and participatory approach.
Last year, after several consultations and exchanges with various stakeholders, the final model of the joint proposal was submitted at CCAMLR's 38th annual meeting, and is still pending approval by the international community.
Why is it so important to protect this region?
The west of the Antarctic Peninsula is experiencing an increase in environmental variability due to global warming. For example, during the last summer (February 2020), the Esperanza Base registered a record temperature of 18.3 degrees Celsius. An increase in the frequency of this type of events endangers the long-term survival of the species that live there, since they are adapted to cold environments. At the same time, the catch limit for Antarctic krill, which is key to the ecosystem, is likely to increase: 75% of all Antarctic krill is found in the Peninsula region. If krill populations are reduced, this will seriously impact their predators such as penguins, some species of seals, and whales.
Therefore, Argentina and Chile are working to promote the conservation of biodiversity and propose this MPA, which creates areas where fishing is forbidden in order to reduce stress factors and their combined effects on fish, bird and marine mammal populations that inhabit the region, yet at the same time, it allows other open fishing zones within the area.
Currently, scientific, diplomatic and dissemination activities continue to promote the approval of the MPA during CCAMLR's 39th annual meeting, which will be held - virtually - by the end of October.
Soon there will be a presentation of a feature film about a joint expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula by the IAA, INACH and Nat Geo - Pristine Seas, in support of the proposal and to document the state of this unique ecosystem on the planet.
Basic specifications of the proposal
The proposed Marine Protected Area for the west of the Antarctic Peninsula has an area of 670,000 km. It comprises two zones:
- General Protection Zone (in blue), where commercial krill fishing is forbidden. Strict protection of biodiversity.
- Krill Fishing Zone (in orange), where commercial krill fishing is allowed. It considers the interests of different countries.
