Progress report on the scientific data compilation and analyses in support of the planning of a potential Marine Protected Area (MPA) east of the zero meridian in the Weddell Sea (Antarctica)

In recent years, CCAMLR Member States have undertaken substantial efforts to designate marine protected areas (MPAs) within the CCAMLR Convention Area in order to conserve marine living resources and marine biodiversity. During the Commission meeting of 2018, a proposal was made by Norway on an approach to facilitate progress on the further development of the Weddell Sea MPA (WSMPA) proposal (CCAMLR XXXVII para 6.31, 6.37). Most CCAMLR Members supported Norway’s suggestion (CCAMLR XXXVII para 6.39) as a useful way forward to achieve consensus and offered to work collaboratively with Norway, the EU and its Member States to progress on Norway’s proposed design to protect areas in the eastern part of Domain 4 for submission to the Commission in 3 to 4 years. Work on this project commenced with an international expert workshop organised by Norwegian scientists in Tromsø (13-14 May 2019; WG-EMM2019/14). Here we show progress on data acquisition and data, progress on the assessment of suitable analytical and modelling approaches and the project timeline (milestones and deliverables) to July 2020.