ABSTRACT
Antarctica provides a unique experiment in environmental protection. Human activity on the continent is devoted to open scientific research directly supported by governments, an ideal situation for comprehensive environmental protection. As there are Specially Protected Areas on land under the Agreed Measures, it has been suggested that similar areas be established to protect inshore marine environments. Territorial extension of the Measures is identical to that of the Antarctic Treaty, with the same reservation for high seas rights. There was agreement on the establishment of a Commission, a Scientific Committee, close links with the Antarctic Treaty, and a relationship with the Food and Agriculture Organisation. The Convention will apply to Antarctic marine living resources forming part of the ecosystem south of the Antarctic Convergence, in contrast with the Sealing Convention which deals only with named species. In the absence of national quota allocations it will be difficult to enforce a total catch limit effectively.
