Updated 2025-10-17

Overview

This is a compendium of collated scientific knowledge for Kong Håkon VII hav to support the proposal for the Weddell Sea Marine Protected Area Phase 2 (WSMPA P2) and the associated Research and Monitoring Plan. It contains maps of spatial layers of observational, modelled data and analyses as well as expert knowledge.

The compendium consists of:

Planning area for WSMPA Phase 2
List of Objectives (O)
Objectives and associated directly relevant spatial layers
Supplementary Information that is relevant to one or more Objectives
New developments since 2023

Figures in this Atlas are projected in South Pole Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area projection (EPSG: 102020), following WG-EMM-17/42. https://meetings.ccamlr.org/en/wg-emm-17/42

Additional information: Dr. Cecilie von Quillfeldt (cecilie.von.quillfeldt@npolar.no)

MPA planning area

Figure 1. The planning area for WSMPA Phase 2 referred to for simplicity as the MAUD area is bounded by the Prime Meridian (0) and 30 east, and to a northern border of 60 south (solid purple area).

Figure 2. Map of the planning area of WSMPA Phase 2 in relation to WSMPA Phase 1. A draft conservation measure for WSMPA Phase 1 was submitted to CCAMLR in 2020 (CCAMLR-39/06 Rev. 1).

List of Objectives

O1: Protection of essential habitats of key pelagic prey species. Key species include, Antarctic krill, ice/crystal krill and Antarctic silverfish.
O2: Protection of essential habitats of Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni).
O3: Protection of essential habitats for key demersal fish species.
O4: Protection of essential habitats for zoobenthic species. This includes areas with high habitat heterogeneity and species richness to preserve the ecological function of these habitats as “steppingstones” and sources for (re)colonization for associated communities and species.
O5: Protection of large-scale ecosystem processes essential to maintaining the productivity and functional integrity of the ecosystem.
O6: Protection of essential pelagic habitats for ocean- and land-based top predators. This includes flying seabirds, penguins, whales, and seals.
O7: Protection of representative portion of pelagic marine environments.
O8: Protection of a representative portion of benthic marine habitats.

Objectives

O1: Essential habitats of key pelagic prey species

Protection of essential habitats of key pelagic prey species. Key species include, Antarctic krill, ice/crystal krill and Antarctic silverfish.

Antarctic krill (Euphasia superba)

Justification: Keystone species and essential prey for many Southern Ocean species including whales, seabirds, and fish. Rational use.

Description: A habitat suitability model was developed to identify the predicted habitat and associated uncertainty for adult Antarctic krill during the summer.

Spatial resolution: 0.25°

Spatial coverage: Kong Håkon VII hav

Temporal resolution: austral summer

Data period: 1977-2019

Data type: Observations and habitat suitability model with uncertainty.

CCAMLR documentation:
https://meetings.ccamlr.org/en/sc-camlr-40/bg/19

Scientific analysis:
Merkel et al. 2023. Quantifying circumpolar summer habitat for Antarctic krill and Ice krill, two key species of the Antarctic marine ecosystem. ICES J. Mar. Sci. 80(6):1773-1786. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsad110

test

Figure 3. Estimated Antarctic krill summer habitat suitability in the MAUD area with associated uncertainty (inset).

Derived binary layer

The continuous output has been transformed to a binary presence/absence (included/not included) map for subsequent spatial prioritization. (details about the threshold calculations can be found here.)

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Figure 3.b. Binary Antarctic krill summer habitat in the MAUD area. Areas are either included (dark magenta) or not included (light magenta) based on the results of the habitat suitability model and a threshold analysis.

Ice krill (Euphasia crystallorophias)

Justification: Keystone species and essential prey for ice-associated species

Description: A habitat selection model was developed to identify the predicted habitat and associated uncertainty for adult Ice krill during the summer.