Editorial note

The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources was concluded to develop and implement conservation measures aimed at protecting Antarctic marine resources from over-harvesting. The following conservation principles must be complied with when engaging in harvesting or other related activities: prevention of decreases in harvested populations to levels below which stable recruitment cannot be ensured; maintenance of ecological relationship with dependent and related species; and prevention of changes to the marine ecosystem which are not reversible over two or three decades (Article II). Parties agree to abide by the principles and purposes of the Antarctic Treaty and comply with the recommendations on environmental protection of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties, regardless of whether they are Parties to that Treaty (Articles III–V).

The Convention establishes the Commission on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources composed of representatives of those Parties which participated in the meeting at which the Convention was adopted and of those Parties acceding to the Convention which engage in research or harvesting in relation to marine living resources (Article VII). Each member of the Commission must contribute to its budget, with Members giving equally for the first five years and thereafter contributing proportionally based on the amount of resources harvested (Article XIX). The Commission is to facilitate scientific research; compile, analyse, disseminate and publish information on harvested and dependent species; formulate conservation measures and implement a system of observation and inspection on board ships engaged in harvesting or scientific research (Article IX(1)).