Guidance For Organizers

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Guidance For Organizers

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Antarctica is the largest wilderness area on earth, unaffected by large-scale human activities. As a unique and pristine environment it has been afforded special protection. It is also physically remote, inhospitable, unpredictable and potentially dangerous.

All activities should therefore be planned and conducted with both environmental protection and safety in mind.

Key Obligations On Organizers and Operators

Provide prior notification of, and reports on, their activities to the competent authorities of the appropriate Party or Parties.

Conduct an assessment of the potential environmental impacts of their planned activities.

Provide for effective response to environmental emergencies, especially with regard to marine pollution.

Ensure self-sufficiency and safe operations.

Respect scientific research and the Antarctic environment, including restrictions regarding protected areas, and the protection of flora and fauna.

Prevent the disposal and discharge of prohibited waste.

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Recommendation XVIII-1, adopted at the Antarctic Treaty Meeting, Kyoto, 1994

Activities in the Antarctic are subject to the Antarctic Treaty of 1959 and associated legal instruments, referred to collectively as the Antarctic Treaty system. These include the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (CCAS' 1972), the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR' 1980) and the Recommendations and other measures adopted by the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties under the Antarctic Treaty.

In 1991, the Consultative Parties to the Antarctic Treaty adopted the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. This Protocol sets out environmental principles, procedures and obligations for the comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment, and its dependent and associated ecosystems. The Consultative Parties have agreed that, pending its entry into force, as far as possible and in accordance with their legal systems, that the provisions of the Protocol should be applied as appropriate.

The Environmental Protocol designates Antarctica as a natural reserve devoted to peace and science, and applies to both governmental and non-governmental activities in the Antarctic Treaty Area. The Protocol seeks to ensure that human activities, including tourism, do not have adverse impacts on the Antarctic environment, nor on its scientific and aesthetic values.

The Protocol states, as a matter of principle, that all activities are to be planned and conducted on the basis of information sufficient to evaluate their possible impact on the Antarctic environment and its associated ecosystems, and on the value of Antarctica for the conduct of scientific research. Organizers should be aware that the Environmental Protocol requires that "activities shall be modified, suspended or cancelled if they result in or threaten to result in impacts upon the Antarctic environment or dependent or associated ecosystems."

Those responsible for organizing and conducting tourism and non governmental activities must comply fully with national laws and regulations which implement the Antarctic Treaty system, as well as other national laws and regulations implementing international agreements on environmental protection, pollution and safety that relate to the Antarctic Treaty Area. They should also abide by the requirements imposed on organizers and operators under the Protocol on Environmental Protection and its Annexes, in so far as they have not yet been implemented in national law.

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Procedures to be Followed by Organizers and Operators

A. When planning to go to the Antarctic - Organizers and operators should:

Notify the competent national authorities of the appropriate Party or Parties of details of their planned activities with sufficient time to enable the Party(ies) to comply with their information exchange obligations under Article VII(5) of the Antarctic Treaty. The information to be provided is listed in Attachment A.

Conduct an environmental assessment in accordance with such procedures as may have been established in national law to give effect to Annex I of the Protocol, including, if appropriate, how potential impacts will be monitored.

Obtain timely permission from the national authorities responsible for any stations they propose to visit.

Provide information to assist in the preparation of: contingency response plans in accordance with Article 15 of the Protocol; waste management plans in accordance with Annex III of the Protocol; and marine pollution contingency plans in accordance with Annex IV of the Protocol.

Ensure that expedition leaders and passengers are aware of the location and special regimes which apply to Specially Protected Areas and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (and on entry into force of the Protocol, Antarctic Specially Protected Areas and Antarctic Specially Managed Areas) and of Historic Sites and Monuments and, in particular, relevant management plans.

Obtain a permit, where required by national law, from the competent national authority of the appropriate Party or Parties, should they have a reason to enter such areas, or a monitoring site (CEMP Site) designated under CCAMLR.

Ensure that activities are fully self-sufficient and do not require assistance from Parties unless arrangements for it have been agreed in advance.

Ensure that they employ experienced and trained personnel, including a sufficient number of guides.

Arrange to use equipment, vehicles, vessels, and aircraft appropriate to Antarctic operations.

Be fully conversant with applicable communications, navigation, air traffic control and emergency procedures.