Antarctica remains one of Earth’s most pristine regions, yet growing scientific evidence indicates a paradigm shift in its oceanic and atmospheric conditions. The resilience of the Southern Ocean, once considered robust against global climate pressures, is weakening. This article examines the urgent need for enhanced protection through the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) and the establishment of a representative system of marine protected areas (MPAs). Drawing from recent assessments, including the 2023 Marine Ecosystem Assessment for the Southern Ocean (MEASO), this analysis highlights the accelerating environmental changes, governance challenges, and the need to move protection of Antarctica in line with other international frameworks, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity’s 30×30 target. Recommendations are presented to reiterate CCAMLR’s conservation mandate through the immediate implementation of pending MPA proposals, development of a Domain 9 MPA, and refining nationally determined MPAs in the Southern Ocean to mitigate against climate change.
