This article reviews the history and conservation efforts of CCAMLR to protect the marine living resources of the Southern Ocean. In this article I reflect on the achievements and challenges that this international organization had in its more than 30 years of existence in order to conserve the Antarctic resources and become a globally recognized intergovernmental institution regarding to the management of marine resources. This article contains many of the significant events that took place in the institution when I held the role of Executive Secretary of CCAMLR.