The Antartic Treaty
... Democratic Peoples China Ukraine Republic of Korea Ecuador United Kingdom Denmark Finland United States Estonia France Uruguay Greece Germany Guatemala India Hungary Italy Papua New Guinea Japan Romania Korea, Republic of Slovak Republic Netherlands Switzerland New Zealand Turkey Norway Venezuela There has been great increase in the growth of membership in the Treaty. Forty five countries which makes up about eighty percent of the world’s population, have committed to it. The opportunity for voting is open to those countries that have shown their dedication to the Antarctic by contributing important research. The twenty seven countries which have voting opportunity accepted over two hundred proposals and discussed five different international agreements. These agreements combined with the original Treaty supplies the rules which directs activities in Antarctica. Together they are recognized as the Antarctica Treaty System also known as ATS. There are five international agreements. The first international agreement, which occurred in 1964, is the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora. This convention desires to implement the principles and purposes of the Antarctic Treaty. It also poses that each party acknowledges the scientific meaning of the study of Antarctic fauna and flora, their adaptation to their environment and their inter-relationship with that environment. Consideration for the exceptional nature of the fauna and flora and specifically their vulnerability to extinction is also expected. Requesting for additional international cooperation within the strategy of the Treaty to encourage and achieve the objectives of protection, scientific study, and sensible use of the fauna and flora is required. Furthermore, the convention insists on that specific consideration to the conservation principles developed by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) of the International Council of Scientific Unions. The following agreement for the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals, took place in 1972. Each party is asked to recognize the concern about the susceptibility of Antarctic seals to commercial exploitation and the intensely require for effectual conservation dealings. Biological and other research on Antarctic seals performed so that when future sealing operations take place they can be done using appropriate regulations and precautions. The convention asks that the parties also keep in mind that the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research of the International Council of Scientific Unions, also known as SCAR, is willing to execute the tasks requested. This convention wishes to achieve protection as well as increase their scientific research on seals and to maintain an adequate balance within the ecological system. The next meet accord was the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, this came into force in 1980. It was established mainly in response to the increase in krill catches in the Southern Ocean. There can be serious effects on populations of krill and other marine life, such as birds, seals and fish which depend on krill for food. The intention of the convention is to protect marine life. The convention expects the Commission and the Scientific Committee to work together to manage marine living resources in the Southern Ocean. The Southern Ocean surrounds the Antarctica and is enclosed by the Antarctic Convergence. It is formed where the cold Antarctic waters meet the warmer waters to the north. The Antarctic Convergence acts as an effectual biological barricade, which makes the Southern Ocean a closed ecosystem. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources also known as CCAMLR, and its Scientific Committee were leaders in the development of what is known as the “ecosystem approach,” the regulation of fisheries. The ecosystem approach does not only concentrate on the species that are fished, but also wants to avoid situations in which fisheries have an opposing effect on “dependent and related species.” CCAMLR must develop management approaches that evaluate the status of the ecosystem and its health. The Contracting Parties must recognize the significance of protecting the environment and the reliability of the seas which encircle Antarctica. It is imperative that each party understands the concentration of marine living resources found in the Antarctica and the high interest in the potential accessible by the utilization of these resources as a source of power. Alertness of the necessity of guaranteeing the preservation of Antarctic living resources is needed. This convention also mentions that believing that the protection of Antarctic marine living resources demands for international collaboration in relation to the stipulations of the Antarctic Treaty and the participation of all countries conducting research activities in the Antarctic waters. The next agreement is the Convention on the Regulation of Antarctic Mineral Resource Activities, which took occurred in 1988. It asks involved parties to keep in mind that the possibility that vulnerable mineral resources may exist in Antarctica and the unique ecological, scientific and wilderness value of Antarctica and the importance of Antarctica to the global environment. A system for Antarctic mineral resources must be consistent with the Antarctic Treaty. Acknowledging that the Antarctic mineral resource activities can negatively affect the Antarctic environment and related ecosystems is also demanded. When making decisions based on possible Antarctic mineral resource activities it is needed to have the protection of the Antarctic environment and associated ecosystems a basic consideration. The convention states that if these activities do take place then they are to be followed with scientific investigation. It is believed that a system governing the Antarctic mineral resource activities will further strengthen the Antarctic Treaty System. The last agreement, which took place in 1991, is the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. This convention is about convincing the need to improve the security of the Antarctic environment and related ecosystems. It also discusses the need to strengthen the Antarctic Treaty system to ensure that Antarctica can continue to be used solely for peaceful reasons and not ever become the purpose for international disagreement. The Antarctic Treaty Consulta...