SE: Antarctic Treaty

Question 1

What is the Antarctic Treaty?

Answer 1

• An agreement made by twelve countries in 1959 about how to sustainably manage Antarctica’s ecosystem

Question 2

What are the 6 basic principles for human activity?

Answer 2

• No mineral exploitation is allowed
• Plants and animals must be conserved
• Areas of the environment must be protected
• There are rules for waste disposal and waste must be minimised
• There are regulations for the discharge of sewage from vessels
• Activities must have an Environmental Impact Assessment before they are able to go ahead

Question 3

What are the objectives of the Treaty and the Protocol?

Answer 4

• There are strict rules about the introduction of non-native species so that ecosystems aren’t disturbed
  e.g. visitors have to wear disinfected over boots when they land and there are restrictions on eating, drinking, and weeing whilst ashore

Answer 5

• There are also globally agreed rules amongst tour operators - only 100 visitors are allowed to land at any one time and cruise ships of over 500 passengers are prevented from stopping

Answer 6

• There have been no major problems with the treaty and some people think it should be extended to cover the ocean surrounding Antarctica so that there is more protection for marine life