On November 4, the 41st meeting of the Commission on the conservation of Antarctic marine living resources was concluded in Australia. The international organization is engaged in protecting and controlling marine living resources in Antarctica. A large team of researchers is working on the issue of water-based creatures' preservation. They address issues that help to maintain environmental conditions around the world. Therefore, the meeting discussed essential aspects of the fish industry and the state of Antarctica, as well as selected a new head of the organization for the next 2 years.
Ukraine gained its presidency — this was the first time since 1994 that Ukrainian gained membership in the organization. The commission members elected the new head of the Ukrainian diplomat, the former ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Chile, Vitalii Tsymbaliuk.
He will head the Commission on the conservation of Antarctic marine Living resources until autumn of 2024. During this time, Tsymbaliuk plans to continue carrying out ecological, oceanological, and biological research and to involve the Ukrainian scientific-research vessel Noosphere. Also important for the new head is preserving different kinds of marine and ocean inhabitants: whales, seals, and penguins. For this purpose, Ukraine proposed establishing a marine protected area at the 41st meeting. But Russia and China were against it, so the decision was not made.
Currently, Ukraine has 2 years to defend the interests of the Antarctic waters and its scientific and fishing lures. Recall that earlier, the Board of Governors of the World Bank chose a representative of Ukraine as the head of the structure.
