Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)

The Southern Ocean surrounds the continent of Antarctica and is clearly delimited by the Antarctic Convergence (or Polar Front), which is formed where cold Antarctic waters meet warmer waters to the north. The Antarctic Convergence acts as an effective biological barrier, and the Southern Ocean is therefore substantially a closed ecosystem.

The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (the Convention) came into force in 1982, as part of the Antarctic Treaty System, in pursuance of the provisions of Article IX of the Treaty. The Convention establishes the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).

Purpose

CCAMLR came into force in 1982 and is aimed at the conservation of Antarctic living resources, including fish. The following applies under the convention:

• use of fisheries is to occur on a sustainable basis
• depleted fish stocks are to be restored to sustainable levels, and
• the ecological relationship between harvested, dependent and related populations of Antarctic marine living resources maintained. 

Australian priorities

The Australian Antarctic Division is the lead agency regarding Australia’s involvement in CCAMLR.

Australia’s commercial interest in stocks managed by CCAMLR is increasing, with a substantial Patagonian Toothfish fishery developing within the Heard and the McDonald Islands area. Australia’s major priority within CCAMLR is to seek stronger measures to effectively combat IUU fishing, which is occurring in the CCAMLR area, including in the Australian Fishing Zone around Heard Island and the McDonald Islands.

Australia is committed to CCAMLR as an effective international mechanism for the conservation and rational use of Antarctic and Southern Ocean marine living resources. Australia continues to work with CCAMLR Members the development of conservation and management measures to realise the objectives of the Commission. It is recogonised that fishing activities are required to be conducted in an ecologically sustainable manner and consistent with domestic and international objectives.

Australia continues to promote conservation and management measures based on the best available scientific advice, which are practical to implement, enforceable and promote ecologically sustainable management of the Antarctic marine ecosystem.

The impact of fishing on non-targeted species of fish and seabirds has also become a significant issue, particularly in relation to the levels of by-catch of seabirds (such as species of albatross) by longline fishing boats. Australia continues to promote measures to reduce the incidental mortality of seabirds and to encourage CCAMLR to evaluate the effectiveness of conservation and management measures and other actions aimed at reducing seabird mortality.

Members

Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, China, European Community, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Namibia, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay.

Parties to the Convention (not members of the Commission): Bulgaria, Canada, Cook Islands, Finland, Greece, Mauritius, Netherlands, Peru and Vanuatu.

Links

• Australian Antarctic Division
• Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
• Map of Convention Area
• More information on meetings and reports

Contacts

Secretariat
(PO Box 213)
137 Harrington Street
North Hobart
Tasmania 7002
Australia
phone: +61 3 6231 0366
website: www.ccamlr.org
email: ccamlr@ccamlr.org