Published25. October 2024, 2:46 p.m
Australia: Russia and China fail Antarctic conference
Southern Ocean species are at risk from climate change and other factors. Nevertheless, the most recent meeting of the Antarctic Commission also failed.
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Antarctica is home to many animal species that are worthy of protection.
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But the responsible commission, which includes 26 states, also ended without results this year.
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Russia and China are to blame for this.
Despite all the urgency, this year’s conference of the Antarctic Commission CCAMLR failed again. According to observers, member states were once again unable to agree on the designation of several large marine protected areas in East Antarctica, the Weddell Sea and the waters of the Antarctic Peninsula at their almost two-week meeting in Hobart, Australia.
The region is home to many penguins, seals and whales, which are increasingly threatened by climate change and overfishing. Germany has also long been calling for the establishment of protected areas, which are considered one of the best methods for protecting marine ecosystems and securing biological diversity. For example, fish stocks in protected zones can recover within a short period of time if they are not fished.
Resistance from two countries
Once again, a breakthrough failed, primarily due to resistance from China and Russia, say observers. The problem: In order to make progress, the agreement of all 27 governments responsible for protecting Antarctic marine fauna and flora is needed. “There is no time left for a blockade for geopolitical interests,” warned Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens).
According to Özdemir, the ongoing resistance of both countries once again shows that “Russia’s interest in constructive global cooperation is zero and, unfortunately, China also puts the short-term exploitation of marine resources worth protecting, such as krill, over their long-term conservation.”
Warming and microplastics
Shortly before the meeting began, the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) – a coalition of environmental organizations from around the world – published a worrying report. Accordingly, Antarctica is experiencing unprecedented temperature anomalies with increasing frequency of marine heat waves and a gradual decline in sea ice. The pressure on the species there is exacerbated by overfishing, microplastics and tourism.
The Antarctic Commission has not only failed to fulfill its obligation to set up the MPAs, but has even taken significant steps backwards in krill fishery management, said ASOC Managing Director Claire Christian. “A central difficulty lies in the different interests that the members of the commission pursue: the participating delegations mostly represent fisheries and foreign ministries and only a small part of the environmental ministries they represent,” explained Christian. Global geopolitical dynamics also played a crucial role.
Creation of protected areas in the Harz Mountains
The Commission had already agreed in 2009 to set up a system of marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean. Since then, only two of the six planned MPAs have been created. Since 2016, negotiations have increasingly stalled. “And from our point of view, unfortunately, this commission has not brought any progress,” said Christian.
The “Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources” was established in 1980. The Commission includes 26 states and the EU.
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