Sustainable Management in the Southern Ocean: CCAMLR Science

The Antarctic Treaty System promotes science as the basis for conserving and managing Antarctic resources. The 1980 Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CAMLR Convention) further advocates science, as well as a precautionary approach and ecosystem perspective to manage harvesting of Antarctic marine living resources. This review presents case studies to illustrate the CAMLR Commission’s (CCAMLR) use of science, precaution, and an ecosystem approach to managing Antarctic fisheries. The case studies illustrate CCAMLR’s use of small-scale management units, bycatch measures, spatial management measures, and ecosystem-directed initiatives. These various studies highlight the value of science to CCAMLR’s management efforts and the utility of CCAMLR as a model of large-scale marine ecosystem management.