Comparing the proposed Domain 1 MPA and revised krill fishery management approach: conservation, displacement, and ecosystem monitoring

The Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) and Scotia Sea are critical regions of the Southern Ocean, facing increasing human activity through Antarctic krill fisheries, increasing tourism, and pronounced climate change impacts. This study evaluates two management strategies designed to independently safeguard this ecosystem: the proposed Domain 1 Marine Protected Area (D1MPA) and the revised krill fisheries management approach (KFM). Our analysis compares these strategies across three dimensions: conservation objectives, fishing displacement, and ecosystem monitoring. Results indicate that the KFM approach provides better coverage for both breeding and non-breeding predators as well as prey species, aligning closely with Article II of the Convention. In contrast, the D1MPA GPZs protect breeding predators to a slightly lesser extent and may not be sufficient for species experiencing population declines. Further, spatial coverage for non-breeding predators and prey groups are nearly half compared to coverage by KFM. Implementing GPZs would reduce the fishing area in critical zones by up to 53%, potentially leading to increased concentration of fishing effort in other areas, thus posing new risks to krill-dependent predators. Our findings underscore the necessity of harmonizing the strengths of both the D1MPA and KFM approaches. The D1MPA's identification of critical habitats and the KFM's dynamic nature offers a complementary framework that could robustly address the conservation and rational use objectives set forth by CCAMLR.