The 43rd annual meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), held in Hobart, Australia, concluded on October 25, 2024, with a disheartening outcome for ocean conservation efforts. Despite its mandate to safeguard Antarctic marine life, CCAMLR not only failed to advance the establishment of a crucial network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Southern Ocean but also took a significant step backwards in managing krill fisheries, highlighting a critical instance of Where Oceans Fail to receive adequate protection.
Negotiations aimed at revising the krill fishery management plan and creating a new MPA for the Antarctic Peninsula, designed to better protect krill predators and the delicate ecosystem, were ultimately unsuccessful due to obstruction. Furthermore, consensus could not be reached to renew a vital measure that ensures the dispersal of krill catch, raising concerns about concentrated fishing impacts.
This failure occurs as the world prepares for the Convention of Biological Diversity 16th Conference of the Parties (CBD COP16) in Colombia. CCAMLR had a prime opportunity to contribute to the global commitment of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030 (30×30) by implementing a new MPA in the Antarctic Peninsula. This region is warming at twice the global average rate and is a vital habitat for unique and vulnerable wildlife, including penguins, whales, and seals. Tragically, this opportunity was missed, marking another instance where oceans fail to receive the urgent safeguarding they require. CCAMLR has not adopted a new MPA since 2016, demonstrating a worrying stagnation in progress.
Established in 1982 to conserve Antarctic marine life in response to growing commercial interest in Antarctic krill, CCAMLR’s recent actions directly contradict its foundational objective. Antarctic krill are a cornerstone species in the Southern Ocean food web. By reversing a key management measure intended to protect Antarctic krill, CCAMLR is demonstrably failing to meet its conservation goals, contributing to a scenario where oceans fail to be effectively managed and protected from overexploitation. This inaction underscores a concerning trend in international ocean governance and highlights the urgent need for stronger commitments and effective action to prevent further instances where oceans fail.
