The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources was opened for signature at Canberra on 1 August 1980, until 31 December, by the States which took part in the Conference held there from 7 to 20 May. Drawn up at Canberra on 20 May, the English, French, Russian and Spanish texts equally authentic, deposited with the Government of Australia. Article XXVII: ratification, acceptance or approval; depositary Australia. Article XXVIII: entry into force on the thirtieth day after the eighth instrument of the original signatories — 7 April 1982. UNTS No. 22301, vol. 1329. It is not the 1959 Antarctic Treaty, nor the 1972 Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals, nor CRAMRA on mineral resource activities.

The preamble puts the conservation of the ecosystem of the seas surrounding Antarctica, with regard to the Antarctic Treaty and Recommendation IX-2. Article I: marine living resources south of 60° South and to the Antarctic Convergence. Article II: the objective is conservation, including rational use, on principles of stable recruitment, ecological relationships and reversibility — a framework, not a fishing handbook.

Articles III–V bind the Parties, including those which are not Parties to the Antarctic Treaty, to that Treaty’s principles and to the non-creation of sovereignty. Article VI: no derogation from the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling or the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals. Article VII establishes the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources; Article VIII: legal personality.

Article IX: the Commission formulates conservation measures on the best scientific evidence available — quantities, areas, protected species, seasons — not an operational gear catalogue. Notified measures become binding after 180 days, with a member’s right to notify that it cannot accept them. Article XIII: the Commission’s headquarters at Hobart, Tasmania. Article XIV: a consultative Scientific Committee.

Article XXIV provides for a system of observation and inspection, to be elaborated by the Commission — a principle, not a boarding handbook. Article XXV: disputes by peaceful means, with possible reference to the ICJ or to an arbitral tribunal under the Annex. Article XXIX: accession by States interested in research or harvesting and by regional economic integration organisations. Article XXX: amendments upon ratification by all Commission Members. Article XXXI: withdrawal effective on 30 June, with notice by 1 January.

Cover: Old Parliament House in Canberra, the capital’s parliamentary seat in the conference years; it is not the 1988 Parliament House, and we do not claim the signing room. Wikimedia Commons, free licence.

Sources consulted: Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources; CAMLR Convention text.