Until the 1960s, some species of whales and seals
were taken to the brink of extinction by human activities in Antarctica. Waste and
garbage was left where it fell, burnt in great open fires or was deposited in the
ocean. Fisheries were non-existent or on a very small scale, but either way were
completely unregulated.
Over the years since the
Antarctic Treaty came into force, ever greater
environmental awareness has led to increasing regulation by the Antarctic Treaty
System. All plants and animals in Antarctica are now protected and there are measures
in place to prevent pollution of this - the worlds most pristine environment.
There are many resolutions and measures for the protection
of Antarctica and its fauna (animals) and flora (plants). In brief they state that:
The Environmental Protocol of the Antarctic Treaty
became law in 1998 after legislation in each of the member countries. One of the
ways in which this protects Antarctica is by only allowing visitors to Antarctica
by member nations as long as they are given a permit to do so. The granting of a
permit is dependent on the visitors agreeing to adhere to certain rules and guidelines.
Each nations rules are not the same in the detail, though they are similar in the
general principles.
In Britain for example, the following activities
require a permit from the Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs:
Non native nationals going to Antarctica on another nation's expedition
permit are usually covered. Though some permits can only be issued to nationals
of the issuing country. If foreign visitors intend to take, or cause harmful interference
with, fauna or flora; introduce non-native animals or plants; or enter ASPAs or
CEMP Monitoring Sites then they need to apply to their own government for a permit.
Examples of how these regulations are put into
practice
Waste from Ships
The discharge of any oil or oily mixture, bulk
chemicals or garbage from a ship is prohibited in Antarctica and must be discharged
at port reception facilities outside the region. Many ships operating in Antarctic
waters retain oil and oily mixtures on board the ship. Oily water separators are
often fitted and the discharge of oil from ships is monitored by maintaining an
Oil Record Book, as required by the
International Maritime Organization
(IMO).
Sewage from ships is usually passed through
a biological treatment plant that meets the requirements of the IMO before discharge.
If these systems break down in the Antarctic, ships will avoid discharging untreated
raw sewage within 12 nautical miles of shore.
Food waste is passed through a waste disposal
unit that shreds the waste so that it will pass through a mesh size of less than
25 mm, discharge is then at least 12 nautical miles from shore. If ships are within
12 nautical miles of shore, the waste is held in holding tanks until it can be discharged.
Large bones and other food wastes which are difficult to shred are frozen and disposed
of at port reception facilities outside Antarctica.
Other waste generated on ships is stored on
board until it can be disposed of outside Antarctica. Shredders are used to process
glass and small metal waste. Compactors are used to bale plastic. Paper and cardboard
are burnt in high temperature marine incinerators. Waste food wrappings are frozen
for later disposal in port.
Waste from Antarctic bases
The dumping of waste or chemicals on land or at sea,
or open burning of rubbish are all prohibited. Instead, wastes are separated at
source, processed using a range of compacting and shredding equipment to reduce
volume, and then removed.
Waste from Antarctic bases is packaged up and shipped
out of Antarctica for disposal by licensed waste contractors.
Dumping at sea or burning in Antarctica are now not permitted.
Certain bases as permitted
under the Environmental Protocol, discharge sewage and food waste into the sea.
At other bases they are discharged into ice pits. These wastes are not removed from
Antarctica because of the health risks involved in shipping large quantities over
long distances. The extent and the environmental effects of the release of sewage
and food waste into the near shore marine environment is monitored on an ongoing
basis. Such effluent has been shown to have only minor and local impact. Despite
this an increasing number of bases are installing biological sewage treatment plants.
Many national programmes carry out an annual audit
of the quantities of waste generated at research stations, field camps and ships.
Dogs
In 1991 the fear that distemper from
dogs could spread to seals led to a new clause in the Antarctic Treaty.
"Dogs shall
not be introduced onto land or ice shelves and dogs currently in those areas
shall be removed by April 1 1994".
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