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Enhanced regional cooperation needed to protect the Patagonian Sea and its biological diversity The Patagonian Sea is a trans-boundary marine ecosystem that surrounds the Southern Cone of South America. The mixing of warm and cold-temperate water currents make the Patagonian Sea one of the most productive marine areas on Earth. Unsustainable resource uses by human society, coupled with fragmented policy responses threaten the biological productivity and magnificent wildlife populations of the Patagonian Sea. Timely implementation of ecosystem-based management and cooperative regional governance could prevent further damage and maintain ecosystem function in the face of increasing pressures from resource exploitation and climate change.
An extensive marine ecosystem It comprises large sectors of the Southern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans which are connected by cold and warm ocean currents and share a rich marine biodiversity. This broad geographic scope reflects ecosystem processes, as living species often exceed national scales and extend beyond political borders.
Southern Right Whale - Š Alberto Patrian
Ecosystem services
Catch of Argentine Hake - © Diego González Zevallos
The Patagonian Sea provides ecological services of global importance including climate regulation, food, wastewater purification, transportation routes for people and resources, employment opportunities, tourism and recreational activities. It is one of the most productive coastal-oceanic areas in the Southern Hemisphere, providing a great abundance of food for wildlife and humans alike. Its natural spectacles are globally renowned, especially the huge breeding aggregations of penguins, albatrosses, whales, dolphins, elephant seals and sea-lions.
Threats The Patagonian Sea suffers from significant human-caused impacts. The Forum, with assistance from dozens of scientific experts representing many countries and organizations, produced the first holistic diagnosis1 of the state of the regional ecosystem. The primary threats to the Patagonian Sea are: Lack of international dialogue on relevant management issues among countries and territories in the region due to sovereignty conflict and other causes. La Plata River Dolphin - © Pablo Bordino
Pollution from hydrocarbons including chronic, small spills from ships of all sizes, and occasional large spills from the oil and gas industry. Unsustainable fishing practices including overharvest, incidental by-catch of many species, and poor management of discards. Widespread pollution with solid waste, debris, plastics, and liquid effluents from urban-industrial areas, ports and commercial fisheries. Invasive alien species on land and at sea. Global warming which represents an additional stressor on ecosystem function.
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FACT-SHEET – Forum for the Conservation of the Patagonian Sea 2012
About the Forum The Forum is an international network of NGOs2 established in 2004, whose mission is to identify synergy and promote collaboration among international, regional and local organizations working to improve management and maintain ecosystem integrity of the Patagonian Sea and neighboring waters. The Forum enhances the impact of its members by promoting information exchange; supporting capacity building; facilitating joint initiatives and providing assistance to individual members. The Forum’s vision is an ecologically healthy and diverse Patagonian Sea, capable of meeting the needs of Magellanic Penguins - © William Conway (WCS)
people while maintaining one of the world’s most productive and spectacular marine ecosystems.
Current Forum projects Forum Lighthouses These high-priority sites for conservation action include open ocean and coastal habitats. The Forum is currently developing detailed site profiles, and actively exploring opportunities for collaborative conservation work. Clean Patagonian Sea The Forum is leading the first regional assessment of threats to biodiversity resulting from an array of pollution sources. The © Rodolfo Werner
assessment is focused initially upon the ‘Forum Lighthouses’ sites. Young Leaders of Marine Conservation The Forum is promoting a training program for young professionals working in marine conservation roles within NGOs, academia, governments and private sector. Three international capacity-building workshops have been hosted in Argentina, and the network encompasses 40 people to date. Further workshops are being planned in Chile and Uruguay.
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FACT-SHEET – Forum for the Conservation of the Patagonian Sea 2012
Significant areas for biodiversity in the Patagonian Sea The Forum has identified 22 marine areas of high ecological importance (Forum Lighthouses) on the basis of: concentrations of biodiversity; provision of key habitat for endemic or threatened species; contributions to ecosystem function and services; economic, social, and cultural value to human society. Some of these areas are threatened by present and/or future development, while many Lighthouses remain without legal protection.
© Valeria Falabella (WCS) 1. Cerro Verde and La Coronilla inlets; 2. Saline front and shelf-break front of La Plata River; 3. El Rincón coastal-marine system; 4. Valdés Peninsula; 5. Gulfs of Northern Patagonia; 6. Northern San Jorge Gulf; 7.Corridor for Magellanic Penguin; 8. “Blue Hole” in the Patagonian Shelf-break; 9. Patagonian Shelfbreak; 10. Pingüino Island; 11. Falklands Islands (Islas Malvinas)3 front; 12. Burdwood (Namuncurá) Bank; 13. Staten Island and Beagle Channel; 14. Cape Horn; 15. Lomas Bay; 16 Magellan Strait; 17. Admiralty Sound; 18. Francisco Coloane Coastal-marine Protected Area; 19. Madre de Dios Island; 20. Ladrillero Channel; 21. Tortel Cove; 22. Corcovado Gulf – Guafo Island. 4
FACT-SHEET – Forum for the Conservation of the Patagonian Sea 2012
Opportunities for action Cooperative mechanisms for joint scientific research, integrated planning and ecosystem-based management activities aimed at the long-term conservation of the trans-boundary ecosystem could be facilitated by national governments and international bodies. Integrated education, participation and outreach programs could be undertaken by NGOs and academia in order to improve awareness of marine conservation issues among inhabitants of the region. Strong, long lasting, fully resourced conservation initiatives could be implemented by donors, corporations and international conservation organizations on a scale reflecting the extent of the Patagonian Sea.
Key areas of the Patagonian Sea, such as the “Forum Lighthouses”, could be adopted as pilot sites for testing best practice: Ecosystem-based approaches to management Marine spatial planning and implementation of spatial management regimes, including coastal and marine protected areas Environmental impact assessment Mitigation measures to reduce the impacts of fisheries Democratic and transparent governance regimes
© Karumbé
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FACT-SHEET – Forum for the Conservation of the Patagonian Sea 2012
For further information Contact fomarpat@gmail.com
DISCLAIMER Forum statements and activities are without prejudice to the views of governments regarding sovereignty in the region. Members’ involvement in the Forum will take place in a framework of respect for the interests of all countries in the region, their governments and their peoples. Membership to this Forum does not imply any opinion or position with respect to sovereignty issues, nor jeopardize any state or international organization’s opinion regarding the boundaries and legal status of maritime areas or territories in relation to the area of interest.
With support from:
Produced by the Forum for the Conservation of the Patagonian Sea and Areas of Influence, 2012. Designed by Mandragora DG. © SeaWiFS Project, NASA – ORBIMAGE (http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery).
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The Forum has developed a trans-disciplinary diagnosis about the condition of the marine ecosystem with the collaboration
of 80 scientists and experts from several countries, which was published in 2008 in the book Synthesis of the Status of Conservation of the Patagonian Sea (available at http://www.marpatagonico.org/libro/sintesis-mar-patagonico.pdf). Extensive reports in Spanish with English abstracts from different scientific disciplines can be read online (http://www. marpatagonico.org/libro). Inspired by the latter, WCS and BirdLife International led the project “Atlas of the Patagonian Sea, Species and Spaces”, in an effort to integrate scientific information on location of top predator species in the sea (http://www.atlas-marpatagonico.org). 2
Current active members (2012) are: Aquamarina, BirdLife International, Conservation International, Fundación Cambio
Democrático, Fundación Patagonia Natural, Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina, Instituto de Conservación de Ballenas, Oceana América del Sur and Wildlife Conservation Society. Current associate members are: Antarctic Research Trust, Centro Ballena Azul, Fundación Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, Global Penguin Society, Karumbé and Pew Environment Group. 3
A dispute exists between the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
concerning sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas). This quote is made following Editorial Directive ST/CS/ SER.A/42, issued August 3, 1999 by the Secretariat of the United Nations.
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FACT-SHEET – Forum for the Conservation of the Patagonian Sea 2012