Highlights

Camping in Antarctica.
(Chris Wilson, Australian Antarctic Division)

• Antarctic Treaty measures were implemented, including proclaiming five new Antarctic Specially Protected Areas, three Antarctic Specially Managed Areas and three Historic Sites and Monuments, and declaring one Specially Protected Species.
• On the policy front, Australia participated in the meetings of all elements of the Antarctic Treaty system and made several key contributions including playing a lead role in developing a representative system of marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean.
• Progress was made at the 29th meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) on a number of Australia’s key priorities, including marine protected areas, improvements to observer coverage on krill vessels, sustainable management of fisheries in the Indian Ocean sector of the CCAMLR Area, and standards for an accreditation scheme for observers.
• In showing leadership in the conservation of endangered albatrosses and petrels, Australia:
  • made a new National Recovery Plan for Albatrosses and Giant Petrels
  • reviewed the Threat Abatement Plan to reduce seabird bycatch in longline fisheries
  • continued substantial research on ways to improve mitigation measures in pelagic longline fisheries, and led an intercessional contact group
  • provided other substantial support for the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels.
• The AAD organised, supported and led official Antarctic Treaty inspections of stations and facilities of other nations in Antarctica, completing inspections of Russia’s Leningradskaya and Vostok Stations, and Germany’s Gondwana Station.