Opening of the new headquarters of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources at its 24th meeting

Opening

Thank you Dr Miller

Honourable Ministers Ian Macdonald and Lara Giddings

Lord Mayor Rob Valentine

Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen

It is a great pleasure to be here to open the new headquarters of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources.

And to welcome all those delegates from overseas who have travelled to Hobart for CCAMLR's 24th annual meeting.

As a young Third Secretary at Australia's mission to the EU in Brussels, in the late 1970s, one of my first tasks was to lobby for countries to sign and support the Convention that underlines the work of the Commission.

Since that time, things have moved on considerably

- I've changed jobs

- the Convention has entered into force

- there are now twenty four members of the Commission and a further eight signatories to the Convention

- and today we open CCAMLR's new headquarters in time for its 24th annual meeting.

Australia is committed to playing a significant role in the work of the Commission.

The first Conference for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources was held in Canberra in May 1980.

Australia was an original signatory to the Convention, an original Member of the Commission, and we act as depository for the Convention.

We are a strong advocate for both the conservation of Antarctic marine living resources, and the suppression of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the Southern Ocean which undermines such conservation.

Australia's proximity to the Antarctic continent places us in a unique position to assist the work of the Commission.

In addition to our scientific contributions, Australia's armed, year-round Southern Ocean patrol program is providing a strong deterrent to illegal fishing in the Southern Ocean.

Australia's role as host of the CCAMLR Secretariat, one of only three international organisations based in Australia, reinforces our commitment to this very important organisation.

As host of the Secretariat, we are very happy to have played such an important role in establishing these wonderful new headquarters

- We listened to the views expressed by CCAMLR Members on the desire for a purpose-built meeting venue

- We recognised the benefits of having the headquarters and the meeting venue incorporated in the same building

- We worked closely with the Executive-Secretary of CCAMLR to establish a venue that meets everyone's needs

- And we have made a commitment, together with the State Government of Tasmania, to fund the lease of the headquarters.

The Convention that underlies the work of the Commission builds on the international cooperation that exists under the Antarctic Treaty system for the management and protection of the pristine Antarctic environment.

The Convention encourages scientific research, so as to increase knowledge of the Antarctic marine ecosystem and provide a sound foundation on which to base management decisions.

But it also acknowledges that the marine living resources of the Southern Ocean are an important resource for the world's population, by incorporating the concept of rational use.

In many ways, the Convention is an excellent model for the management of an environmental resource

- it provides a forum for international cooperation

- it recognises conservation as a goal

- but is realistic enough to appreciate that resources should and will be exploited, and seeks to ensure that this is done sustainably.

It's an approach that is driven by scientific data and evidence, rather than emotion or ideology.

Since 1982, the work of the Commission has been instrumental in conserving Antarctic Marine Living Resources.

Members have successfully demonstrated the high level of International and scientific cooperation that is necessary to achieve the objectives of the Convention.

But in a rapidly evolving global marine environment, it is not enough to rely on the achievements of the past.

Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing seriously undermines CCAMLR's conservation aims. IUU fishing not only threatens the future of the stocks and by-catch that are taken, but has an adverse and unfair impact on the fishing industries of Member States that comply with CCAMLR Measures.

Combating IUU fishing has become one of the major challenges that CCAMLR now faces. Over the past few years, CCAMLR has adopted a range of measures aimed at addressing the IUU problem. These measures are positive steps and I encourage Members to continue to maintain a strong focus on addressing this problem.

As we begin the 24th Meeting of the Commission, Australia remains committed to improving the ability of the Commission to meet the conservation objectives of the Convention, and to strengthen the effectiveness of CCAMLR's conservation measures.

For consideration at this year's Meeting, Australia has proposed a Resolution that condemns the increasing number of vessels flagged to non-Parties that fish in the CCAMLR Area and calls for strong action against the flag States and vessels that engage in such activity.

This Resolution will strengthen recognition of the serious threat that such fishing presents to conservation and sustainable fishing and I encourage Members to support the Resolution.

Australia also supports other initiatives aimed at combating the IUU fishing problem, including:

- improving the IUU vessel list for non-Contracting Parties

- continuing to improve the catch documentation scheme

- maximising the benefits from the centralised Vessel Monitoring System (cVMS)

- and encouraging the Commission to develop a program of technical cooperation to help countries to support and implement CCAMLR conservation measures.

CCAMLR is an important part of the wider Antarctic Treaty System, which has as its overall aim, the peaceful protection of the Antarctic Continent.

Australia was very pleased, at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Stockholm in June this year, to secure agreement, after many years of negotiations, on a liability Annex to the Madrid Protocol relating to Environmental Protection of the Marine Environment.

We view this achievement as an important first step in the development of a comprehensive liability regime for the Antarctic Environment and we look forward to the Annex's early entry into force.

I wish the delegates of the Members of CCAMLR, a productive and successful two weeks here in Hobart.

I know that you are contributing significantly to the international effort to manage and protect the important Antarctic marine living resources.

And I trust that you will all enjoy your new surroundings for this year's meeting, as well as for many years to come.

ENDS