Collection and use of Antarctic biological material
The Representatives,
Recalling Resolution 7 (2005) on Biological Prospecting in Antarctica;
Convinced of the benefits for the progress of humankind of scientific research in the Antarctic Treaty area;
Recalling also that the Antarctic Treaty at Article II provides for the freedom of scientific investigation in Antarctica, and at Article III(1)(c) provides that to the greatest extent feasible and practicable, scientific observations and results from Antarctica shall be exchanged and made freely available;
Recalling further that the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty provides for the regulation of scientific activities relating to the collection of biological material, consistent with the overarching principles of Article 3, and the means to promote these principles including the environmental impact assessment process of Annex I, the provisions for the conservation of Antarctic fauna and flora set out in Annex II and the area protection and management arrangements of Annex V;
Noting the role of the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources in the conservation, including rational use, of marine living resources south of the Antarctic Convergence, in particular the capacity to regulate harvesting of marine living resources;
Recommend that their Governments:
1. reaffirm that the Antarctic Treaty System is the appropriate framework for managing the collection of biological material in the Antarctic Treaty area and for considering its use;
2. emphasize that existing Antarctic Treaty system arrangements under the Protocol on Environmental Protection and the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources address the environmental aspects of scientific research and the collection of biological material in the Antarctic region; and
3. keep matters raised under Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting Agenda Item 17 Biological Prospecting in Antarctica under active consideration within the Antarctic Treaty system, including in relation to obligations under Article III(1)(c) of the Treaty.
The Representatives,
Recalling Resolution 7 (2005) on Biological Prospecting in Antarctica;
Convinced of the benefits for the progress of humankind of scientific research in the Antarctic Treaty area;
Recalling also that the Antarctic Treaty at Article II provides for the freedom of scientific investigation in Antarctica, and at Article III(1)(c) provides that to the greatest extent feasible and practicable, scientific observations and results from Antarctica shall be exchanged and made freely available;
Recalling further that the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty provides for the regulation of scientific activities relating to the collection of biological material, consistent with the overarching principles of Article 3, and the means to promote these principles including the environmental impact assessment process of Annex I, the provisions for the conservation of Antarctic fauna and flora set out in Annex II and the area protection and management arrangements of Annex V;
Noting the role of the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources in the conservation, including rational use, of marine living resources south of the Antarctic Convergence, in particular the capacity to regulate harvesting of marine living resources;
Recommend that their Governments:
1. reaffirm that the Antarctic Treaty System is the appropriate framework for managing the collection of biological material in the Antarctic Treaty area and for considering its use;
2. emphasize that existing Antarctic Treaty system arrangements under the Protocol on Environmental Protection and the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources address the environmental aspects of scientific research and the collection of biological material in the Antarctic region; and
3. keep matters raised under Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting Agenda Item 17 Biological Prospecting in Antarctica under active consideration within the Antarctic Treaty system, including in relation to obligations under Article III(1)(c) of the Treaty.