By KYIV. Nov 7 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine has chaired the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, Minister of Education and Science Serhiy Shkarlet says.
"An important victory for Ukraine in the scientific field. The 41st meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources ended in Australia, during which Ukraine chaired this organization. Ukraine chaired the Commission for the first time since gaining membership in the organization [1994]. Vitaliy Tsymbaliuk, a Ukrainian diplomat, former Ukrainian ambassador to the Republic of Chile, became its new chairman," Shkarlet wrote on the Telegram channel.
He noted that this is an opportunity for Ukraine to defend scientific and fishery interests in Antarctica.
In addition, according to the minister, for ecological, oceanological and biological studies of the sea waters of the Antarctic, they plan to involve the Ukrainian research vessel Noosphere.
Also, Ukraine continues to represent its fishing fleet in the Southern Ocean for two types of fishing, thanks to which Antarctica remains an important fishing region.
"In the context of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, fishing in Antarctica is the only way to provide Ukrainians with their own products. Even in difficult wartime conditions, Ukraine is actively contributing to the preservation of Antarctic marine ecosystems and defending its own interests in the international arena," Shkarlet wrote.
