Abstract

This article examines the concepts of “research fishing” and “directed fishing” under the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area (RSrMPA) with specific regard to MPAs as a conservation tool, drawing comparisons with related concepts contained in two other agreements, namely, the 1946 International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW) and the 2018 Agreement to Prevent Unregulated High Seas Fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean (CAOF Agreement). It first reviews the negotiation processes of the RSrMPA, focusing on debates between so called “fishing states” and “conservation states,” as well as the political compromise that led to the establishment of the RSrMPA. Second, it takes a detailed look at the regulation of “research fishing” and “directed fishing,” which may be conducted in the RSrMPA and the three zones into which it is divided. Third, it analyzes how “scientific research activities” and “exploratory fishing” are regulated in the CAOF Agreement. Thereafter, this article examines the role of the concept of whaling “for purposes of scientific research” under the ICRW. It concludes with an assessment of differences and similarities between the analyzed regulatory instruments, which identifies recommended lessons for the design of Conservation and Management Measures establishing MPAs that both reflect the precautionary approach and strike a balance between conservation and utilization.

摘要

本文研究了罗斯海地区海洋保护区 (RSrMPA) 下的“研究性捕捞”和“定向捕捞”的概念，特别将海洋保护区作为保护工具，并与其他两个协议中包含的相关概念进行了比较，即1946 年《国际捕鲸管制公约》（ICRW）和 2018 年《防止北冰洋中部不受管制的公海渔业协定》（CAOF 协定）。它首先回顾了 RSrMPA 的谈判过程，重点关注所谓的“渔业国家”和“保护国家”之间的辩论，以及导致建立 RSrMPA 的政治妥协。其次，详细研究了可能在RSrMPA及其划分的三个区域进行的“研究性捕捞”和“定向捕捞”的监管。第三，分析了 CAOF 协议对“科学研究活动”和“探索性捕捞”的规定。此后，本文探讨了 ICRW 下“出于科学研究目的”捕鲸概念的作用。最后对所分析的监管工具之间的差异和相似之处进行了评估，确定了设计保护和管理措施的建议教训，这些措施既反映了预防性方法，又在保护和利用之间取得了平衡。