Significant progress on progressing krill management and ecosystem protection at CCAMLR Symposium

ARK members actively cooperated in reaching a working result

CCAMLR members and relevant stakeholders met at Incheon (Republic of Korea) between 16-20 July to discuss a way forward for the implementation of a revised, more progressive approach to krill management and the establishment of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Antarctic Peninsula region. The workshop was co-sponsored by ARK and ASOC.

The Scientific Committee of CAMLR has been working on these issues for years, but progress has been hindered by divergent opinions on how to balance sustainable fishing with the growing pressures of climate change. To address this impasse, a joint meeting was convened to foster dialogue among diverse stakeholders.

The Symposium included representatives from eleven CCAMLR member nations, as well as experts from the fishing industry and environmental NGOs. Participants engaged in open and constructive discussions, including brainstorming sessions and subgroup meetings, to identify common ground and explore potential solutions.

Industry participation was key to progressing a viable outcome. “Industry members and ARK have actively participated in the symposium to develop MPA designs that harmonize harvesting and conservation,” said Valeria Carvajal, ARK’s President.

The Symposium concluded with a set of recommendations for the upcoming CCAMLR annual meeting, outlining potential scenarios for a revised krill management approach and the establishment of an MPA in the Antarctic Peninsula region.

Government delegates, scientists, and representatives from the industry and environmental NGOs met at Incheon, South Korea, to discuss MPAs and krill fishery management.