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THE MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION COMPENDIUM

MULTILATERAL / ANTARCTICA
Volume(s) 1-3; pages 71-78


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Measures Approved or Recommended Under Article IX in Furtherance of Principles and Objectives of the Antarctic Treaty, Paris, 1968


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Adopted at Paris 29 November 1968

Recommendations V-1 through V-4 and V-9 effective 26 May 1972; Recommendations V-7 and V-8 effective 31 July 1972; Recommendations V-5 and V-6 effective 1 November 1982*( Recommendation V\_5 was terminated by Recommendation VIII\_2 (see page 128). )*


Primary source citation: 24 UST 1793, TIAS 7692


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[CERTAIN RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FIFTH ANTARCTIC TREATY CONSULTATIVE MEETING]

Recommendation V-1 COMMEMORATIVE STAMP ISSUE

The Representatives recommend to their governments:

1) that, on the occasion of the Tenth anniversary of the entry into force of the Antarctic Treaty, each Consultative Party should issue a commemorative postage stamp during 1971;

2) that this stamp should bear, in the language or languages of each issuing country, the following words:

‘Antarctic Treaty 1961 1971’;

3) that the most prominent feature of the stamp should be the Antarctic Treaty emblem representing a map of Antarctica which appears on the official documents of Consultative Meetings;

4) that any additional matter should be consonant with the provisions and the spirit of the Antarctic Treaty;

5) that the denomination of the stamp should remain at the discretion of each issuing country.

Recommendation V-2 MEASURES FOR IMPROVING ANTARCTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Recognizing the need for improving the collection and distribution of meteorological data and other scientific information and for further improving Antarctic telecommunications;

Considering the views of the World Meteorological Organization, as expressed at the 18th and 20th Sessions of the WMO Executive Committee, on the desirability of setting up Antarctic Meteorological Centres and of determining provisionally their functions;

Supporting the principle of the World Weather Watch;

Considering the intention of some governments voluntarily to create, within a few years, such Antarctic Meteorological Centres at their Stations;

The Representatives recommend to their governments that:

1. In view of the valuable information provided by WMO and SCAR to Consultative Parties, they continue to cooperate with the WMO through their Representatives thereto and with SCAR through their National Committees in defining future scientific requirements.

2. They consider the usefulness of creating Antarctic Meteorological Centres in the Antarctic.

3. They hold a meeting of telecommunications experts at Buenos Aires, Argentina, between 15 August and 15 September 1969, in accordance with Recommendation IV-24. The date of this meeting should be arranged through diplomatic channels, taking into account relevant meetings of other international organizations which will be held in 1969 and the time required to translate and distribute the documents from such meetings.

4. Although it is expected that all Consultative Parties will participate, the meeting in Buenos Aires may proceed without the participation of them all provided all the Consultative Parties agree to that procedure and to the provisional agenda. All Consultative Parties will communicate before 1 June 1969 to the host government their intentions as to sending experts. Proposals emanating from the meeting will be sent to all Consultative Parties for their consideration.

5. One expert each from WMO, ITU, IOC and SCAR should be invited to attend as observers. Invited observers may submit documents and make statements with the permission of the Chairman but they may not vote. All experts from Consultative Parties attending will be members of their delegations.

6. The agenda for the meeting should be determined by the Consultative Parties through diplomatic channels and the agreed provisional agenda will be circulated by the host government through diplomatic channels one month prior to the opening of the meeting.

7. The results of the meeting should take the form of proposals on telecommunications unanimously agreed by the delegations of the Consultative Parties participating in the meeting. These will be circulated by the host government to all Consultative Parties for consideration. These proposals will constitute the report of the meeting. Other conference documents may be appended for information as annexes to the report with the consent of all delegations present. The proposals would not become measures under Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty but any Consultative Parties may submit any matter arising from this meeting to a subsequent Consultative Meeting.

8. Information should be exchanged through diplomatic channels on the following aspect of telecommunications procedures at least one month prior to the opening of the Meeting:

(i) existing networks, traffic loads and channel capacity on each route;

(ii) shortcomings in existing networks and channels;

(iii) present traffic carried on each route

a) Administrative and operational traffic

b) Meteorological traffic

c) Other scientific traffic;

(iv) existing time schedules for meteorological transmission

a) Broadcast

b) Point to point traffic

9. The fields of discussion at the meeting should include, inter alia:

(i) New telecommunications traffic requirements submitted by Consultative Parties, WMO, IOC and SCAR, the capacity of the existing facilities and the effect of these new requirements on the existing facilities, taking into account the report of the Antarctic Treaty Meeting on Telecommunications held in Washington in 1963 and present prevailing conditions;

(ii) Estimates or requirements for the near future and further projections if possible;

(iii) Procedure for amending telecommunications arrangements from time to time to meet changing conditions;

(iv) New telecommunications techniques which might be introduced into the Antarctic to meet future requirements;

(v) Preparation of a standard format for the exchange of information on telecommunications facilities under Article VII of the Antarctic Treaty.

Recommendation V-3 SOUTHERN OCEAN

The Representatives,

Considering that the Southern Ocean is an integral part of the Antarctic environment and that the Consultative Governments have made substantial contributions towards knowledge of this ocean in the Treaty Area,

Noting that Resolution 5 of the Vth Session of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) established a Co-ordination Group for the Southern Ocean and that the terms of reference for this group include plans for the gradual development of a comprehensive study of the Southern Ocean;

Noting further the significant contribution which the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) has made to these studies and that SCAR is invited to participate in the Coordination Group as an observer;

Welcome the proposed study of the Southern Ocean by the IOC with the participation of SCAR as well as other interested scientific organizations;

Recommend to their governments that they encourage SCAR through their National Committees to continue its interest in scientific matters related to the Southern Ocean and to make available scientific advice as appropriate to the IOC Co-ordination Group in order to aid in its development of plans for the comprehensive study of the Southern Ocean.

Recommendation V-4 HISTORIC MONUMENTS

The Representatives

Recalling Recommendation I-9,

Recommend to their governments:

1) that a list of historic monuments which should be preserved be drawn up;

2) that each government circulate a list of historic monuments through diplomatic channels to other Consultative Governments;

3) that this subject be considered further at the next Consultative Meeting;

4) that, in the meantime, they do what is feasible to ensure the survival as far as possible of any historic monument which has been included on any list circulated under paragraph 2. Recommendation V-7 CONCERNING THE PROPOSALS OF SCAR FOR THE REVISION OF THE INTERIM GUIDE LINES FOR THE VOLUNTARY REGULATION OF ANTARCTIC PELAGIC SEALING

Taking into account the importance of conserving seals south of 60° South Latitude;

Considering that in the future an international Convention for the regulation of Antarctic pelagic sealing may be required;

The Representatives recommend to their governments that, when implementing Recommendation IV-21, and until a decision is taken on the conclusion of an international Convention, they should voluntarily take account of the proposals of SCAR in its report to National Antarctic Committees in 1968 on the modification of the ‘Interim Guide Lines for the Voluntary Regulation of Antarctic Pelagic Sealing’, as appended in a revised form to the Report of the Fifth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting.

Recommendation V-8 EXAMINATION OF A DRAFT CONVENTION FOR THE REGULATION OF ANTARCTIC PELAGIC SEALING

The Representatives,

Having had a preliminary exchange of views at the Fifth Consultative Meeting on the draft Convention for the Regulation of Antarctic Pelagic Sealing annexed to the Final Report of the Meeting,

Recognising the need to study the preparation of such a Convention,

Recommend to their governments that, before the next Consultative Meeting, they study the draft Convention with a view to its consideration at that Meeting.

Recommendation V-9 SIXTH ANTARCTIC TREATY CONSULTATIVE MEETING

The Representatives recommend to their governments that they accept the offer by the Delegation of Japan to hold the Sixth Consultative Meeting under Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty in Tokyo, on a date in 1970 to be mutually decided upon by the Consultative Governments.

ANNEX 1 MODIFIED VERSION OF THE REPORT OF 1968 TO NATIONAL ANTARCTIC COMMITTEES BY THE SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE ON ANTARCTIC RESEARCH (SCAR)

1. The total number of seals of each species taken in the area south of 60° South Latitude should not exceed the number for that species set so as to bring the population to, or maintain it at, the level giving the optimum sustainable yield.

2. The number will be set in the light of the best available scientific evidence, and will be revised at regular intervals. The best present advice regarding numbers is given in Annex A. 3. A seal should not be killed or taken when it is in the water.

4. The Ross Seal (Ommatophoca rossi), the Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina), and fur seals of the genus Arctocephalus should not be killed or taken, except in an emergency or in accordance with a permit.

5. Within the period specified in Annex C, no Weddell Seal (Leptonychotes weddelli) one year old, or older, should be killed or taken, except in an emergency or in accordance with a permit.

6. For the purposes of these Guide Lines, the area south of 60° South Latitude should be divided into the Sealing Zones set out in Annex B. No seals should be killed or taken except in the zones and at the times specified in Annex B. However, a permit may be issued in accordance with paragraph 9. 7. No seals should be killed or taken within the closed season designated in Annex C, other than in an emergency or in accordance with a permit.

8. Within the zones established in Annex B, any area that forms a seal breeding area or is the site of long-term scientific research on seals may be declared a Seal Reserve by governments. Such Seal Reserves are listed in Annex D. Within any Seal Reserve seals should not be killed or taken except in an emergency or in accordance with a permit.

9. Permits should be issued only for the following purposes:

(i) to provide indispensable food for men or dogs in limited quantities and in conformity with the purposes and principles of the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora and these Guide Lines,

(ii) to provide specimens for scientific study or scientific information, or

(iii) to provide specimens for museums, educational or cultural institutions.

10. Each government should provide the other governments before 31 October of each year with the information relating to the preceding period of 1 July to 30 June specified in Annex E. 11. At the same time, each government should provide to the other governments information on any steps it has taken in accordance with these Guide Lines.

12. When it appears to any government that the harvest of any species of seal in the area South of 60° South Latitude is having a significant effect on the stocks therein, or in any locality is disturbing the ecological system therein, that Government may propose through diplomatic channels that a Consultative Meeting shall be convened under Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty. If all Consultative Parties so agree, such a meeting will be convened as soon as possible to consider the situation and the steps it may be necessary to take.

ANNEX A. PERMISSIBLE CATCH

With present information it is not possible to give figures for the optimum sustainable yield, or for the levels of population which would provide such yields. Such figures can only be estimated with any useful precision from the analysis of the populations after they have been exposed to exploitation for a period.

It is suggested that if catches do not exceed the following safety levels until the results of such analysis are available, then the populations will not be reduced below the level giving the optimum yield.

Crabeater Seals (Lobodon carcinophagus) 200,000 individuals in any one year

Leopard Seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) 15,000 individuals in any one year

Weddell Seals (Leptonychotes weddelli) 10,000 individuals in any one year

ANNEX B. SEALING ZONES

1. The following Sealing Zones, corresponding with those used by the whaling industry, are designated:

Zone 1 Between 60° and 120° West Longitude Zone 2 Between 0° and 60° West Longitude together with that part of the Weddell Sea lying westwards of 60° West Longitude. Zone 3 Between 0° and 70° East Longitude Zone 4 Between 70° and 130° East Longitude Zone 5 Between 130° East Longitude and 170° West Longitude Zone 6 Between 120° and 170° West Longitude.

2. During the season 1969-1970, being the first season to which these Guide Lines apply, no sealing should be permitted in Zone 1. In the second season of application, Zone 2 should be closed to sealing, and thereafter each zone should be closed for a season in sequence.

ANNEX C. CLOSED SEASONS

1. The period between 1 March and 31 August inclusive is a Closed Season.

2. No Weddell Seal (Leptonychotes weddelli) one year old or older should be killed or taken between 1 September and 15 December inclusive.

ANNEX D. SEAL RESERVES

The following areas are declared Seal Reserves:

1. The area between 60°20° and 60°56° South Latitude and 44°05° and 46°25° West Longitude, including the South Orkney Island.

2. The area of the south-western Ross Sea south of 76° South Latitude and west of 170° East Longitude, including Ross Island.

3. The area of Edisto inlet south and west of a line drawn between Cape Hallett (72°19°S.: 170°18°E) and Helm Point (72°11°S.: 170°00°E).

ANNEX E. EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION

1. Each government should provide to other governments statistical information on all seals taken within the area to which Guide Lines relate.

2. This information should include the number of adult individuals and pups of each species killed or taken during each operating day specifying in which of the Zones set out in Annex B they have been killed or taken.

[APPENDIX]

Recommendation V-5 SPECIALLY PROTECTED AREA: FILDES PENINSULA

The Representatives, considering that Fildes Peninsula has several small lakes which, being ice-free in summer, are of outstanding ecological interest and that the most interesting one of them should be specially protected, recommend to their governments that, in place of the description in Recommendation IV-12 , 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/25 May, South Shetland Islands, Lat. 62°11°S., long. 58°52°W. Description: The fresh-water lake, including the surrounding land within 100 metres of the shore, situated about 500 metres north of Suffield Point and 2.5 kilometres east-north-east of Bellingshausen Station on Fildes Peninsula. The area is shown on the attached map.’

Recommendation V-6 MODIFICATION OF THE AGREED MEASURES ADOPTED UNDER RECOMMENDATION III - 8 FOR THE CONSERVATION OF ANTARCTICA FAUNA AND FLORA

The Representatives recommend to their governments that:

(1) in paragraph (d) of Article II after the words ‘Agreed Measures’ they add the following:

‘The functions of an authorised person will be carried out within the framework of the Antarctic Treaty. They will be carried out exclusively in accordance with scientific principles and will have as their sole purpose the effective protection of Antarctic fauna and flora in accordance with these Agreed Measures’.

(2) in paragraph (e) of Article II, after the words ‘appropriate authority’, they add the following:

‘as defined at paragraph (d) above’.

DESIGNATIONS GEOGRAPHIQUES

1. Point Suffield 2. Station Bellingshausen 3. Pninsule Fildes

 

 

PLACE NAMES DESIGNACIONES GEOGRAFICAS

1. Suffield Point 1. Punto Suffield 2. Bellingshausen Station 2. Estacion Bellingshausen 3. Fildes Peninsula 3. Peninsula Fildes