THEY used to call Antarctica 鈥渁 continent for science鈥�. Boffins may dream
on, but the world is fast closing in. The number of tourists visiting the
continent has increased tenfold in the past decade. This Antarctic summer some
8000 people are expected to clamber ashore.
Cruise ships are visiting many more sites. There are new operators, 鈥渙ften
with little or no experience of the area鈥�, according to Debra Enzenbacher of
the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge, who is investigating the
business. Two summers ago, one tourist group was found tramping across a site
of special scientific interest on Deception Island.
Three years ago, it seemd briefly that Antarctica鈥檚 problems were solved.
It was declared a 鈥渨orld park鈥� with a new environmental protocol. But the
protocol, with its new rules on waste disposal, emergency planning and
environmental impact assessment, has never been implemented. Ten countries,
just over a third of the Antarctic Treaty nations, have ratified the
protocol.
Advertisement
So far, there have been just two meetings to discuss an important
supplement to the proposal, which will make everyone who visits 鈥� from
scientists to tour operators 鈥� legally responsible for protecting the
environment. This tardiness is not malicious but simply reflects a lack of
urgency.
The consequences of this attitude emerged last week. As negotiators met in
the Netherlands to discuss the supplement, Reuters in Buenos Aires reported
the discovery that Argentina鈥檚 Antarctic Institute had spilled 80 000 litres
of fuel oil outside its Marambio base in July and August. The weather was so
inhospitable outside the base that, according to reports in Argentina, nobody
noticed the spill until an air force pilot spotted it. And Argentina didn鈥檛
admit it to the outside world until the ministry of defence leaked it.
The protocol and its supplement would go a long way to prevent such
accidents by imposing better environmental planning, reporting practices and
legal responsibilities. Antarctica is a large place and it will take more than
one oil spill to do serious damage. But if scientists cannot keep their own
bases clean, what hope do they have of imposing high standards on others?