Policing Antarctica

Antarctica is a continent claimed but not owned by anyone. It is managed according to the agreements codified in the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS), a set of Conventions and Measures that have been negotiated over the last 50 years. The key agreements in ATS are listed, along with a brief discussion of the variety of tools and enforcement options that are available to police these agreements. Three activities (fishing of the Patagonian Toothfish, bioprospecting and individual behaviour) are examined in terms of what are the relevant provisions under the ATS, what is threatened by the activity, who is involved, what are the policing tools and how can they be enforced. The success or othewise of policing each activity is discussed and recommendations made as appropriate. Sorne general conclusions are drawn from the three case studes. Antarctica is a continent claimed but not owned by anyone. It is managed according to the agreements codified in the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS), a set of Conventions and Measures that have been negotiated over the last 50 years. The key agreements in ATS are listed, along with a brief discussion of the variety of tools and enforcement options that are available to police these agreements. Three activities (fishing of the Patagonian Toothfish, bioprospecting and individual behaviour) are examined in terms of what are the relevant provisions under the ATS, what is threatened by the activity, who is involved, what are the policing tools and how can they be enforced. The success or othewise of policing each activity is discussed and recommendations made as appropriate. Sorne general conclusions are drawn from the three case studes