Ship-based Tourism in the Antarctic Treaty Area

The Representatives,

Concerned by the potential impacts that the increase of tourist activities may have on the Antarctic environment, including its wildlife, and on the conduct of scientific research;

Concerned also about recent incidents involving vessels in the Antarctic Treaty area;

Desiring to promote the safety of life at sea and the protection of the environment in the Antarctic Treaty area;

Desiring also to minimize the likelihood of marine oil spills due to incidents involving large tourist vessels in Antarctica;

Recommend that:

Parties, consistent with their national law,

1. discourage or decline to authorise tour operators that use vessels carrying more than 500 passengers from making any landings in Antarctica; and

2. encourage or require tour operators to:
a) coordinate with each other such that not more than one tourist vessel is at a landing site at any one time;
b) restrict the number of passengers on shore at any one time to 100 or fewer, unless otherwise specified in applicable ATCM Measures or Resolutions; and
c) maintain a minimum 1:20 guide-to-passenger ratio while ashore, unless otherwise specified in applicable ATCM Measures or Resolutions.