India has supported the proposal of European Union for creation of two marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Antarctic for protecting the Antarctic environment.
The two proposed Marine Protected areas are:
- East Antarctic
- Weddell Sea
ABOUT MARINE PROTECTED AREAS
A Marine Protected Area is a marine area that protects all or part of the natural resources it contains. Within an MPA certain activities are limited, or entirely prohibited, to meet specific conservation, habitat protection, and ecosystem monitoring or fisheries management objectives. MPAs do not necessarily exclude fishing, research or other human activities. Already two MPAs have been agreed by CCAMLR members:
- South Orkney Islands (World’s first international MPA)
- Ross Sea
ABOUT COMMISSION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF ANTARCTIC MARINE LIVING RESOURCES (CCAMLR)
- The CCAMLR was established by an international convention in 1982 to conserve Antarctic marine life. This was in response to increasing commercial interest in Antarctic krill resources, a keystone component of the Antarctic ecosystem and a history of over-exploitation of several other marine resources in the Southern Ocean.
- Presently, the body has 26 members (25 countries and EU). India is a member of the organisation.
- CCAMLR is a key international instrument part of Antarctic Treaty System that as a whole for 60 years has ensured peace, freedom of science and protection of the environment in the Antarctic region. The system consists of the Antarctic Treaty and its Environmental Protocol, the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels and the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Seals in addition to CCAMLR.
- CCAMLR Secretariat is in Hobart, Australia.
