Treaty Consultative Meeting; and hold a meeting before the 
XIth Consultative Meeting to consider the ecological, 
political, technological, legal, and other aspects of a 
regime for Antarctic mineral resources. The representatives 
also noted that: "An agreed regime on Antarctic mineral 
resources should include inter alia means for: 
(i) assessing the possible impact of mineral 
resource activities on the Antarctic environment 
in order to provide for informed decision-making; 
(ii) determining whether mineral resource activities 
will be acceptable; 
(iii) governing the ecological, technological, political, 
legal, and economic aspects of those activities 
in cases where they would be determined acceptable; 
including: 
(a) establishing, as an important part of the 
regime, rules relating to the protection 
of the Antarctic environment; 
(b) requiring that mineral resource activities 
undertaken pursuant to the regime be under- 
taken in compliance with such roles." 
The meeting on Antarctic mineral resources was held in 
Washington, D.C., from 8 to 12 December 1980. It facilitated 
an exchange of views which should contribute to the ability 
of the Consultative Parties to consider and address the issue 
at the XIth Consultative Meeting to be held in Buenos Aires, 
Argentina in late June and early July 1981. Commission 
representatives participated in preparations for and served 
on the delegation to the December meeting, and will assist 
in preparing for the XIth Consultative Meeting. Through its 
representatives, the Commission has advocated, and will 
continue to advocate, a strong, ecosystem-oriented conservation 
approach consistent with the Marine Mammal Protection Act. 
Research-Related Issues 
The living resources convention and the non-living 
resources regime, presently being discussed, provide a 
mechanism for conserving Antarctic resources, both living 
and non-living, and for protecting the ecosystems of which 
they are a part. Available information on the nature, 
extent, and interrelationships of these resources is 
insufficient, however, to accurately predict and mitigate 
