Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Antarctica [UPSC Notes]

India, in March 2023, extended its support for the establishment of two Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Antarctica, namely the East Antarctic and the Weddell Sea. In this context, understand what marine protected areas are and why they are important, especially for the Antarctic region. This topic is important for the Geography and environment & ecology sections of the UPSC syllabus.

Marine Protected Areas in Antarctica

The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences announced that India has pledged support for the establishment of two Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Antarctica to safeguard marine life and ecosystem services.

Antarctica’s Southern Ocean

The Southern Ocean that encircles Antarctica accounts for around 10% of the world’s oceans and is home to nearly 10,000 unique polar species. However, climate change and commercial activities are putting this unique ecosystem at risk.

• Krill Fishing – Commercial fisheries in the Southern Ocean harvest krill, a shrimp-like crustacean that is vital to the food chain. 
  • The krill is used to produce fish meal for farmed fish and nutritional supplements for humans. 
  • However, the increasing harvesting of krill in the Southern Ocean poses a significant threat to the animals that rely on it as a food source, such as fish, whales, seals, penguins, and other seabirds.

Need for Marine Protected Areas

A recent study analyzed over forty years of krill fishery data and found that the regions surrounding the Western Antarctic Peninsula and the South Orkney Islands have the highest krill fishing rates. Therefore, the conservation of the Southern Ocean’s marine life is crucial, and MPAs can play a significant role in achieving that goal.

Southern Ocean’s current Marine Protected Areas (MPA):

Image source: https://chinadialogueocean.net/

• Currently, only 5% of the Southern Ocean is fully protected by two Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), one on the southern shelf of the South Orkney Islands and the other in the Ross Sea. 
• The MPA in the southern shelf of the South Orkney Islands prohibits all types of fishing except for scientific research, as well as discharges and dumping from fishing vessels. 
• Meanwhile, 72% of the waters in the Ross MPA are closed to commercial fishing.

Proposed Marine Protected Areas in Antarctica

• Proposals for MPAs in East Antarctica, the Weddell Sea, and the waters surrounding the Antarctic Peninsula have been put forward by various countries, including the European Union, Australia, Chile, Argentina, and Norway, with India expressing support for the East Antarctica and the Weddell Sea proposals. 
• However, these efforts were reportedly blocked by China and Russia during the 41st annual meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).

The United Nations 30×30 Framework:

• Establishing the proposed MPAs in Antarctica would contribute to the United Nations 30×30 Framework, which seeks to protect 30% of the world’s land and sea. 
• This framework was agreed upon at the 15th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2022.

Future Developments:

• While most countries have agreed in principle to establish MPAs in Antarctica, modalities have to be worked out before the next Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. 
• It remains to be seen how each nation will contribute to the goal of protecting 30% of the world’s land and sea.

Conclusion:

• The creation of MPAs is crucial to protect the Southern Ocean’s unique ecosystem and preserve marine life for future generations. 
• The establishment of MPAs in Antarctica is a significant step towards achieving that goal. However, more work needs to be done to ensure the sustainable use of marine resources and prevent further damage to the environment.

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