A proposal for the establishment of a Ross Sea Region marine protected area

The delegations of New Zealand and the United States submit this revised proposal for the establishment of a marine protected area (MPA) in the Ross Sea Region (“Ross Sea Region Marine Protected Area”) by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (Commission or CCAMLR).  First submitted at CCAMLR XXXI in 2012, again at CCAMLR SM-II (CCAMLR-SM-II/04) and CCAMLR XXXII in 2013 (CCAMLR-XXXII/27), again at CCAMLR XXXIII in 2014 (CCAMLR-XXXIII/21), and at CCAMLR XXXIV in 2015 (CCAMLR-XXXIV/29 and CCAMLR-XXXIV/29rev1), our delegations propose that CCAMLR establish this MPA:  to conserve marine living resources; maintain ecosystem structure and function; protect vital ecosystem processes and areas of ecological significance; and promote scientific research, including through the establishment of reference areas.  We thank Members for the continued constructive discussions and comments regarding the Ross Sea Region MPA proposal.  At the end of CCAMLR XXXIV we submitted a revised MPA proposal (CCAMLR-XXXIV/29rev1), which took careful consideration of prior discussions and comments received during that meeting.  We are again submitting that version of the MPA proposal to CCAMLR XXXV for further consideration by Members.  Among the key revisions in the proposal are:  the addition of a new Krill Research Zone; an acknowledgement that there will need to be consensus of the Commission to continue the marine protected area beyond the agreed period of designation; and clarification regarding the conduct of research activities in the MPA.  We look forward to working together with Members at CCAMLR XXXV on the proposal to reach consensus this year for CCAMLR to establish an MPA in the Ross Sea Region.