| Summary: | The Southern Ocean is the fourth largest ocean in the world, it sustains a wide variety of marine life and plays a significant role in the global climate. No legal definition of the Southern Ocean exists, although there are biological and physical boundaries. Various human activities, such as science, tourism, bioprospecting and fishing have been identified. They pose environmental and legislative challenges to the Southern Ocean which have not yet been fully resolved. Climate change, which is often neglected as a result of human activity, is also interfering with the marine ecosystem. The current shortcomings in regulating these activities have been identified and recommendations have been made in order to protect the future of the Southern Ocean. The Southern Ocean is the fourth largest ocean in the world, it sustains a wide variety of marine life and plays a significant role in the global climate. No legal definition of the Southern Ocean exists, although there are biological and physical boundaries. Various human activities, such as science, tourism, bioprospecting and fishing have been identified. They pose environmental and legislative challenges to the Southern Ocean which have not yet been fully resolved. Climate change, which is often neglected as a result of human activity, is also interfering with the marine ecosystem. The current shortcomings in regulating these activities have been identified and recommendations have been made in order to protect the future of the Southern Ocean.
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