Argentina and Chile want to create a Marine Protected Area to protect krill, but China and Russia block it – Noticias Ambientales

Proposal for an Antarctic Marine Protected Area and its Alignment with SDG 14

Binational Initiative for Ocean Conservation

• Argentina and Chile have presented a joint proposal to the international community for the creation of a 670,000 km2 Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Antarctica.
• This initiative directly supports Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water) by aiming to conserve and sustainably use marine resources and protect vital ecosystems.
• The proposal is a critical step toward achieving SDG Target 14.5, which calls for the conservation of at least 10 percent of coastal and marine areas.

Core Objective: Safeguarding a Keystone Species from Overexploitation

• The primary goal is to protect Antarctic krill, a small crustacean, from the pressures of intensive commercial fishing.
• Krill is a foundational species in the Antarctic food web, essential for the survival of numerous species, including whales, seals, and penguins.
• By regulating krill harvesting, the proposal directly addresses SDG Target 14.4 (end overfishing) and SDG Target 14.2 (sustainably manage and protect marine ecosystems).

Governance, Partnerships, and Challenges in Achieving Sustainability Goals

The Role of International Cooperation (SDG 17)

• The binational proposal has been presented annually since 2018 to the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), a multilateral body.
• This collaborative effort between Argentina and Chile exemplifies Sustainable Development Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
• The CCAMLR’s official mandate is to preserve Antarctic marine fauna and flora from commercial exploitation, aligning with the principles of SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Geopolitical Obstacles to Conservation

1. The initiative has been consistently blocked by the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation, two of the 26 CCAMLR members.
2. The CCAMLR operates on a consensus basis, allowing the commercial and geopolitical interests of individual nations to impede progress toward global conservation targets under SDG 14.
3. International tensions, such as the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, further complicate decision-making processes within the Convention.

Scientific Framework for Sustainable Management

• The scientific plan for the proposed MPA establishes a combination of complete no-fishing zones and areas where krill extraction is permitted under strict quotas.
• This framework is designed to balance conservation with sustainable use, a core principle of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• The designated region for the MPA covers the Western Antarctic Peninsula and the south of the Scotia Arc.

National Actions to Uphold SDG Commitments

Enhancing Enforcement and Monitoring Capabilities (SDG 16)

• In response to the diplomatic stalemate, Argentina has initiated measures to strengthen its institutional capacity, in line with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
• The Secretariat of Malvinas, Antarctica, Oceanic Policy, and South Atlantic has launched a training program for Antarctic fishing inspectors, including personnel from the Navy and the Joint Antarctic Command.

Surveillance and Data Collection

• In early 2025, Argentina conducted its first aerial surveillance and inspection flight over the fishing fleet in Antarctic waters.
• This monitoring activity is crucial for combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, a key component of SDG Target 14.4.
• Surveillance also covers vast oceanic areas, including disputed territories where unilateral fishing licenses are granted without the consensus of CCAMLR members, highlighting ongoing challenges in the governance of international waters.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

SDG 14: Life Below Water

• The article’s central theme is the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources in Antarctica. The proposal to create a Marine Protected Area (MPA) directly aims to protect marine ecosystems, manage fish stocks (krill) sustainably, and conserve marine biodiversity, which are the core objectives of SDG 14.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The initiative is a “binational proposal” between Argentina and Chile, highlighting international cooperation. The entire process unfolds within the framework of the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), an international body involving 26 member countries. The article also discusses the challenges to this partnership, such as geopolitical rivalries and blockages by China and Russia, which are relevant to the dynamics of global partnerships for sustainable development.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• The article addresses the issue of “intensive fishing” and “commercial exploitation” of krill by several countries. The call for “strict quotas” and the CCAMLR’s goal to ensure “all fishing is conducted in a sustainable and responsible manner” directly relate to achieving sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources, a key aspect of SDG 12.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

Under SDG 14: Life Below Water

1. Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts.
   • The proposal to create an MPA is a direct action to protect the Antarctic marine ecosystem from the adverse impacts of intensive fishing on krill, which is a “key link in the Antarctic ecosystem.”
2. Target 14.4: By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing.
   • The article discusses the need to save krill from “intensive fishing” and “excessive commercial exploitation.” The scientific plan for the MPA, which establishes “no-fishing zones” and allows extraction only under “strict quotas,” is a direct attempt to regulate harvesting and prevent overfishing.
3. Target 14.5: By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas.
   • The proposal explicitly calls for the creation of a “Marine Protected Area of 670,000 km2 in Antarctica,” which is a quantifiable contribution to this global conservation target.
4. Target 14.c: Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law.
   • The entire effort is channeled through the CCAMLR, which was “established in 1982 as part of the Antarctic Treaty System.” This demonstrates the use of an international convention to formulate and review “conservation measures” and enhance the sustainable use of marine resources.

Under SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

1. Target 17.14: Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development.
   • The article illustrates a lack of policy coherence, where the “commercial interest of the fishing powers” (like China and Russia) conflicts with the conservation goals promoted by Argentina and Chile within the same international forum (CCAMLR). The goal of the proposal is to achieve a consensus that aligns commercial activities with environmental protection.
2. Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development.
   • The “joint work between the Argentine Antarctic Institute and its Chilean counterpart” to create a “binational proposal” is a clear example of a partnership to share knowledge and advance a common goal. The CCAMLR itself represents the mechanism for a global partnership, even with its internal conflicts.

Under SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

1. Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
   • The article’s focus on regulating the “exponential tonnages of krill” extracted each year to ensure fishing is “sustainable and responsible” directly aligns with the sustainable management of a key natural marine resource.

Indicators Mentioned or Implied

For SDG 14: Life Below Water

• Coverage of protected areas (Indicator 14.5.1): The article provides a specific, quantifiable measure for this indicator by stating the proposed size of the “Marine Protected Area of 670,000 km2.”
• Implementation of management measures: The proposal for “no-fishing zones” and “strict quotas” for krill extraction are implied indicators of progress towards regulating harvesting and managing the ecosystem.
• Enforcement and surveillance activities: Argentina’s actions, such as the “training plan to train Antarctic fishing inspectors” and conducting “surveillance and aerial inspection flight of the fishing fleet,” serve as indicators of efforts to implement and enforce conservation measures.
• Health of marine ecosystems: The article implies that the population status of species dependent on krill (seals, whales, penguins), whose “survival is at risk,” is an indicator of the overall health of the Antarctic ecosystem.

For SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Existence of bilateral and multilateral agreements: The “binational proposal” between Argentina and Chile and the ongoing engagement within the 26-member CCAMLR are direct indicators of partnership mechanisms being utilized.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: noticiasambientales.com