Introducing the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)
The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources came into force in 1982 and forms an important part of the Antarctic Treaty system. Its work also complements the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels – ACAP.
The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) was established under the Convention and it manages living marine resources in the Convention Area.
Australia’s primary goal within the Commission is to ensure the conservation of the marine living resources within the CCAMLR area. An important related goal is to enhance Australia’s influence in the Antarctic Treaty system and to maintain Australia’s reputation as a responsible manager of marine resources.
The Convention’s objective is the ‘conservation of Antarctic marine living resources’ where conservation includes rational use. Importantly, the Convention requires the conservation of Antarctic marine living resources and that decisions about rational use must be based on an ecosystem approach. CCAMLR requires consideration is given to all species in the ecosystem and to conserving ecological relationships. This was a very far-sighted and unprecedented approach at the time the convention was negotiated.
The three principles of conservation defined by the Convention are:
- The prevention of the decrease in the size of any harvested population to levels below those that ensure its stable recruitment
- The maintenance of the ecological relationships between harvested, dependent, and related populations, and the restoration of depleted populations
- The prevention of changes or the minimization of the risk of changes in the marine ecosystem, which are not potentially reversible over two or three decades
The delegations of Australia and the United States of America to the 35th Meeting (2016) of CCAMLR presented a paper recalling the development of the Convention and articulating what “conservation” means for CCAMLR. This paper outlined the historical context, the original intent of the parties that negotiated the Convention, and reiterated that CCAMLR is an organization established with a broad conservation purview and function which also allows for fishing within its conservation framework.
CCAMLR members
Australia is an original signatory of the Convention and upholds its mandate in the Southern Ocean, to the south of Australia and in the Heard Island and McDonald Islands region. Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI) is a sub-Antarctic island group located in the Southern Ocean, about 4,000 km south-west of mainland Australia.
There are 26 commission members with voting rights and ten other parties to the Convention (non-voting). View the list of CCAMLR Members.
Australian involvement in CCAMLR
The Australian Antarctic Division is the lead agency in a whole-of-government approach to Australia’s scientific and policy involvement in CCAMLR. Other Australian government agencies involved in CCAMLR include:
- Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
- Australian Fisheries Management Authority
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Department of Defence
- Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources
The Australian Antarctic Division and other Australian Government agencies also work closely with fishers, conservation organizations, and others in the community interested in CCAMLR.
CCAMLR meetings
The commission meets annually in Hobart, Tasmania and is supported by a Secretariat. The work of the commission is informed by a Scientific Committee.
Contact the Secretariat at 181 Macquarie Street, Hobart 7000, Tasmania Australia. Ph: +61 3 6210 1111; Fax: +61 3 6224 8744; email: ccamlr@ccamlr.org.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 14: Life Below Water | Target 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems | No specific indicators mentioned in the article |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce degradation of natural habitats | No specific indicators mentioned in the article |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development | No specific indicators mentioned in the article |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
SDG 14: Life Below Water
The article discusses the work of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) in managing living marine resources in the Convention Area. This aligns with SDG 14, which aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources.
SDG 15: Life on Land
While the article primarily focuses on marine resources, it mentions Australia’s involvement in managing the Heard Island and McDonald Islands region, which is a sub-Antarctic island group. This connection to land-based ecosystems relates to SDG 15, which aims to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
The article highlights Australia’s involvement in CCAMLR and its collaboration with other government agencies, fishers, conservation organizations, and the community. This demonstrates the importance of partnerships for achieving sustainable development, as emphasized in SDG 17.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
Target 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems
The work of CCAMLR, as described in the article, aligns with the target of sustainably managing and protecting marine ecosystems within the CCAMLR area.
Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce degradation of natural habitats
While not explicitly mentioned in the article, the reference to Australia’s involvement in managing the Heard Island and McDonald Islands region suggests a commitment to reducing degradation of natural habitats in that area.
Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development
The article emphasizes Australia’s collaboration with various stakeholders, including government agencies, fishers, conservation organizations, and the community. This aligns with the target of enhancing global partnerships for sustainable development.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
No specific indicators are mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. However, indicators related to the conservation of marine resources, reduction of degradation in natural habitats, and the effectiveness of partnerships could be developed to track progress towards these targets.
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Source: antarctica.gov.au
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