Cooperation Leads to Major Breakthrough at CCAMLR
Historic progress in the conservation of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean at this year’s CCAMLR meeting as the Commission agrees on further measures to protect the Antarctic ecosystem
November 1, 2016 – Oslo, Norway: During the last few weeks, national delegates and scientists gathered in Hobart, Tasmania to decide on the future conservation and management regulations for the Antarctic marine living resources at the 35th Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) meeting. This open and transparent organization also invites Environmental NGOs and industry representatives to observe and contribute to the process.
One of the major discussions leading up to this year’s meeting was whether the Commission would succeed in establishing one of the first Marine Protected Areas in the Southern Ocean. Equally important was the discussion around the renewal of the conservation measure 51-07, which ensures that the krill fishery does not concentrate too much in one area.
The key outcomes of the CCAMLR meeting were:
- the establishment of the world’s biggest Marine Protected Area in the Ross Sea,
- and the renewal of the conservation measure 51-07. The krill fishing industry supported this measure by taking voluntary actions for further conservation.
“We are very happy that the Association of Responsible Krill Harvesters decided to voluntarily not fish in the areas close to the penguin colonies that have been impacted during the last Antarctic summer. This was very welcomed by the commission, and endorsed by the entire community of environmental NGOs,” says Rodolfo Werner, Advisor, Pew Charitable Trusts & Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC).
“The industry showed CCAMLR that we are serious about taking responsibility for the Antarctic ecosystem. It was great to see how the industry really came together by going beyond regulation and the expectations of CCAMLR, which led to historic progress in the conservation of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean. Taking care of the ecosystem in which we fish is the best way we can ensure the future of our fishery,” says Webjørn Eikrem, president of Association of Responsible Krill Harvesters (ARK) and EVP Production and Supply Chain at Aker BioMarine.
For more information, please contact:
Katrin Berntsen
Director Communication
+47 92054570
katrin.berntsen@akerbiomarine.com
About Aker BioMarine
Aker BioMarine is a leading supplier of krill-derived products to the consumer health and wellness and animal nutrition markets. Aker BioMarine is dedicated to the sustainable harvest of krill and development of krill-derived products. The company supplies biomarine ingredients through a 100% traceable supply chain. Aker BioMarine was the first krill company to be awarded Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification
