Measures Approved or Recommended Under Article IX in Furtherance of Principles and Objectives of the Antarctic Treaty, Santiago, 1966

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[CERTAIN RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FOURTH ANTARCTIC TREATY CONSULTATIVE MEETING]

The following Recommendations were adopted unanimously:

The Representatives recommend to their Governments that, until such time as the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora may become effective in accordance with Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty, the following Recommendations as far as feasible be considered as guide lines in the interim period:

Recommendations IV-1 to IV-19 inclusive.

Recognizing that the seal stocks south of 60° South Latitude are a resource of potential value which at some future date may require a binding international agreement for its effective regulation;

Recognizing that this resource should not be depleted by overexploitation, and hence that any harvesting should be regulated at or below the level of the maximum sustainable yield;

Recognizing that in order to improve scientific knowledge and so place exploitation on a rational basis, every effort should be made both to encourage biological research on these seal populations and to gain information from the statistics of future sealing operations;

Desiring to promote and achieve the objectives of protection, scientific study and rational use of Antarctic seals;

The Representatives recommend to their Governments that in accordance with Recommendation III-XI each Government should voluntarily take account of the following Interim Guide Lines for the Voluntary Regulation of Antarctic Pelagic Sealing:

1. The total number of seals of each species taken in the area south of 60° South Latitude should not exceed the maximum sustainable yield of that species.

2. The maximum sustainable yield of each species in the area south of 60° South Latitude should be regarded as the number of each species specified in Annex A. 3. If the number of seals taken in any locality in any year is such as to disturb the natural ecological system in that locality, no seals should be taken therein until the balance of that system has been restored and in any case until one year has elapsed.

4. A seal should not be killed or taken when it is in the water.

5. The Ross Seal (Ommatophoca rossi) should not be killed or taken except for scientific purposes.

6. For the purposes of these Interim Guide Lines, the area south of 60° South Latitude should be divided into the zones set out in Annex B. Seals should be killed or taken only in alternating zones and alternating periods as set out in Annex B. 7. Each Government should provide the other Contracting Governments before 31 October of each year with the following information relating to the preceding period of 1 July to 30 June:

a) the number, for each species, of adult males, of adult females, of pregnant females, and of pups killed or taken; and

b) the locations where these seals were killed or taken.

8. At the same time, each Government should provide to the other Contracting Governments information on any steps it has taken in accordance with these Interim Guide Lines.

9. When it appears to any Consultative Party that the harvest of any species of seal in the area of 60° South Latitude is approaching the maximum sustainable yield therein, or in any locality is disturbing the ecological system therein, that Party may propose through diplomatic channels that a Consultative Meeting be convened under Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty. If all Consultative Parties so agree, such a Meeting shall be convened as soon as possible to consider the situation and the steps it may be necessary to take.

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Recognizing the initiative already taken by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) on matters relating to Antarctic pelagic sealing, and considering its role as defined in Recommendation I-IV, the Representatives recommend to their Governments that they encourage SCAR to continue its interest in these matters and to prepare reports from time to time on this subject, and especially at this time on the matters that if considers should be listed in the annexes to the Interim Guide Lines for the Voluntary Regulation of Antarctic Pelagic Sealing.

The Representatives recommend to their Governments that they exchange through diplomatic channels, not later than 31 October of each year, the information specified in as many as possible of the categories in Recommendations I-VI, III-I and III-II, the balance to be furnished as soon as possible thereafter and in any case before the end of November.

The Representatives recommend to their Governments that:

1. Meetings of experts be convened from time to time as the need arises to discuss practical problems relating to Antarctic activities. Such meetings would be attended by experts from Consultative Parties. With the agreement of all the Consultative Parties, other experts may be invited to attend. They may submit documents and make statements, but they may not vote.

2. Such meetings be convened and the terms of reference be established either at Consultative Meetings or as a result of agreement reached through diplomatic channels among all the Consultative Parties.

3. The host Government circulate a report concerning the meeting of experts to all the Contracting Parties.

4. The report of the meeting of experts shall be submitted to a subsequent Consultative Meeting for consideration except when the Consultative Parties have agreed otherwise.

The Representatives recommend to their Governments that they accept the offer made by the Government of Japan to hold a meeting on logistics in Japan in June 1968. 1. The meeting will be held in furtherance of principles and objectives of the Antarctic Treaty.

2. The meeting will be for a period of about one week and will be attended by experts in selected fields. The meeting will have the following terms of reference:

(i) To discuss problems in the fields of Antarctic logistics specified in paragraph 3 below.

(ii) To exchange views on possible solutions which have been tried recently.

(iii) To examine critically new solutions which may be proposed in papers submitted at the meeting.

3. The fields for discussion will include aspects of:

(i) Design of buildings and building services, including waste disposal and water supply.

(ii) Oversnow transport.

(iii) Air transport, including airfields.

(iv) Sea transport.

(v) Safety measures.

(vi) New and urgent problems which Governments agree require discussion.

4. A final agenda within these terms of reference will be determined by Governments through diplomatic channels after they have had an opportunity to discuss priorities with their experts.

5. The finally agreed agenda should be circulated by the host Government through diplomatic channels six months prior to the opening of the meeting.

6. A summary of each paper to be discussed at the meeting should be submitted to the host Government and to other Consultative Governments through diplomatic channels at least three months prior to the meeting.

7. A report concerning the meeting will be prepared by the host Government and circulated to all the Contracting Parties for information and any action which any Government may wish to take.

Considering the need to keep up to date the traffic system of Antarctic radio communications and to transmit observational data from the Treaty Area to the world system for the collection and transmission of meteorological information:

Recognizing that the effects of tourist activities may prejudice the conduct of scientific research, conservation of fauna and flora and the operation of Antarctic stations,

The Representatives recommend to their Governments that:

1. The Government of a country in which a tourist or other nonscientific expedition is being organized furnish notice of the expedition as soon as possible through diplomatic channels to any other Government whose station the expedition plans to visit;

2. A Government provide on request information as promptly as possible regarding the conditions upon which it would grant permission for tourist groups to visit Antarctic stations which it maintains; and

3. Such permission be withheld unless reasonable assurances are given of compliance with the provisions of the Treaty, the Recommendations then effective and the conditions applicable at stations to be visited.

The Representatives recommend to their Governments that they accept the offer of the French Delegation to hold a Consultative Meeting under Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty in Paris in 1968, on a date to be agreed upon by the Consultative Governments.

[APPENDIX]

The Representatives, considering that Taylor Rookery contains a colony of Emperor Penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) which is one of the few, and probably the largest, of the known colonies of this species located wholly on land, recommend to their Governments that the following be inserted in Annex B, Specially Protected Areas, of the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora:

SPECIALLY PROTECTED AREA N° 1 TAYLOR ROOKERY MAC. ROBERTSON LAND Lat. 67°26° S., Long. 60°50° E. DESCRIPTION: The area consists of the whole of the northernmost rock exposure on the eastern side of Taylor Glacier. The area is shown on the attached map.

The Representatives, considering that Rookery Islands contain breeding colonies of all six bird species resident in the Mawson area, two of which, the Giant Petrel (Macronectes giganteus) and the Cape Pigeon (Daption capensis), occur nowhere else in the region and that it is of scientific importance to safeguard this unusual association of six species and to preserve a sample of their habitat, recommend to their Governments that the following be inserted in Annex B, Specially Protected Areas, of the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora:

SPECIALLY PROTECTED AREA N° 2 ROOKERY ISLANDS, HOLME BAY Lat. 67°37° S., Long. 62°33° E. DESCRIPTION: The area, 7 nautical miles west of Mawson, comprises the islands and rocks lying within the rectangle marked on the attached map.

The Representatives, considering that Ardery Island and Odbert Island off the Budd Coast support several breeding species of petrel and provide a sample of their habitat and that two of these species, Antarctic Petrel (Thalassoica antarctica) and Antarctic Fulmar (Fulmarus glacioloides) are of particular scientific interest, recommend to their Governments that the following be inserted in Annex B, Specially Protected Areas, of the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora:

SPECIALLY PROTECTED AREA N° 3 ARDERY ISLAND and ODBERT ISLAND, BUDD COAST Lat. 66°22° S., Long. 110°28° E. and Lat. 66°22° S., Long. 110°33° E. DESCRIPTION: The area consists of Ardery Island and Odbert Island which lie offshore in Vincennes Bay, 7 nautical miles south of Wilkes. The off-lying rocks are not included in the area. The area is shown on the attached map.

The Representatives, considering that the Balleny Islands, as the most northerly Antarctic land in the Ross Sea region, supports fauna and flora which reflect many circumpolar distributions at this latitude and that Sabrina Island in particular provides a representative sample of such fauna and flora, recommend to their Governments that the following be inserted in Annex B, Specially Protected Areas, of the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora:

SPECIALLY PROTECTED AREA N° 4 SABRINA ISLAND, BALLENY ISLANDS Lat. 66°54° S., Long. 163°20° E. DESCRIPTION: A small island some 2 kilometres south of Buckle Island in the Balleny Islands. The area is shown on the attached map.

The Representatives, considering that Beaufort Island contains substantial and varied avifauna, that it is one of the most important breeding grounds in the region, and that it should be protected to preserve the natural ecological system as a reference area, recommend to their Governments that the following be inserted in Annex B, Specially Protected Areas, of the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora:

SPECIALLY PROTECTED AREA N° 5 BEAUFORT ISLAND, ROSS SEA Lat. 76°58° S., Long. 167°03° E. DESCRIPTION: Beaufort Island measures 6 kilometres by 3 kilometres and is located 20 nautical miles north of Ross Island. The area is shown on the attached map.

The Representatives, considering that Cape Crozier supports a rich bird and mammal fauna as well as microfauna and microflora and that the ecosystem depends upon a substantial mixing of marine and terrestrial elements of outstanding scientific interest, recommend to their Governments that the following be inserted in Annex B, Specially Protected Areas, of the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora:

SPECIALLY PROTECTED AREA N° 6 CAPE CROZIER, ROSS ISLAND Lat. 77°32° S., Long. 169°19° E. DESCRIPTION: The area comprises all the land on the coast of Ross Island east of a line joining the summits of Post Office Hill and Bomb Peak, north of a line which bears 90° True from Bomb Peak to the coast and northeast of a line which bears 315° True from Post Office Hill to the coast; the area is also deemed to include the locality occupied at any time by the rookery of Emperor Penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) immediately adjacent thereto. Williamson Rock is also included in the area. The area is shown on the attached map.

The Representatives, considering that Cape Hallett includes a small patch of particularly rich and diverse vegetation which supports a variety of terrestrial fauna and that the ecosystem, which includes a rich avifauna, is of outstanding scientific interest, recommend to their Governments that the following be inserted in Annex B, Specially Protected Areas, of the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora:

SPECIALLY PROTECTED AREA N° 7 CAPE HALLETT, VICTORIA LAND Lat. 72°81° S., Long., 170°19° E. DESCRIPTION: The area between the eastern side of the road, which runs along the eastern side of Willett Cove, and the western margin of the permanent ice sheet, to the south of a line from the road to the margin of the permanent ice sheet at the latitude of the head of Willett Cove, and to the north of a line from the road to the margin of the permanent ice sheet drawn 350 metres to the south of that latitude and parallel to it. The area is shown on the attached map.

The Representatives, considering that amongst the Dion Islands is found the only colony of Emperor Penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) known to exist on the west side of the Antarctic Peninsula and that the isolation of this colony from others of the same species makes it of outstanding scientific interest, recommend to their Governments that the following be inserted in Annex B, Specially Protected Areas, of the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora:

SPECIALLY PROTECTED AREA N° 8 DION ISLANDS, MARGUERITE BAY, ANTARCTIC PENINSULA Lat. 67°52° S., Long., 68°43° W. DESCRIPTION: A group of small, rocky, low-lying islands in Marguerite Bay, about 15 kilometres south of Adelaide Island. The area is shown on the attached map.

The Representatives, considering that the vegetation on Green Island is exceptionally rich, that it is probably the most luxuriant anywhere on the west side of the Antarctic Peninsula, that in some places the humus is 2 metres thick and that this area, being of outstanding scientific interest, should be protected because it is probably one of the most diverse Antarctic ecosystems, recommend to their Governments that the following be inserted in Annex B, Specially Protected Areas, of the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora:

SPECIALLY PROTECTED AREA N° 9 GREEN ISLAND, BERTHELOT ISLANDS, ANTARCTIC PENINSULA Lat. 65°19° S., Long., 64°10° W. DESCRIPTION: A small island, measuring about 600 metres by 400 metres, situated 150 metres to the north of the largest of the Berthelot Islands. The area is shown on the attached map.

The Representatives, considering that Byers Peninsula supports a considerable diversity of plant and animal life, including many invertebrates, that a substantial population of Elephant Seals (Mirounga leonina) and small colonies of Fur Seals (Arctocephalus sp.) are found on the beaches, that Fur Seals breed on Window Island and that the close association of such a large variety of Antarctic plants and animals within a relatively small area is of outstanding scientific interest, recommend to their Governments that the following be inserted in Annex B, Specially Protected Areas, of the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora:

SPECIALLY PROTECTED AREA N° 10 BYERS PENINSULA, LIVINGSTON ISLAND, SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS Lat. 62°38° S., Long. 61°05° W. DESCRIPTION: The ice-free peninsula lying to the west of the western margin of the permanent ice sheet on Livingston Island. The five small ice-free areas on the south coast immediately to the east are also included. Window Island is included within the area, but no other off-lying islands and rocks. The area is shown on the attached map.

The Representatives, considering that Cape Shirreff supports a considerable diversity of plant and animal life, including many invertebrates, that a substantial population of Elephant Seals (Mirounga leonina) and small colonies of Fur Seals (Arctocephalus sp.) are found on the beaches and that the area is of outstanding scientific interest, recommend to their Governments that the following be inserted in Annex B, Specially Protected Areas, of the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora:

SPECIALLY PROTECTED AREA N° 11 CAPE SHIRREFF, LIVINGSTON ISLAND, SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS Lat. 62°28° S., Long. 60°48° W. DESCRIPTION: The ice-free peninsula lying to the north of the northern margin of the permanent ice sheet on Livingston Island, between Barclay Bay and Hero Bay. The area is shown on the attached map.

The Representatives, considering that Fildes Peninsula is a biologically diverse region with numerous small lakes which are ice-free in summer, that it provides a representative sample of the South Shetland Islands and is an area of outstanding ecological interest, recommend to their Governments that the following be inserted in Annex B, Specially Protected Areas, of the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora:

SPECIALLY PROTECTED AREA N° 12 FILDES PENINSULA, KING GEORGE ISLAND, SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS Lat. 62°12° S., Long. 58°58° W. DESCRIPTION: The ice-free peninsula lying to the northwest of Maxwell Bay and west of the margin of the permanent ice sheet of King George Island including Ardley Island but no other off-lying islands or rocks. The area is shown on the attached map.

The Representatives, considering that Moe Island provides a representative sample of the maritime Antarctic ecosystem, that intensive experimental research on the neighbouring Signy Island may alter its ecosystem and that Moe Island should be specially protected as a control area for future comparison, recommend to their Governments that the following be inserted in Annex B, Specially Protected Areas, of the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora:

SPECIALLY PROTECTED AREA N° 13 MOE ISLAND, SOUTH ORKNEY ISLANDS Lat. 60°45° S., Long. 45°41° W. DESCRIPTION: A small island, about 1 kilometre long and 1 kilometre across, lying about 500 metres south-west of Signy Island, South Orkney Islands. The off-lying rocks are not included in the area. The area is shown on the attached map.

The Representatives, considering that Lynch Island supports one of the most extensive and dense areas of grass (Deschampsia antarctica) known in the Treaty Area and that it provides an outstanding example of a rare natural ecological system, recommend to their Governments that the following be inserted in Annex B, Specially Protected Areas, of the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora:

SPECIALLY PROTECTED AREA N° 14 LYNCH ISLAND, SOUTH ORKNEY ISLANDS Lat. 60°40° S., Long. 45°38° W. DESCRIPTION: A small island, measuring about 500 metres by 300 metres, in Marshall Bay, off the south coast of Coronation Island, South Orkney Islands. The area is shown on the attached map.

The Representatives, considering that southern Powell Island and the adjacent islands support substantial vegetation and a considerable bird and mammal fauna which is representative of the natural ecology of the South Orkney Islands and which is rendered more important by the presence of the nucleus of an expanding colony of Fur Seals (Arctocephalus tropicalis gazella), recommend to their Governments that the following be inserted in Annex B, Specially Protected Areas, of the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora:

SPECIALLY PROTECTED AREA N° 15 SOUTHERN POWELL ISLAND AND ADJACENT ISLANDS, SOUTH ORKNEY ISLANDS Lat. 60°45° S., Long., 45°02° W. DESCRIPTION: This area in the central South Orkney Islands includes that part of Powell Island which is south of the latitude of the southern summit of John Peaks, together with the whole of Fredriksen Island, Michelsen Island, Christoffersen Island, Grey Island and the unnamed islands lying within the rectangle marked on the attached map.

The Representatives recommend to their Governments that the following be inserted in Annex A, Specially Protected Species, of the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora:

‘All species of the genus Arctocephalus, Fur Seals.’

The Representatives recommend to their Governments that the following species be inserted in Annex A, Specially Protected Species, of the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora:

‘Ommatophoca rossi, Ross Seal.’

IV - 18 COOPERATION IN IMPLEMENTING ARTICLE VI OF THE AGREED MEASURES FOR THE CONSERVATION OF ANTARCTIC FAUNA AND FLORA (RECOMMENDATION III - VIII)

The Representatives, taking into consideration Article VI of the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora (Recommendation III-VIII), recommend to their Governments that in cases where expeditions of more than one Participating Government may be working in the same region of the Treaty Area, the Governments involved should arrange to cooperate as far as practicable in limiting the issuance of permits in accordance with Article VI to ensure that the total number of native mammals and birds killed or captured accords with the requirements of paragraphs 4 and 7 (b) of Article VI and paragraph 4 (b) of Article VIII of the Agreed Measures.

The Representatives recommend to their Governments that for the effective implementation of the provisions of Article XII of the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora, documents exchanged annually by Participating Governments on the matters set down in paragraph 1 (a) of that Article should follow the pattern of the form annexed hereto.

Recognizing the role of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) as defined in Recommendation I-IV, the Representatives further welcome the decision of SCAR to study the status of species, their need for protection and numbers of each species which might be harvested for food, study or other uses, as outlined in paragraph 1 (b) and (c) of Article XII of the Agreed Measures.

Map accompanying Recommendation IV-1 Specially Protected Area No. 1

1. Taylor Rookery 2. Taylor Glacier 3. Mac. Robertson Land

Map accompanying Recommendation IV-2 Specially Protected Area No. 2

1. Rookery Islands 3. Mawson 2. Holme Bay 4. Mawson Coast

Map accompanying Recommendation IV-3 Specially Protected Area No. 3

1. Ardery Island 3. Vincennes Bay 2. Odbert Island 4. Budd Coast 5. Wilkes Station

Map accompanying Recommendation IV-4 Specially Protected Area No. 4

1. Sabrina Island 3. Buckle Island 2. Balleny Islands 4. Young Island 5. Sturge Island

Map accompanying Recommendation IV-5 Specially Protected Area No. 5

1. Beaufort Island 2. Ross Island 3. Ross Sea

Map accompanying Recommendation IV-6 Specially Protected Area No. 6

1. Cape Crozier 4. Williamson Rock 2. Post Office Hill 5. Ross Sea 3. Bomb Peak 6. Ross Island

Map accompanying Recommendation IV-7 Specially Protected Area No. 7

1. Cape Hallet 3. Willet Cove 2. Victoria Land 4. Ross Sea

Map accompanying Recommendation IV-8 Specially Protected Area No. 8

1. Dion Islands 2. Marguerite Bay

Map accompanying Recommendation IV-9 Specially Protected Area No. 9

1. Green Island 2. Berthelot Islands

Map accompanying Recommendation IV-10 Specially Protected Area No. 10

1. Byers Peninsula 3. Window Island 2. Livingston Island 4. South Shetland Islands

Map accompanying Recommendation IV-11 Specially Protected Area No. 11

1. Cape Shirreff 3. Barclay Bay 2. Livingston Island 4. Hero Bay 5. South Shetland Islands

Map accompanying Recommendation IV-12 Specially Protected Area No. 12

1. Fildes Peninsula 3. Maxwell Bay 2. King George Island 4. South Shetland Islands 5. Ardley Island

Map accompanying Recommendation IV-13 Specially Protected Area No. 13

1. Moe Island 2. Signy Island 3. South Orkney Islands

Map accompanying Recommendation IV-14 Specially Protected Area No. 14

1. Lynch Island 3. Coronation Island 2. Marshall Bay 4. Signy Island 5. South Orkney Islands

Map accompanying Recommendation IV-15 Specially Protected Area No. 15

1. Powell Island 4. Michelsen Island 2. John Peaks 5. Grey Island 3. Christoffersen Island 6. Fredriksen Island 7. South Orkney Islands