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CnEUllA.lbHOfc KOHCy.lbTATIlBHOE t.UBtLUAHilt "* KEINION CON.-.LL1l\A ESPECIAL 



CANBERRA 



PRESS STATEMENT 



The first session of the Second Special Antarctic 

 Treaty Consultative Meeting, which concluded in Canberra on 

 16 March, made very useful progress towards the elaboration 

 of a draft definitive regime for Antarctic marine living 

 resources. The main accomplishment of the Meeting was the 

 production of an informal text which will be used as a 

 basis for further negotiations at a resumed session of the 

 meeting later this year. 



Drawing attention to the increasing interest 

 being shown in the living resources found in Antarctic 

 waters, the Meeting stressed the importance of such an 

 agreement. The thirteen Consultative Parties - being those 

 countries primarily interested in the Antarctic - had 

 the main responsibility for the protection and preservation 

 of the Antarctic and its living resources. In the 19 years 

 since the Antarctic Treaty was signed, they had already 

 taken a number of measures within the Treaty framework for 

 the conservation and protection of Antarctic flora and 

 fauna. They renewed their commitment to establish a 

 definitive international regime for the conservation of 

 Antarctic marine living resources before the end of 1978. 



