The status of the South Orkney Islands Southern Shelf Marine Protected Area (SOISS MPA)

The South Orkney Islands Southern Shelf Marine Protected Area (SOISS MPA), established by CCAMLR at the initiative of the United Kingdom in Subarea 48.2, has existed for over 15 years (CM 91-03, 2009). The third reporting period comes to an end in 2024, but several scientific and legal aspects of this MPA remain unclear. Clarity on the status of the SOISS MPA is vital for establishing a system of MPAs in the CCAMLR area and for the continued existence of the SOISS MPA. Considering the above, it is appropriate to provide some comments on the status of the SOISS MPA, especially since the Russian Federation has been actively involved in discussing papers on the SOISS MPA at CCAMLR forums.