The 35th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM XXXV) and 15th meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP XV), which met in Hobart during the period 11 to 20 June 2012, reviewed, inter alia, the implementation of existing Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs) and Antarctic Specially Managed Areas (ASMAs). CEP XV and ATCM XXXV called for closer consultation with CCAMLR on ASPAs and ASMAs. The Chairman of CCAMLR’s Scientific Committee, Dr Christopher Jones, who participated in CEP XV as the SC-CAMLR Observer, has undertaken to raise this matter in SC-CAMLR through the Working Group on Ecosystems Monitoring and Management (WG-EMM) when it convenes in Tenerife in late June 2012.



In the meantime, the Secretariat draws the attention of Members responsible for fishing vessels (including transhipment vessels) operating in the Convention Area to the Commission and Scientific Committee’s recent discussions of fishing activities in ASPAs and ASMAs. CCAMLR-XXX (paragraph 4.15) acknowledges that cooperation with the ATCM is important to ensure that fishing activities do not compromise the ecosystem values afforded special protection by the ATCM.



The locations of ASPAs and ASMAs, and information on their management plans and purposes for designation, are given in the Antarctic Protected Areas Database. This database is available from the website of the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty (www.ats.aq).