-16- 



III. RELATIONSHIP OF THE PROPOSED FEDERAL ACTION TO 

 INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR 

 THE ANTARCTIC ENVIRONMENT 



A. Agreements Pertaining to the Antarctic Region 



The Antarctic Treaty reserved for peaceful uses the 

 Antarctic continent and ice shelves, south of 60°S latitude. 

 It encourages scientific investigation and provides for 

 exchange of information. It further provides nothing in 

 the treaty shall prejudice or in any way affect the rights, 

 or the exercise of rights of any State under international 

 law with regard to the high seas within the Treaty area. 



In addition to the Antarctic Treaty itself, the United 

 States is a party to several agreements which directly con- 

 cern the environment of Antarctica. The Agreed Measures 

 for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora (not 

 yet in force, but effectively adhered to as voluntary 

 guidelines by the Treaty Parties) provide a stringent system 

 of protection of native mammals, birds and plants and 

 establish certain "Specially Protected Areas" which are 

 to be accorded special protection in order to preserve their 

 unique natural ecological characteristics. The Agreed 

 Measures pertain to areas and species on the Antarctic 

 continent and pack ice. The International Whaling Conven- 

 tion regulates whaling in Antarctic waters. The Convention 

 for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals, opened for signa- 

 ture in 1972, entered into force on March 11, 197 8. 

 It applies south of 60° latitude. 



The Convention on International Trade in Endangered 

 Species of Wild Fauna and Flora entered into force 2 

 June 1975. The Convention provides for the identification 

 of endangered species and the prohibition in international 

 trade in such species or products made therefrom. It 

 applies to two species of whale — the blue and humpback 

 whale -- found in Antarctic waters. These whales are also 

 protected species (no commercial harvesting) under the 

 International Whaling Convention. 



B. Agreements Pertaining to the Marine Environment 



In addition to the foregoing international agreements , 

 a number of international conventions dealing with protec- 

 tion of marine environment, primarily from vessel-source 

 pollution, would apply to Antarctic waters. Regulation 

 of discharges from vessels and provision of liability for 

 damages and clean-up costs for spillages of oil into the 



