CCAMLR, based in Hobart at 181 Macquarie Street, is responsible for conserving marine life in the Southern Ocean and for ensuring that any harvesting is done on a sustainable basis.

This international organisation was established in Hobart in 1982 under the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, negotiated by the Antarctic Treaty countries. It is a unique legal instrument which aims to ensure Southern Ocean fisheries are managed so as to minimize any harmful effects of fishing and to avoid irreversible damage to Southern Ocean and Antarctic marine ecosystems. The Convention encourages member nations, including Australia, to undertake research into sustainable management of the fisheries.

Thirty-one countries have signed the convention with twenty-four being Members of the Commission which administers the convention. CCAMLR and its associated institutions meet every year at its Headquarters to discuss strategies and measures to ensure that the Convention's objectives are met.

If you have a fast broadband internet connection, you can also view the media-rich version of this Pathways site, which includes an audio narrative and slideshow.