"Recalling Recommendations XV-8 and XV-9 / VIII-3;
First Update; pages 35-63
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"Noting that revised Area Descriptions and proposed Management Plans have been approved by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR);
"Noting also that the format of these revised Area Descriptions and proposed Management Plans accord with Article 5 of Annex V of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty adopted under Recommendation XVI-10;
"Recommend to their Governments the following Measure for approval in accordance with paragraph 4 of Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty:
For the Specially Protected Areas listed below:
(i) the Descriptions inserted in Annex B, Specially Protected Areas, of the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora shall be deleted;
(ii) the Descriptions and Management Plans of Specially Protected Areas, annexed to this measure shall be inserted in Annex B, Specially Protected Areas, of the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora.
The Specially Protected Areas concerned are: Area No. 13 Moe Island, South Orkney Islands (Annex A); Area No. 15 Southern Powell Island and adjacent islands, South Orkney Islands (Annex B)
Annex A to Measure 1 (1995) Management Plan for Specially Protected Area (SPA) No. 13
MOE ISLAND, SOUTH ORKNEY ISLANDS
The Area was originally designated in Recommendation IV-13 (1966, SPA No. 13) after a proposal by the United Kingdom on the grounds that Moe Island provided a representative sample of the maritime Antarctic ecosystem, that intensive experimental research on the neighbouring Signy Island might alter its ecosystem and that Moe Island should be specially protected as a control area for future comparison.
These grounds are still relevant. Whilst there is no evidence that research activities at Signy Island have significantly altered the ecosystems there, a major change has occurred in the low altitude terrestrial system as a result of the rapidly expanding Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) population. Plant communities on nearby Signy Island have been physically disrupted by trampling by fur seals and nitrogen enrichment from the seals' excreta has resulted in replacement of bryophytes and lichens by the macro-alga Prasiola crispa. Low-lying lakes have been significantly affected by enriched run-off from the surrounding land. So far Moe Island has not been invaded by fur seals to any great extent and its topography makes it less likely that seals will penetrate to the more sensitive areas.
The values to be protected are those associated with the biological composition and diversity of a near-pristine example of the maritime Antarctic terrestrial and littoral marine ecosystems. In particular, Moe Island contains the greatest continuous expanses of Chorisodontium-Polytrichum moss turf found in the Antarctic. Moe Island has been visited on few occasions and has never been the site of occupation for periods of more than a few hours.
2. Aims and Objectives
Management of Moe Island aims to:
avoid major changes to the structure and composition of the terrestrial vegetation, in particular the moss turf banks;
prevent unnecessary human disturbance to the Area;
permit research of a compelling scientific nature which cannot be served elsewhere, particularly research related to determining the differences between the ecology of an undisturbed island and that of an adjacent occupied and fur seal perturbed island.
3. Management Activities
Ensure that the biological condition of Moe Island is adequately monitored, preferably by non invasive methods, and that the sign-boards are serviced.
If fur seals were to gain access to the interior of Moe Island it would be necessary to take action to prevent damage to the vulnerable moss banks. This action would most likely consist of the erection of a seal-proof fence at the head of the gully at the northeast of Landing Cove. Any direct management activities in the Area would be subject to an environmental impact assessment before any decision to proceed is taken.
4. Period of Designation
Designated for an indefinite period.
5. Maps
Map 1 shows the location of Moe Island in relation to the South Orkney Islands. Map 2 shows Moe Island in greater detail.
6. Description of the Area
6 (i) Geographical coordinates, boundary markers and natural features
Moe Island, South Orkney Islands, is a small irregularly-shaped island lying 300 m off the southwestern extremity of Signy Island, from which it is separated by Fyr Channel. It is about 1.3 km from the northeast to southwest and 1 km from northwest to southeast. Its position on Admiralty Chart No. 1775, latitude 60° 44'S, longitude 45° 45'W, does not agree closely with that in Map 2 (lat. 60° 44'S, long. 45° 41'W).
The island rises precipitously on the northeastern and southeastern sides to Snipe Peak (226 m altitude). There is a subsidiary summit above South Point (102 m altitude) and lower hills on each of three promontories on the western side above Corral Point (92 m), Conroy Point (39 m) and Spaull Point (56 m). Small areas of permanent ice remain on the east- and south-facing slopes with late snow lying on the steeply dipping western slopes. There are no permanent streams or pools.
The rocks are metamorphic quartz mica schists, with occasional biotite and quartz-rich beds. There is a thin bed of undifferentiated amphibolite on the northeastern coast. Much of the island is overlain with glacial drift and scree. Soils are predominantly immature deposits of fine to coarse clays and sands intermixed with gravels, stones and boulders. They are frequently sorted by freeze-thaw action in high or exposed locations into small-scale circles, polygons, stripes and lobes. There are deep accumulations of peat (up to 2m thick on western slopes), considerable expanses of the surface of which are bare and eroded.
The dominant plant communities are Andreaea-Usnea fellfield and banks of Chorisodontium-Polytrichum moss turf (the largest known example of this community type in the Antarctic). These moss banks constitute a major biological value and the reason for the designation of the Area. The cryptogamic flora is diverse.
The mites Gamasellus racovitzai and Stereotydeus villosus and the springtail Cryptopygus antarcticus are common under stones.
There were five colonies of chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarctica) totaling about 11,000 pairs in 1978-79. A more recent visit (February 1994) noted fewer than 100 pairs on the northern side of Landing Cove and more than a thousand on the southern side. Numerous other birds breed on the island, notably about 2000 pairs of cape petrels (Daption capensis) in 14 colonies (1966) and large numbers of Antarctic prions (Pachyptila desolata).
Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddelli) and leopard seals (Hydruga leptonyx) are found in the bays on the west side of the island. Increasing numbers of fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella), mostly juvenile males, come ashore on the north side of Landing Cove and have caused some damage to vegetation in that area. However, it is possible that the nature of the terrain will restrict these animals to this small headland where damage may intensify.
6 (ii) Restricted zones within the Area
None.
6 (iii) Location of structures within the Area
A marker board is located at the back of the small shingle beach in the northeast corner of Landing Cove, beyond the splash zone on top of a flat rock, to which it is bolted. The board was erected on 2 February 1994. There is a cairn and the remains of a survey mast, erected in 1965-66, on Spaull Point. This mast is of interest for lichenometric studies and should not be removed. There are no other structures on Moe Island.
6 (iv) Location of other Protected Areas within close proximity
SPA No. 13, Moe Island, and SPA No. 14, Lynch Island, lies about 10 km north-northeast of Moe Island. SPA No. 18, North Coronation Island, lies about 19 km away on the northern side of Coronation Island. SPA No. 15, Southern Powell island, is about 41 km to the east.
7. Permit Conditions
Entry into the Area is prohibited except in accordance with a Permit issued by appropriate national authorities.
Conditions for issuing a permit to enter the Area are that:
it is issued only for a compelling scientific purpose which cannot be served elsewhere
the actions permitted will not jeopardize the natural ecological system in the Area
any management activities are in support of the objectives of the Management Plan
the actions permitted are in accordance with this Management Plan
the Permit, or an authorised copy, must be carried within the Specially Protected Area
a report or reports are supplied to the authority or authorities named in the Permit.
7 (i) Access to and movement within the Area
There are no restrictions on landing from the sea, which is the preferred method. No special access points are specified, but landings are usually most safely made at the northeast corner of Landing Cove.
Helicopter landings should be avoided where practicable. Helicopters may land only on the col between hill 89 m and the western slope of Snipe Peak. To avoid overflying bird colonies approach should preferably be from the south, though an approach from the north is permissible.
It is forbidden to overfly the Area below 250 m altitude above the highest point except for access to the landing point specified above.
No pedestrian routes are designated but persons on foot should at all times avoid disturbances to birds or damage to vegetation and periglacial features. Vehicles are prohibited on Moe Island.
7 (ii) Activities which are or may be conducted within the Area, including restrictions on time and place
Compelling scientific research which cannot be undertaken elsewhere and which will not jeopardize the ecosystem of the Area
Essential management activities, including monitoring
7 (iii) Installation, modification or removal of structures
No structures are to be erected in the Area, or scientific equipment installed, except for essential scientific or management activities, as specified in the Permit.
7 (iv) Location of field camps
Parties should not normally camp in the Area. If this is essential for reasons of safety, tents should be erected having regard to causing the least damage to vegetation or disturbance to fauna.
7 (v) Restrictions on materials and organisms which may be brought into the Area
No living animals or plant material shall be deliberately introduced into the Area.
No poultry products, including food products containing uncooked dried eggs, shall be taken into the Area.
No herbicides or pesticides shall be brought into the Area. Any other chemicals, which may be introduced for a compelling scientific purpose specified in the Permit, shall be removed from the Area at or before the conclusion of the activity for which the Permit was granted.
Fuel, food and other materials are not to be deposited in the Area, unless required for essential purposes connected with the activity for which the Permit has been granted. All such materials introduced are to be removed when no longer required. Permanent depots are not permitted. 7 (vi) Taking or harmful interference with native flora and fauna
This is prohibited, except in accordance with a Permit. Where animal taking or harmful interference is involved this should be in accordance with the SCAR Code of Conduct for Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes in Antarctica, as a minimum standard.
7 (vii) Collection and removal of anything not brought into the Area by the Permit holder
Material may be collected or removed from the Area only in accordance with a Permit, except that debris of man-made origin may be removed from the beaches of the Area and dead or pathological specimens of fauna or flora may be removed for laboratory examination.
7 (viii) Disposal of waste
All non-human wastes shall be removed from the Area. Human waste may be deposited in the sea.
7 (ix) Measures that may be necessary to ensure that the aims and objectives of the Management Plan continue to be met
Permits may be granted to enter the Area to carry out biological monitoring and site inspection activities, which may involve the collection of small amounts of plant material or small numbers of animals for analysis or audit, to erect or maintain notice boards, or protective measures.
7 (x) Requirements for reports
The Principal Permit Holder for each issued Permit shall submit a report of activities conducted in the Area using the accepted Visit Report form suggested by SCAR. This report shall be submitted to the authority named in the Permit as soon as practicable, but not later than 6 months after the visit has taken place. Such reports should be stored indefinitely and made accessible to interested Parties, SCAR, CCAMLR and COMNAP if requested, to provide the documentation of human activities within the Area necessary for good management.
Annex B to Measure 1 (1995) Management Plan for Specially Protected Area (SPA) No. 15
SOUTHERN POWELL ISLAND AND ADJACENT ISLANDS, SOUTH ORKNEY ISLANDS
The Area was originally designated in Recommendation IV-15 (1966, SPA No. 15) after a proposal by the United Kingdom on the grounds that Southern Powell Island and the adjacent islands support substantial vegetation and a considerable bird and mammal fauna. The Area was representative of the natural ecology of the South Orkney Islands, and was rendered more important by the nucleus of an expanding colony of Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella).
These grounds are still relevant, though the expansion of the fur seal colony is progressing only slowly.
The values to be protected are primarily those associated with the large concentrations of breeding birds and seals, and to a lesser extent, the terrestrial vegetation.
2. Aims and Objectives
Management of southern Powell Island and adjacent islands aims to:
avoid major changes in the structure and composition of the terrestrial vegetation;
prevent unnecessary human disturbance to the Area;
permit research of a compelling scientific nature which cannot be served elsewhere.
3. Management Activities
Because of its use as an anchorage in the past, it is important that the signs, which identify the Area as a Specially Protected Area and point out that landing without a Permit is forbidden, are maintained.
Visits should be made as necessary to assess the biological composition of the Area, in particular the state of the fur seal colony, and to maintain sign boards.
4. Period of Designation
Designated under ATCM Recommendation IV-15 for an indefinite period.
5. Maps
Map 1 shows the location of southern Powell Island in relation to the South Orkney Islands. Map 2 shows the Area in greater detail.
6. Description of the Area
6 (i) Geographical coordinates and natural features
The Area, which is centered on latitude 60° 42'S and longitude 45° 01'W includes all of Powell Island, South Orkney Islands, south of the latitude of the southern summit of John Peaks (375 m altitude), together with the whole of Fredriksen Island, Michelsen Island (a tidal peninsula at the southern tip of Powell Island), Christoffersen Island, Grey Island and unnamed adjacent islands. All but the Crutchley Ice Piedmont of southern Powell Island are ice-free in summer, though there are patches of semipermanent or late-lying snow in places.
The rocks of southern Powell Island, Michelsen Island and Christoffersen Island are conglomerates of Cretaceous-Jurassic age. The two promontories to the west of John Peaks are Carboniferous greywacke-shales. There are boulders containing plant fossils in the glacial deposits around Falkland Harbour. Much of central and southern Fredriksen Island is composed of sandstone and dark phyllitic shales. The north-east, and probably most of the north, of this island is highly sheared conglomerate with laminated mudstone. The Area has a thick mantle of glacial fill, strongly influenced by seabird guano.
Michelsen Island is almost devoid of land vegetation, although on the rocks there are extensive communities of lichens dominated by nitrophilous crustose species. These are also widespread on Fredriksen Island and elsewhere on bird-influenced cliffs and rocks near the shore. The most diverse vegetation on Powell Island occurs on the two promontories and associated scree west of Falkland Harbour. Here, and on Christoffersen Island and the northern part of Fredriksen Island, moss banks with underlying peat occur. Wet areas support stands of moss carpet. There are extensive areas of the nitrophilous macroalga Prasiola crispa associated with the penguin colonies in the area. Snow alga are prominent on the ice piedmont and snow patches in late summer.
No information is available on the arthropod fauna, but this is probably very similar to that at Signy Island. The springtails Cryptopygus antarcticus and Parisotoma octoculata and the mites Alaskozetes antarcticus, Stereotydeus villosus and Gamasellus racovitzai occur in great numbers beneath stones.
There are few observations on marine biota in the Area, but this is likely to be very similar to the well- researched Signy Island area. The relatively enclosed Falkland-Ellefsen Harbour area and the bay on the east side of the peninsula are highly influenced by glacial run-off from the ice piedmont.
Large numbers of penguins and petrels breed throughout the Area. There are many thousand pairs of chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarctica), mostly on Fredriksen Island. Similarly large numbers of Adelie penguins (P. adeliae) occur principally on the southern Powell-Michelsen Island area. Here there are also several thousand pairs of gentoo penguins (P. papua) and a very few scattered pairs of macaroni penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus) breeding among the gentoos.
Other breeding birds include southern giant petrels (Macronectes giganteus), cape petrels (Daption capensis), snow petrels (Pagodroma nivea), Wilson's storm petrels (Oceanites oceanicus), blue-eyed shags (Phalacrocorax atriceps), Dominican gulls (Larus dominicanus), brown skuas (Catharacta lonnbergi), sheathbills (Chionis alba), and possibly Antarctic prions (Pachyptila desolata) and blackbellied storm petrels (Fregatta tropica).
Michelsen Island is the longest known breeding site in the Antarctic of fur seals since their near extermination in the nineteenth century. The number of pups born annually has increased slowly but fairly steadily from 11 in 1956 to about 60 in 1989. Thirty-four live pups were recorded in January 1994. Many non-breeding males visit the Area during the summer. Other seals are frequent on the beaches, mainly elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) and Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddelli.). Leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) and crabeater seals (Lobodon carcinophagus) are occasionally seen on ice floes.
6 (ii) Restricted zones within the Area
None
6 (iii) Location of structures within the Area
A marker board (erected January 1994) is positioned on southern Powell Island on top of a small rock outcrop at the back of the shingle beach on the east side of the southern promontory of the island.
On Michelsen Island the marker board (erected January 1994) is situated on a low-lying rock about 50 m from the shoreline at the back of a high shingle beach at the southern tip of the island.
On Christoffersen Island the marker board (erected January 1994) is located on a small promontory on the northeastern shore of the island at the entrance to Falkland Harbour. The board is located at the back of the beach just below a small Adelie penguin rookery.
On Fredriksen Island a marker board (erected January 1994) is located at the northern end of the pebble boulder beach on the western side of the island, below a small chinstrap penguin rookery. The board is at the back of the beach on top of a small rock outcrop.
There are no other structures within the Area, but various mooring chains and rings associated with the use of Ellefsen and Falkland Harbours by floating whale factories in the 1920s are to be found on the shore.
6 (iv) Location of other Protected Areas within close proximity
SPA No. 13, Moe Island, and SPA No. 14, Lynch Island, are about 35 km west by south and about 35 km west of the Area respectively. SPA No. 18, North Coronation Island, is about the same distance away on the northern side of Coronation Island.
7. Permit Conditions
Entry into the Area is prohibited except in accordance with a Permit issued by an appropriate national authority as designated under Article 7 of Annex V of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty.
Conditions for issuing a Permit to enter the Area are that:
it is issued only for a compelling scientific purpose which cannot be served elsewhere;
the actions permitted will not jeopardise the natural ecological system in the Area;
any management activities are in support of the objectives of this Management Plan;
the actions permitted are in accordance with this Management Plan;
the Permit must be carried within the Specially Protected Area;
a report or reports are supplied to the authority or authorities named in the Permit.
7 (i) Access to and movement within the Area
Anchoring within Falkland Harbour and Ellefsen Harbour is prohibited except in emergency.
No pedestrian routes are designated within the Area, but persons on foot should avoid walking on vegetated areas or disturbing wildlife wherever possible. Vehicles are not allowed in the Area.
It is forbidden to overfly the Area below 250 m altitude above the highest point except for purposes of landing (when essential) on the beach on the east side of the southern most tip of Powell Island.
7 (ii) Activities which are or may be conducted within the Area, including restrictions on time and place
Compelling scientific research which cannot be undertaken elsewhere
essential management activities, including monitoring.
7 (iii) Installation, modification or removal of structures
No structures are to be erected in the Area, or scientific equipment installed, except for essential scientific or management activities, as specified in the Permit.
7 (iv) Location of field camps
Parties shall not camp in the Area, except in an emergency for reasons of safety. In this case, tents should be erected having regard to causing the least damage to the vegetation or disturbance to fauna.
7 (v) Restrictions on materials and organisms which may be brought into the Area
No living animals or plant material shall be deliberately introduced into the Area.
No poultry products, including food products containing uncooked dried eggs, shall be taken into the Area.
No herbicides or pesticides shall be brought into the Area. Any other chemicals, which may be introduced for a compelling scientific purpose specified in the Permit, shall be removed from the Area at or before the conclusion of the activity for which the Permit was granted.
Fuel, food or other materials are not to be deposited in the Area, unless required for essential purposes connected with the activity for which the Permit has been granted. All such materials are to be removed when no longer required.
7 (vi) Taking or harmful interference with native flora and fauna
This is prohibited except in accordance with a Permit. Where animal taking or harmful interference is involved this should be in accordance with the SCAR Code of Conduct for Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes in Antarctica, as a minimum standard.
7 (vii) Collection and removal of anything not brought into the area by the Permit holder
Material may be collected or removed from the Area only in accordance with a Permit, except that debris of man-made origin may be removed from the beaches of the Area and dead or pathological specimens of fauna or flora may be removed for laboratory examinations.
7 (viii) Disposal of waste
All non-human wastes shall be removed from the Area. Human waste may be deposited in the sea.
7 (ix) Measures that may be necessary to ensure that the aims and objectives of the Management Plan continue to be met
Permits may be granted to enter the Area to carry out biological monitoring and site inspection activities, which may involve the collection of small amounts of plant material or small numbers of animals for analysis or audit, or to erect or maintain notice boards, or to carry out protective measures.
7 (x) Requirements for reports
The principal Permit holder for each issued Permit shall submit a report of activities conducted in the Area using the accepted Visit Report form. This report shall be submitted to the appropriate authority or authorities named in the Permit as soon as practicable, but not later than six months after the visit has taken place.
Such reports should be stored indefinitely by the appropriate authority and made accessible to interested Parties, SCAR, CCAMLR and COMNAP if requested, to provide the documentation of human activities within the Area necessary for good management.
Measure 2 (1995) Revised Description and Management Plan for Sites of Special Scientific Interest
The Representatives of the Consultative Parties,
Recommend to their Governments the following Measure for approval in accordance with paragraph 4 of Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty;
For the Site of Special Scientific Interest mentioned below:
(i) the Management Plan inserted in the Annex to Recommendation XIII-8 Facilitation of scientific research: Sites of Special Scientific Interest, be deleted;
(ii) the Management Plan of the Site of Special Scientific Interest, annexed to this Recommendation, be inserted in the Annex to Recommendation XIII-8 Facilitation of scientific research: Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
The Site of Special Scientific Interest concerned is: SSSI No. 11 Tramway Ridge, Mt. Erebus, Ross Island.
Management Plan for Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) No. 11 TRAMWAY RIDGE, MT. EREBUS, ROSS ISLAND
The lower end of Tramway Ridge was originally designated in Recommendation XIII-8 (1985, SSSI No. 11) after a proposal by New Zealand on the grounds that the Area supports an unusual ecosystem of exceptional scientific value to botanists, physiologists and microbiologists. Mt. Erebus (3794 m) is one of only three known high altitude localities of fumarolic activity and associated vegetation in the Antarctic. Tramway Ridge is an ice free area of gently sloping warm ground 1.5 km to the Northwest of the main crater of Mt. Erebus, located at an elevation of between 3350 m and 3400 m. The single, as yet unidentified, moss species found in the Area is unusual in that it persists in the protonematal stage. An unusual variety of a common thermophilic cyanobacterium is especially noteworthy. The plant communities which have developed on the fumarolic soils within the Area differ significantly from those found elsewhere in Antarctica. The regional uniqueness of the communities is of substantial scientific interest and value. The very limited geographical extent of the ecosystem, its unusual biological features, its exceptional scientific values and the ease with which it could be disturbed through trampling or alien introductions, are such that the Area requires long-term special protection.
2. Aims and Objectives
Management at Tramway Ridge aims to:
avoid degradation of, or substantial risk to, the values of the Area;
prevent unnecessary human disturbance to the Area;
permit research on the unique vegetation and microbial communities while ensuring they are protected from over-sampling;
minimise the possibility of introduction of alien plants, animals and microbes to the Area;
preserve a part of the Area, which is declared a Restricted Zone, as a reference site for future studies;
permit visits for management purposes in support of the objectives of the management plan.
3. Management Activities
The following management activities are to be undertaken to protect the values of the Area:
Durable wind direction indicators should be erected close to the designated helicopter landing site whenever it is anticipated there will be a number of landings near the Area in a given season. These should be replaced as needed and removed when no longer required.
Markers, which should be clearly visible from the air and pose no significant threat to the environment, should be placed to mark the helicopter landing pad.
A line of flags should be placed to mark the preferred snowmobile route (Map A) between the USAP Upper and Lower Erebus Huts, which should pass no closer than 200 m to the Area.
Signs illustrating the location, boundaries and clearly stating entry restrictions shall be placed on posts marking the boundaries of the Area. Signs showing the location of the Area (stating the special restrictions that apply) shall be displayed prominently, and a copy of this Management Plan should be kept available, in all of the research hut facilities located close to the summit of Mt. Erebus.
Markers, signs or structures erected within the Area for scientific or management purposes shall be maintained in good condition.
Visits shall be made as necessary (no less than once every five years) to assess whether the Area continues to serve the purposes for which it was designated and to ensure management and maintenance measures are adequate.
National Antarctic Programmes operating in the region shall consult together with a view to ensuring these steps are carried out.
4. Period of Designation
Designated for an indefinite period.
5. Maps and Photographs
Map A:
Tramway Ridge, Mt. Erebus, location image-map. Image is rectified by a fine transformation and scale is approximate. Photography USGS/DOSLI (SN7842) 11 November 1993. Map B:
Tramway Ridge, protected area orthophotograph. Orthophoto and protected area boundary coordinates are tied to the Camp Area Plane Datum 1981, a local framework, using the WGS72 spheroid. Precise GPS coordinates for the site will differ: these were unavailable at the time of mapping. Photography US Navy (SN6480) 9 February 1980. Map C:
Tramway Ridge, protected area map. Contours are derived from a digital elevation model generated using a 10 m grid for the orthophotograph in Map B: accuracy ''2 m. Precise area of warm ground is subject to variation seasonally and inter-annually.
Figure 1:
Perspective view of the Tramway Ridge area from an elevation of 6200 m, 5000 m out from the Area at a bearing of 215° SW, showing the protected area boundary, the location of the USAP Erebus huts, and the preferred helicopter landing site and snowmobile route. Image source: Map A. 6. Description of the Area
6 (i) Geographical coordinates, boundary markers and natural features
The boundary of the designated Area is defined as a square of 200 m by 200.8 m which encompasses most of the warm ground area of lower Tramway Ridge (167°06'35''E, 77°31'05''S: Map B). The Area is divided into two parts of almost equal size, the northern half being a Restricted Zone. The boundaries of the Area and the Restricted Zone (marked by signposts at each corner) and prominent features are shown on Map B. Several boundary signposts have been offset owing to dangerous ground at the actual corner point.
The Area is in general on a gentle slope of about 5°, with much of the ice-free ground in the form of terraces which have a typical vertical height of about 0.5 m and steeper sides of up to 30° in slope. The steep sides of the terraces have the maximum development of crusts of vegetation, and it is from these sides that visible steam emissions occur. Visible vegetation covers about 16% of the Area. Low ice hummocks of up to about 1 m high are distributed over the Area where steam has frozen. Surface ground temperatures are up to about 75°C. The steam-warmed lithosols in the Area provide an unusual habitat of limited extent. The acid reaction of the soils, the constant supply of moisture by condensation of steam and the regular supply of geothermal heat produce conditions which contrast markedly with most Antarctic soils. There is no evidence of the presence of microinvertebrate animals in the soils. The vegetation comprises protonematal moss and diverse microalgae, which has developed on the fumarolic soils and differs significantly from other Antarctic plant communities. The single moss species, which has not yet been identified, is unusual in that it has never been seen to produce leaves but persists in the protonematal stage. The vegetation occurs in zones related to surface temperature. Warmest ground, from about 35-60°C, is colonised by dark blue-green and reddish-brown mats of cyanobacteria, whereas cooler surfaces of about 10-30°C are dominated by green crusts of coccoid chlorophytes and moss protonema. Bare ground lacking a macroscopically visible vegetation occurs between 0-20°C. The algal flora comprises four cyanobacteria and 11 coccoid chlorophytes. The presence of a thermophilic cyanobacterium is especially noteworthy as it is an unusual variety of the hot spring cyanobacterium Mastigocladus laminosus, which is common elsewhere in the world. Thermophilic bacteria have been isolated at 60°C. These include heterotrophic and a thiosulfate-utilising autotrophic species.
6 (ii) Restricted zones within the Area
The northern half of the Area is designated a Restricted Zone in order to preserve part of the Area as a reference site for future comparative studies, while the southern half of the Area (which is essentially similar in biology, features and character) is available for research programmes and sample collection. The south boundary of the Restricted Zone is defined by a line that bisects the Area into two halves (Map B), and is marked at both ends by signposts. This boundary may be identified on the ground approximately as an extension westwards of the south ridge line of lower Tramway Ridge. The other three boundaries of the Restricted Zone are defined by the boundaries of the Area. Access to the Restricted Zone is strictly prohibited until such time as it is agreed by management plan review that access should be allowed.
6 (iii) Structures within and near the Area
Signposts mark the corner points of the boundaries. The USAP Lower and Upper Erebus Huts are located approximately 1 km to the Northeast (3400 m) and Southeast (3612.5 m) respectively.
6 (iv) Location of other SPAs within close proximity of the Area
None.
7. Permit Conditions
Permits may be issued only by appropriate national authorities. Conditions for issuing a Permit to enter the Area are that:
it is issued only for scientific study of the ecosystem, or for a compelling scientific or management purpose that cannot be served elsewhere;
access to the Restricted Zone shall be prohibited;
the actions permitted are not likely to jeopardise the natural ecological system or scientific values of the Area;
any management activities are in support of the objectives of the Management Plan;
the actions permitted are in accordance with the Management Plan;
any Permit issued shall be valid for a stated period.
7 (i) Access to and movement within the Area
Landing of helicopters within the Area is strictly prohibited. Helicopter overflight of the Area should be avoided, except for essential scientific or management purposes when helicopters shall in no instance fly lower than 30 m above the ground surface of the Area. Use of helicopter smoke bombs is strictly prohibited within 200 m of the Area and is discouraged nearby. For short-duration visits which do not require camp establishment, access by helicopter should be to a designated landing site, located outside of the Area and 300 m to the Northwest (Map A and Figure 1). For visits which require camp establishment, helicopter access should be to the USAP Upper or Lower Erebus Huts, and thence on foot or by land vehicle to the edge of the Area at Tramway Ridge. Landing of helicopters at other sites close to the Area is strongly discouraged. Only those persons specifically authorised by Permit are allowed to enter the Area. No special restrictions apply to the air or land routes used to move to and from the Area, although those traveling between the Upper and Lower Erebus Huts should keep to the preferred snowmobile route and stay at least 200 m from the protected area boundary.
Access into the Area shall be on foot and land vehicles are prohibited. Visitors should avoid walking on visible vegetation and, as far as practicable, areas of warm ground. Visitors should be aware that walking in the Area can compact soil, alter temperature gradients (which may change rates of steam release), and break thin ice crusts which may form over warm ground, with resulting damage to soil and biota below. The presence of snow or ice surfaces is not a guaranteed indication of a suitable pathway: therefore every reasonable effort should be made to minimise the effects of walking activity. Pedestrian traffic should be kept to the minimum necessary consistent with the objectives of any permitted activities.
7 (ii) Activities that are or may be conducted in the Area, including restrictions on time or place
Scientific research which will not jeopardise the ecosystem of the Area;
Essential management activities, including monitoring;
Entry to the Restricted Zone is prohibited.
7 (iii) Installation, modification or removal of structures
No structures, except for boundary markers and signs, are to be erected within the Area except as specified in a Permit. All scientific equipment installed in the Area must be approved by Permit and clearly identified by country, name of the principal investigator and year of installation. All such items should be made of materials that pose minimal risk of contamination of the Area. Removal of specific equipment for which the Permit has expired shall be the responsibility of the authority which granted the original Permit.
7 (iv) Location of field camps
Camping required for work in the Area should be near the existing USAP Upper or Lower Erebus Hut sites, and is discouraged anywhere within 500 m of the boundaries of the Area (Map A).
7 (v) Restrictions on materials and organisms which can be brought into the Area
To avoid compromising the microbial ecosystem for which this site is protected no living animals, plant material or microorganisms shall be deliberately introduced into the Area and precautions shall be taken against accidental introductions. No herbicides or pesticides shall be brought into the Area. Any other chemicals, including radio-nuclides or stable isotopes, which may be introduced for scientific or management purposes specified in the Permit, shall be removed from the Area at or before the conclusion of the activity for which the Permit was granted.
Fuels are not to be brought into the Area. Food shall not be consumed within the Area. Equipment and other materials are not to be stored in the Area, unless required for essential purposes connected with the activity for which the Permit has been granted. All such materials introduced shall be for a stated period only, shall be removed at or before the conclusion of that stated period, and shall be stored and handled so that risk of their introduction into the environment is minimised.
7 (vi) Taking of or harmful interference with native flora or fauna
Taking of or harmful interference with native flora or fauna is prohibited, except in accordance with a Permit. Where taking of animals or harmful interference is involved this should be in accordance with the SCAR Code of Conduct for the Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes in Antarctica, as a minimum standard.
7 (vii) Collection or removal of anything not brought into the Area by the Permit holder
Material may be collected or removed from the Area only in accordance with a Permit. Material of human origin, not brought into the Area by the Permit Holder, but which is likely to compromise the values of the Area may be removed from any part of the Area, including the Restricted Zone.
7 (viii) Disposal of waste
All wastes, including all human wastes, must be removed from the Area. Excretion of human wastes is prohibited within the Area.
7 (ix) Measures that are necessary to ensure that aims and objectives of the Management Plan can continue to be met
1. The Permit, or an authorised copy, must be carried within the Area.
2. Permits may be granted to enter the Area to carry out biological monitoring and site inspection activities, which may involve the collection of small samples for analysis or audit to erect or maintain signposts, or protective measures.
3. To help maintain the scientific value derived from the unique communities found at Tramway Ridge visitors shall take special precautions against introductions, especially when visiting several thermal regions in a season. Of particular concern are microbial or vegetation introductions sourced from:
thermal areas, both Antarctic non-Antarctic;
soils at any other Antarctic sites, including those near stations;
soils from regions outside Antarctica.
To this end, visitors shall take the following measures to minimise the risk of introductions:
(a) Any sampling equipment or markers brought into the Area shall be sterilised and maintained in a sterile condition before being used within the Area. To the maximum extent practicable, footwear and other equipment used or brought into the Area (including backpacks or carry-bags) shall be thoroughly cleaned or sterilised and maintained in this condition before entering the Area;
(b) Sterilisation should be by an acceptable method, such as by UV light, autoclave or by washing exposed surfaces in 70% ethanol solution in water.
(c) Sterile protective overclothing shall be worn. The overclothing shall be suitable for working at temperatures of -20°C or below and comprise at a minimum sterile overalls to cover arms, legs and body and sterile gloves suitable for placing over the top of cold-weather gloves.
7 (x) Requirements for reports
Parties should ensure that the principal holder of each permit issued submit to the appropriate authority a report describing the activities undertaken. Such reports should include, as appropriate, the information identified in the Visit Report form suggested by SCAR. Parties should maintain a record of such activities and, in the Annual Exchange of Information, should provide summary descriptions of activities conducted by persons subject to their jurisdiction, in sufficient detail to allow evaluation of the effectiveness of the management plan. Parties should, wherever possible, deposit originals or copies of such original reports in a publicly accessible archive to maintain a record of usage, to be used both in any review of the management plan and in organising the scientific use of the Area.
Unreproducible image: Map A - Tramway Ridge, Mt. Erebus: Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. XX Location image-map.
Unreproducible image: Map B - Tramway Ridge, Mt. Erebus: Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. XX
Unreproducible image: Figure 1 - Tramway Ridge, Mt. Erebus: Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. XX Perspective view from 215°SW
Measure 3 (1995) Antarctic Protected Area System: Specially Protected Areas
Specially Protected Area No. 24: Pointe-Geologie Archipelago (Jean Rostand, Alexis Carrel, Lamarck and Claude Bernard Islands, Bon Docteur Nunatak)
The Representatives of the Consultative Parties,
"Recalling Recommendations XV-8 and XV-9;
"Noting that a Management Plan for the above Area has been approved by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR);
"Considering that the Point Geologie Archipelago is important as a representative area of considerable biological, geological and aesthetic value; contains a high diversity of animals and plants and is an important area for scientific research; and that long-term research and monitoring programmes on bird colonies and geology have been conducted in the area since 1952;
"Recommend to their Governments the following Measure for approval in accordance with paragraph 4 of Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty:
That the following Area shall be inserted in Annex B, Specially Protected Areas, of the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora, together with the annexed Management Plan:
Specially Protected Area No. 24
Jean Rostand, Alexis Carrel, Lamarck and Claude Bernard Islands, Bon Docteur Nunatak and Breeding Marine Emperor Penguin Colony (140 to 140° 02'E; 66° 39'30'' to 66°40'33'' S) in the heart of Pointe-Geologie Archipelago, coastal area of Adelie Land in the vicinity of Astrolabe Glacier.
Annex to Measure 3 (1995) SPECIALLY PROTECTED AREA NO. 24 POINTE-GEOLOGIE ARCHIPELAGO
1. DESCRIPTION OF VALUES TO BE PROTECTED
One mammal specie, Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddeili) and various bird species are nesting here: Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri); South Polar skua (Catharacta maccormicki); Adelie penguin (pygoscelis adeliae); Wilson's storm petrel (Oceanites oceanicus); Southern giant petrel (Macronectes giganteus); Snow petrel (Pagodroma nivea); Capy petrel (Daption capensis).
Well-marked hills display asymetrical transverse profiles with gently dipping northern slopes compared to the steeper southern ones. The terrain is affected by numerous cracks and fractures leading to very rough surfaces. The basement rocks mainly consist of sillimanite, cordierite and garnet-rich gneisses which are intruded by abundant dikes of pink anatexites. The lowest parts of the islands are covered by morainic boulders (from a few centimeters to more than a meter across).
Long-term research and monitoring programmes have been continuing a long time already (since 1952 or 1964 according to the species). A data base implemented in 1981 is directed by C.E.B.C. (Centre d'Etudes biologiques de Chize).
The Emperor penguins breeding colony is a site of Special Scientific Interest which could further be included in the Convention on Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources Environmental Monitoring Programme (CCAMLR/CEMP) in order to achieve the Convention's requirements.
2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
prevent unnecessary disturbance on the area face to the growing flux of cruising tourist ship.
permit research of a compelling scientific nature which cannot be served elsewhere.
avoid major change to the structure and composition of flora and fauna and the association of different species of vertebrates harboured in the area, which therefore constitutes one of the most representative for both faunistic and scientific interest on Adelie coast. permit research on ethological, ecological, physiological and biochemical programmes in progress especially those related to demographic monitoring and impact assessment of surrounding human activities comprising tourism. Physiology and biochemistry programmes relating to fasting mechanisms and thermogenesis of emperor penguins could be pursued in compliance with permit provisions. permit research in geology with a particular attention to the programmation of visits, especially when thermomechanical means for sampling are required.
3. MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES
Inspection visits are restricted to essential management purposes.
4. PERIOD OF DESIGNATION
5. MAPS
6. DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA
Geographical coordinates, boundary markers and natural features
Jean ROSTAND. Alexis CARREL. LAMARCK and Claude BERNARD Islands. Bon Docteur Nunatak and Emperor penguins breeding colony are situated in the heart of Pointe-G'ologie Archipelago, coastal area of Adelie Land (140 to 140°02'E; 66°39'30'' to 66°40'30''S).
The area consists of the southernmost exposure of the Pointe-G'ologie Archipelago, between the Petrels Island and the Western edge of the Astrolable glacier. It is a very large ice free ground within Adelie Land.
As a whole, the surface of the outcropping rocks does not exceed 2 square kilometers. The highest points are distributed along NE-SW ridges (Cl. Bernard Island: 47.6m; J.B. Lamarck Island: 22.2m; J. Rostand Island: 36.39m; Carrel Island: 28.24m and Nunatak: 28.50m). During the summer, only the southern flanks of the islands are still covered by compressed snow caps. There are no boundary markers since natural features delimit the wholly protected islands. However, markers could further be set up in Nunatak. No tracks or roads exist in the area.
Table 1. Annual breeding area of seabirds in the Specially Protected Area (SPA). The population breeding within the SPA is given compared to the Pointe Geologie (PG) population (from Thomas 1986).
|
Islands |
Emperor penguin |
Adelie penguin |
South polar skua |
Snow petrel |
Cape petrel |
Wilson’s storm petrel |
Southern giant petrel |
|
Claude Bernard |
- |
3421 |
5 |
153 |
192 |
178 |
- |
|
Lamarck |
- |
1007 |
1 |
38 |
15 |
45 |
- |
|
Jean Rostand |
0 |
4793 |
3 |
53 |
18 |
35 |
11 |
|
Alexis Carrel |
- |
4075 |
6 |
25 |
- |
72 |
- |
|
Nunatak |
- |
1961 |
1 |
11 |
- |
41 |
- |
|
Emperor Penguin Breeding Colony |
3119 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total |
3119 |
15257 |
16 |
280 |
225 |
371 |
11 |
|
%SPA/P |
100 |
71 |
67 |
36 |
68 |
31 |
79 |
Table 2. Presence of birds on breeding colonies.
|
|
Emperor penguin |
Adelie penguin |
South polar skua |
Snow petrel |
Cape petrel |
Wilson’s storm petrel |
Southern giant petrel |
|
First arrival |
March |
October |
October |
September |
October
|
November |
July |
|
First laying |
May |
November |
November |
November |
November |
December |
October |
|
Last departure |
January |
March |
March |
March |
March |
March |
April |
Table 3. Sensibility to human disturbance and status of the Pointe Geologie populations.
|
|
Emperor penguin |
Adelie penguin |
South polar skua |
Snow petrel |
Cape petrel |
Wilson’s storm petrel |
Southern giant petrel |
|
Sensibility to human disturbance |
High |
Medium |
Low |
Medium |
High |
High |
High |
|
Status 1952-1984 |
Decreasing |
Increasing |
Stable |
? |
? |
? |
Decreasing |
|
Status 1984-1993 |
Stable |
Increasing |
Stable |
Stable |
Stable |
? |
Stable |
ii)
Identification of restricted or prohibited zones
Access to every part of the area is prohibited unless authorized by a permit.
Location of breeding colonies is shown on the map. The birds are present in colonies from October to March, except Emperor penguins, which breed in winter (Table 2). Their sensibility to human disturbance varies depending on the species (Table 3). The implantation of the Dumont d'Urville station has resulted in a drastic decrease of the populations of Emperor penguins and Southern giant petrels in Pointe-G'ologie Archipelago. For the last ten years the breeding areas of these birds have been protected and the populations are now consecutively stable (Table 3).
No one, except permit holders, is allowed to approach or to disturb the Emperor penguin colony in any manner when eggs are incubating from mid-July, to mid-December when the chicks fledge. The particularly sensitive Emperor penguins are equally protected beyond the definite limits of their breeding area since the colony is not always located in the same place.
The southeastern part of Jean Rostand Island is designated as a Restricted Zone in order to preserve the remaining breeding colony of Southern giant petrels. All access to the Restricted Zone is prohibited during the breeding period from August to February. The access is restricted to one ornithologist permit holder in order to monitor the population three times each year. The boundary of the Restricted Zone is defined by a 20 meters-width buffer zone around the colony and is marked on the soil. The prohibition of access to the Restricted Zone shall be for an indefinite period, but shall be subject to reevaluation each time the Management Plan is reviewed.
iii)
Location of structures in the Area
Prevost hut and a shelter are located on ROSTAND Island. There are no other buildings anywhere else in the Area.
iv)
Location in or near the area of other "Antarctic Specially Protected Areas" or "Antarctic Specially Managed Areas".
The region nearby is being considered for an "Antarctic Specially Managed Area" (ASMA) including Dumont d'Urville station and other surrounding areas of activities.
7. CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH PERMITS MAY BE GRANTED
Access to and movement within the Area
No helicopters, nor terrestrial vehicles are authorised within the Area. No overflights over the Area, either by helicopters or other aeroplanes are authorized.
Access to the area is therefore only permitted by foot or by zodiacs (in summer).
However, very rare departures of terrestrial vehicles from Nunatak are allowed. Only when sea ice conditions hinder from proceeding otherwise and with special attention to the presence of birds in the area.
Access to and movement within the area shall, in any case, be limited in order to avoid unnecessary disturbance to birds, especially by crossing their pathways and to ensure that breeding areas or their access are not damaged or endangered.
ii)
Activities which are or may be conducted within the Area, including restrictions on time and place
compelling scientific activities which cannot be conducted elsewhere and for necessary management activities with regard to the special provisions relating to Emperor penguins and the Restricted Zone of Southern Giant Petrels (see 6.ii).
visitors granted entry in the Area by a permit shall ensure that no disturbances will occur from their visits to monitoring programmes.
iii)
Installation, modification or removal of structures
No structures are to be erected in the area or scientific equipment installed except for essential scientific or management activities as specified in the permit.
iv)
The location of field camps
Only safety tents should be erected with the intent of causing the least damage or disturbance to fauna.
v)
Restriction on materials and organisms which may be brought into the Area
no living animals or plant materials shall be deliberately introduced into the Area
no poultry products, including food products containing uncooked dried eggs should be taken into the Area
no chemicals shall be brought into the Area, except chemicals which may be introduced for a compelling scientific purpose as specified in the permit. Any chemical introduced shall be removed from the Area at or before the conclusion of the activity for which the permit was granted
fuel, food and other materials are not to be deposited in the area, unless required for essential purposes connected with the activity for which the permit has been granted. Such materials introduced are to the removed when no longer required. Permanent depots are not permitted.
vi)
The taking of or harmful interference with flora and fauna
Taking of or harmful interference with native flora and fauna is prohibited, except in accordance with a permit. Where animal taking or harmful interference is involved, this should be in accordance with the SCAR Code of Conduct for the Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes in Antarctica, as a minimum standard.
vii)
The collection or removal of anything not brought into the Area by the permit holder
Collection or removal of anything not brought into the Area by a permit holder is prohibited unless specified in the permit for scientific or management purposes. However, debris of man-made origin may be removed from the area and dead or pathological specimens of fauna or flora may be removed for laboratory examination.
viii)
The disposal of waste
All non-human wastes shall be removed from the Area.
ix)
Measures that may be necessary to ensure that the aims and objectives of the Management Plan can continue to be met
Permits may be granted to enter the Area to carry out monitoring, other scientific programmes and sites inspection activities, which may involve the collection of small amounts of biological materials and animals.
Permits shall specify the maximum number of persons allowed entry at one time.
Visits to the Area should be kept to the minimum necessary to achieve the scientific and management objectives.
x)
Requirements for reports of visits to the Area
Parties should ensure that the principal holder of each permit issued submit to the appropriate authority a report describing the activities undertaken. Such reports should include, as appropriate, the information identified in the Visit Report form suggested by SCAR. Parties should maintain a record of such activities and, in the Annual Exchange of Information, should provide summary descriptions of activities conducted by persons subject to their jurisdiction, in sufficient detail to allow evaluation of the effectiveness of the management plan. Parties should, wherever possible, deposit originals or copies of such original reports in a publicly accessible archive to maintain a record of usage, to be used both in any review of the management plan and in organising the scientific use of the Area.
MEASURE 4 (1995) ANTARCTIC PROTECTED AREA SYSTEM: NEW HISTORIC SITES AND MONUMENTS
"Recalling the Measures adopted in Recommendations 1-IX, V-4, VI-14, VII-9, XII-7, XIII-16, and XIV-8;
"Recommend to their Governments the following Measure for approval in accordance with paragraph 4 of Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty; that the following historic monuments be added to the "List of Historic Monuments Identified and Described by the Proposing Government or Governments" annexed to Recommendation VII-9. "Port Lockroy, Base A, on Goudier Island, off Wiencke Island, Antarctic Peninsula (Lat 64°49' S, Long 63°31' W). Of historic importance as an Operation Tabarin base and for scientific research.
"Argentine Islands, Base F (Wordie House), South-west corner of Winter Island, one of the group known as the Argentine Islands (Lat 65°15' S, Long 64°16' W). Of historic interest as an example of an early British scientific base.
"Horseshoe Island, Base Y, Marguerite Bay, West Graham Land (Lat 67°49' S, Long 67°18' W). Noteworthy as a relatively unaltered and completely equipped base of a later period. Blaiklock, the refuge hut nearby, is taken to be an integral part of the base.
"Stonington Island, Base E, Northern end of Stonington Island, Marguerite Bay, West Graham Land (Long 68°11' S, 67°00' W). Of historical importance in the early period of exploration and later British Antarctic Survey (BAS) history of the 1960s and 70s.
"Message Post, Svend Foyn Island. A pole with a box attached was placed on 16 January 1895 during the whaling expedition of Henryk Bull and Captain Leonard Kristensen of the ship "Antarctica." It was examined and found intact by the British Antarctic Expedition of 1898-1900 and then sighted from the beach by the USS Edisto in 1956 and USCGS Glacier in 1965 (latitude approximately 71°52'S, longitude 171°10'E).
"Prestrud's Cairn, at the foot of main bluff Scott Nunataks, Queen Alexandra Mountains. A small rock cairn at the foot of the main bluff on the north side of the Aunataks by Lieutenant K. Prestrud on 3 December 1911 during the Norwegian Antarctic Expedition of 1910-1912 (latitude 77°12'S, longitude 154°30'W).
"Rock Shelter "Granite House", Cape Geology, Granite Harbour. This shelter was constructed in December 1911 for use as a field kitchen by Taylor's second geological excursion during the British Antarctic Expedition of 1910-1913. It was enclosed on three sides with granite boulder walls and used as a sledge to form a roof tree which supported seal skins anchored by heavy rocks (latitude 77°00'E, longitude 162° 32'E). A 1981 inspection of the "house" found it in good condition although the sledge had begun to disintegrate. The most recent visit to the site in 1990 reported that this deterioration was accelerating.
"Depot, Hells Gate Moraine, Inexpressible Island, Terra Nova Bay. An emergency depot, consisting of a sledge loaded with supplies and equipment, was placed on 25 January 1913 by the British Antarctic Expedition at the close of the 1910-1913 expedition. The depot was established by the crew of the Terra Nova to provide security in the event the ship was unable to return and pick them up (latitude 74°56'S, longitude 163°48'E). In 1994, the sledge and supplies were removed in order to stabilise their condition as wind and scoria particles had started to cause rapid deterioration.
"Message Post, Cape Crozier. Erected on 22 January 1902 by Captain Robert F Scott's Discovery Expedition (the National Antarctic Expedition of 1901-1904) and consists of a post to which a metal cylinder was attached containing an account of the Expedition's movements. It was intended to provide information for the expedition relief ships (latitude 77°27'S, longitude 69°16'E). The message post, although weathered, still stands, its grain blasted into high relief by countless storms. The record cylinder no longer exists.
"Message Post, Cape Wadworth, Coulman Island. A metal cylinder nailed to a red pole 8 meters above sea level placed by Captain R. F. Scott on 15 January 1902. He also painted the rocks behind the post red and white to make it more conspicuous (latitude 73°19'S, longitude 169°47'E).
"Whalers Bay Whaling Station, Whalers Bay, Deception Island. Established in 1906 by Captain Adolfo Andresen. Of historical importance as an example of an Antarctic whaling station.
Measure 5 (1995) HISTORIC SITES AND MONUMENTS: AMENDMENT
"Recalling Recommendations I-IX, VI-14, VII-9, XII-7, XIII-16 and XIV-8;
"Recommend to their Governments the following Measure for approval in accordance with paragraph 4 of Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty:
That the description of Historic Site Number 14, which is contained in the "List of Historic Monuments Identified and Described by the proposing Government or Governments" annexed to Recommendation VII-9, be amended to read:
Site Number 14: Inexpressible Island, Terra Nova Bay, Scott Coast
"Site of ice cave at Inexpressible Bay, Terra Nova Bay, constructed in March 1912 by Victor Campbell's Northern Party, British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-13 (Lat 70°54'S, Long 163°43'E). The Party spent the winter of 1912 in this ice cave.
Annex B Decisions
Decision 1 (1995) Measures, Decisions and Resolutions
1. Measures
(a) A text which contains provisions intended to be legally binding once it has been approved by all the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties will be expressed as a Measure recommended for approval in accordance with paragraph 4 of Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty, and referred to as a "Measure."
(b) Measures will be numbered consecutively, followed by the year of adoption.
2. Decisions
(a) A decision taken at an Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting on an internal organizational matter will be operative at adoption or at such other time as may be specified, and will be referred to as a "Decision."
(b) Decisions will be numbered consecutively, followed by the year of adoption.
3. Resolutions
(a) A hortatory text adopted at an Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting will be contained in a Resolution.
(b) Resolutions will be numbered consecutively, followed by the year of adoption.
4. Final Reports of ATCMs
(a) Part II, Annex A of the Final Report of each Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting will contain the full text of Measures adopted at the Meeting.
(b) Part II, Annex B of the Final Report of each Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting will contain the full text of any Decisions adopted at that Meeting.
(c) Part II, Annex C of the Final Report of each Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting will contain the full text of any Resolutions adopted at that Meeting.
5. Nothing in this Decision affects in any way anything done by previous Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings.
6. This Decision will be operative at adoption.
Decision 2 (1995) Rules of Procedure: Amendment
Rule 24 of the Rules of Procedure, as amended at the XVIIth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, shall be replaced by the following:
"Measures, Decisions, and Resolutions and Final Report
24. Without prejudice to Rule 21, Measures, Decisions and Resolutions, as referred to in Decision 1 (1995), shall be adopted by the Representatives of all Consultative Parties present and will thereafter be subject to the provisions of Decision 1 (1995)."