By Andrea Kavanagh (*) - On October 28, 2016, global leaders made history by designating one of the most productive and healthy stretches of the ocean as the world’s largest marine protected area (MPA).
The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, known as CCAMLR, began this week its annual meeting in Hobart, Tasmania. The 25-member organization - which was established with the objective of conserving Antarctic marine life - has been at a seven-year stalemate which has held up the designation of a marine protected area in East Antarctica.
Australia and France have kicked off a fresh push this week to create a vast marine sanctuary in pristine East Antarctica, hoping to build on the success of landmark deal secured last year at a key annual conservation summit.