Exploring the future management of both harvesting and conservation of Southern Ocean Fisheries

Abstract

The Southern Ocean has been exploited for its marine living resources for majority of its history. This history has provided many challenges for its ecosystem and species, some which are still recovering today. Due to the concerns of the fisheries in this region and their history of exploitation, the Commission for the Conservation of Marine Living Resources, CCAMLR, has constructed an Ecosystem Monitoring Programme to monitor the ecosystem at a multi-species level. This approach is crucial as one of the greatest fished species, Krill is an essential component of the ecosystem to which many predators rely as their food source. One must ensure that these essential food sources must not be depleted as this would cause a negative spiral effect for all species in the Southern Ocean.

Overtime the Southern Ocean fisheries over exploited stocks to which species became severely threatened and close to extinction. CCAMLR must closely monitor these species and make sure that this does not happen again and that stocks are able to be revived. CCAMLR must also take into consideration ecological impacts such as climate change which will influence this ecosystem and stocks.

Due to an increase in technological advances, it is vital that CCAMLR use this to their advantage in assuring that they have the best technology to ensure the greatest management practices. The future of the fisheries must rely on not only CCAMLR’s management but the individual fisheries and states to report and practice ethically as well as sustainably.