Marine protection in the Ross Sea

Abstract

At the bottom reaches of the earth lies an ecosystem still largely untouched by humans. The Ross Sea continental shelf ecosystem is found 155 degrees west longitude lying adjacent to the Antarctic continent, with depths less than 3,000 metres, it stretches over almost a million kilometres (Hance, 2010). Its beautiful, rich and abundant nature somewhat protected from human exploitation by its extensive sea ice, brutal weather, and remote environment. Marine animals including killer whales, sea-birds, penguins, whales, giant fish and species not found elsewhere in the world continue to thrive and exist with limited manmade disturbance. Natural processes, species interaction, interconnections, food-webs, complexities not yet understood and other unknown mysteries abound. For this reason the establishment of a marine protected area (MPA) has recently been proposed by the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC). This follows suggestions by the World Summit for Sustainable Development, and the 5th World Parks Congress to establish a global and representative network of marine protected areas by 2012 (ASOC, 2010). This article will look at the Commission and the Convention currently governing fishing in the Ross Sea, as well as at the MPA proposal put forward.