Beijing expected to propose Cosmonauts Sea marine protected area
Beijing Proposes New Antarctic Marine Protected Area Ahead of CCAMLR Meeting
Ahead of the upcoming gathering of the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources—the intergovernmental organization tasked with managing Southern Ocean fisheries—Beijing is anticipated to put forward its own marine protected area initiative, as reported by Tiara Walters of Daily Maverick.
Beijing Uses Cosmonauts Sea Name to Signal Russia
As detailed by Tiara Walters of Daily Maverick, the envisioned marine reserve would cover waters that Beijing’s submission labels the Cosmonauts Sea, a designation stemming from 1962 Soviet expeditions to Antarctica. This choice of name serves as a deliberate nod to Russia, Beijing’s fellow holdout against the establishment of an Antarctic Peninsula marine protected area supported by the other commission members. It also acts as a diplomatic slight toward Western countries advocating for stronger protections around the Antarctic Peninsula.
Proposal Avoids Commercial Krill Fishing Areas
The geographic placement of the proposal avoids active commercial interests. While the alternative marine protected area centered on the Antarctic Peninsula overlaps with zones currently exploited by industrial krill fishing fleets, China’s plan targets a region devoid of active krill harvesting operations.
The protection framework also lacks permanence. In a departure from typical marine protected area expectations, the proposal relies on seasonal closures rather than year-round protection, with the entire designation set to expire after just 20 years.
Timeline Implications for the Antarctic Treaty
That 20-year expiration date falls close to 2048. That year marks the point when the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty becomes eligible for review under a special procedure, which includes provisions governing the prohibition on Antarctic mining.