Antarctica

low temperatures high seasonality low precipitation high aquatic biodiversity

contains large amounts of the earth’s fresh water scientific exploration albedo - reflects the sun’s rays carbon sequestration resources

overfishing tourism global warming mining/resource extraction

designations - world’s first MPA waste management tourism controls the paris agreement antarctic treaty

2015 - international treaty adopted by 196 parties at the UN climate conference limits temp increase to 1.5 degrees above pre industrial levels take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

commission for the conservation of antarctic marine living resources 1982 - 27 members set of conservation measures that determine the use of marine resources aims to preserve species diversity and stability of the marine ecosystem restricts industrial fishing

signed 1959 by 12 nations –> now 52 meeting held annually designations include: ASPA - antarctic specially protected area, ASMA - antarctic specially managed area, MPA - marine protected area 14 articles

no military use complete freedom of scientific investigation all territorial claims are to be put aside ban on nuclear explosions and nuclear waste disposal nations must exchange plans for scientific programmes

IUCN = vulnerable population in South Georgia declining threatened by longline fishing - tangled in line and drown threatened by invasive mice on Gough Island

streamer lines - ropes with brightly coloured plastic streamers to create a fence weighted lines - pulled below the surface of the water

2004 - The International Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels CCAMLR