Economic Activity In The Antarcitic Flashcards
When did sealing begin in the Antarctic and where?
The 18th century on the island of South Georgia
By 1800 what had happened to the seals?
The seals of South Georgia had been wiped out, interest then switched to the Shetland islands
Within 3 years how many seals has been killed?
300,000
When did whaling begin in the Antarctic and what were the main targets?
In the 19th century with the main targets being blue and right whales
What were the main products that whales were exploited for?
Oil and whalebone (baleen)
What was invented in 1868 which revolutionised whaling?
The exploding harpoon
What was developed by Norwegians in 1904?
Grytviken which at its height employed 300 people
Why was Grytviken abandoned in 1965?
Whale stocks had become seriously depleted
What happened in 1945 which eventually led to the end of whaling in 1985?
The establishment of the international whaling convention
How low were whale numbers in 1967 and what have they risen to in the present day?
There were only between 1000 and 2000 whales left in the wild in 1967, this has now risen to 5000
Which countries are now seeking to overturn the ban on whaling?
Japan, Iceland and Norway
Why did Japan send a whaling fleet to Antarctica in 2008?
‘Scientific research’
How much can a whale carcass be worth?
$1 million
Who began to exploit the southern ocean in the 1960s and for what?
The Russians began to exploit the Southern Ocean for Antarctic rock cod
Which countries’ exploitation of krill in the Southern Ocean have led to concerns being expressed?
Russia and Japan
