The workshop was convened to follow up the agreement in the 2018 meeting of CCAMLR on an approach to facilitate progress on the further development of the Weddell Sea MPA proposal. In its report, the Commission referred to how Norway: 1) encouraged agreement during that meeting on protective measures addressing the western subarea WSMPA proposal, and 2) undertook to engage with Germany and other Members to further collate and enhance information for the sub-area east of the prime meridian over the next few years.
The workshop that had multi-meber participation had two objectives. First, to discuss the available data, gaps in data and future priorities for data collection. As part of this objective, the aim of the workshop was to discuss ways to openly share existing and new data to support future MPAs in the MAUD area and provide input to other existing or future Antarctic MPAs. Second, to decide on a candidate list of realistic modelling options to support a scientifically sound future MPA proposal appropriate to the available data and scientific knowledge.