The 40th conference of the Antarctic Commission CCAMLR that begins today could decisively advance the protection of the Southern Pole Army-provided that three extensive areas around the southern continent are under strict protection. This was recently requested by environmental protection organizations, including German environmental aid, in an open letter to the conference and its 26 members. It would be the most extensive measure for marine protection that has ever been undertaken.
The plan has been on the agenda of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) conference in Hobart, Tasmania. So far, however, China and Russia had always voted against it and let the project fail. The Commission, which was established in 1980 as an international body for the organisation of marine conservation in the South Pole region, must adopt its resolutions unanimously.
The plan developed by Antarctic Research provides to protect waters around the Antarctic Peninsula as well as parts of the Weddellmere and parts of the Eastern ATARKTIS. Overall, the protected area with almost four million square kilometers would be as large as the European Union. Each protected area would be divided into zones, in which fishing would not be allowed or only allowed under conditions. So far, only such a protected area has existed in the South Pole Armeas, it is located in the Rossmeer. Together with the three new potential protective areas, there would be a "network" of protected areas that allows animal and plant species to hike safely along the coast of the continent, for example when looking for food or because climate change requires a switch to cheaper areas.
The Southern Ocean's deciding factor is a healthy krill population.
The South Pole Armeas, which includes around ten percent of the global ocean surface, is central to the functioning of earthly ecosystems and climate protection, argues, for example, the US PEW Foundation, which is also one of the initiators of the open letter. In particular, the krill, which is at the base of the food chain in the Antarctic, ensure that carbon dioxide is bound in the depth of the ocean. The millions of small crayfish eat carbon -rich algae on the water surface and excrete the organic material, which then sinks into the depth. Or they are eaten themselves, which means that the carbon first gets into the body of the robbers and then in turn into the deep sea via their excretions and carcass. The Antarctic Krill withdraws the equivalent of the annual CO2 emissions of 35 million cars, the PEW Foundation calculated.
However, Krill is strongly fished in some regions, especially around the Antarctic Peninsula. It serves as a fish feed, for the production of fish oils and as a bait. Scientists already want to have observed the first effects on the food network. In addition to the industrial crill, the region is already suffering significantly from the consequences of the climate crisis. The rising carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere leads to acidification of the water, which has a negative impact on the tanks of the crayfish. In addition, the south polar region heats up much faster than the rest of the world. In many places, there are fewer ice cream than in earlier decades and centuries, there are extreme weather events, all of this harms the sensitive ecosystems that are considered to be prone to interference in Antarctic - among other things because most of the living beings grow slowly in the cold waters. Krill is dependent on ice -covered water for the increase. The consequences of climate change should therefore be included in the determination of fishing quotas for krill and the two important types of food fishing black SeeHecht and giant antararktisdorsch, the scientists demand in their letter.
At the same time, the ocean around the southern continent is an important source of fish stocks in the rest of the world and has a regulating effect on the global climate. This is another reason why it should be placed under protection as comprehensively as possible. Some studies have already observed that the region is moving towards dangerous tipping points. When these points are reached, the local climate system or food web changes drastically, with no way to stop the process.
Germany has a special role in the negotiations at the twelve -day conference, which still lasts until October 29, because the Federal Government brought the proposal to protect the Wedell Sea years ago, according to the German Environmental Aid (DUH). The Federal Government must do everything possible to realize the protected areas in Hobart. It is a "unique opportunity for marine protection," said DUH managing director Sascha Müller-Kraenner of the German Press Agency.
