Bioregionalisation of the Southern Ocean – conservation applications & data needs Susie Grant British Antarctic Survey

maintain the integrity of representative examples of marine ecosystems protection for unique, rare, or high biodiversity areas reference sites for scientific research multiple-use areas to coordinate activities and minimise cumulative impacts support for fisheries management, e.g. areas for critical life-history stages protection for vulnerable or sensitive areas maintain critical aspects of ecosystem function, e.g. highly productive areas increase resilience to climate change or other environmental changes Why do we need marine protected & managed areas in the Southern Ocean?

Representative examples of major marine ecosystems Offshore / deep ocean areas Areas of critical ecosystem function Vulnerable areas Large-scale scientific reference sites Areas to increase resilience to the impacts of climate change What is missing from the current system of protected areas?

“A process to classify marine areas from a range of data on environmental attributes. The process results in a set of bioregions, each reflecting a unifying set of major environmental influences which shape the occurrence of biota and their interaction with the physical environment.” (2005 CCAMLR MPAs Workshop) “Simplifying the complex relationship between environment and species distributions, and capturing spatial patterns in the distribution of species and habitats at different scales.” (2007 CCAMLR Bioregionalisation Workshop) What is bioregionalisation?

Bioregionalisation of the Southern Ocean Clustering analysis on bathymetry, sea surface temp, and nutrient model data – grouping areas with similar characteristics.

Secondary bioregionalisation (based on depth, SST, silicate, nitrate, chl-a & ice concentration) – used by CCAMLR to identify areas of highest environmental heterogeneity, as ‘priority areas’ in which further work to identify MPAs should be focused.

1) Define planning region 2) Compile relevant biodiversity data 3) Set conservation objectives 4) Review existing conservation areas 5) Identify additional conservation areas Systematic conservation planning

Designated by CCAMLR in November First MPA to be established entirely within the High Seas. 94,000 km 2 No fishing or dumping of wastes; limited scientific research. Total area south of 60ºS now under strict protection is 0.5%. South Orkney Islands southern shelf MPA

Global commitment for nations to: “establish comprehensive, effectively managed, and ecologically representative networks of marine protected areas by 2012” World Summit on Sustainable Development, 2001

By 2010, collate relevant data for as many of the 11 priority regions as possible (and other regions as appropriate), and characterise each region in terms of biodiversity patterns and ecosystem processes, physical environmental features and human activities. By 2011, identify candidate areas for protection in as many of the priority regions as possible (and other regions as appropriate), based on the collated data and regional characterisations, and using appropriate selection methods. By end 2011, submit proposals for candidate areas for protection to the CCAMLR Scientific Committee. By 2012, submit proposals on a representative system of Southern Ocean MPAs to the CCAMLR Commission. CCAMLR milestones towards the 2012 deadline: