Delegates attending an international meeting meant to protect Antarctic ocean life dashed conservationists’ hopes for new marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) concluded Friday after a week of virtual negotiations among its 26 member nations. It declined to approve three proposals for marine protected areas near Antarctica. The commission, established in 1982 as part of the Antarctic Treaty System, is charged with conserving marine life around the southern continent and sustainably managing the region’s fish stocks.
As the waters warm and Antarctic sea ice declines, researchers are concerned that krill populations around the peninsula could start to shrink. These tiny, shrimplike creatures form the backbone of the Antarctic ecosystem, providing food for everything from whales to penguins. At the same time, krill fishing around the peninsula is on the rise. Some scientists have expressed concern that the combination of increased fishing and climate change could be a major threat to Antarctic marine life.
A marine protected area, according to some, could help reduce the risk of overfishing and protect vital krill populations. Earlier this month, a group of nine scientists published a comment in the journal Nature urging CCAMLR delegates to adopt the proposed Antarctic Peninsula MPA.
Source: Scientific American
Finnish site 
Global site