ABSTRACT
Although Antarctica is the most isolated area on the globe, it
nevertheless has been impacted by man’s activities. The
earliest impacts resulted from the exploitation of seals and
whales (see Chapter 8 and Chapter 9). More recently, there
has been the exploitation of krill and fish stocks resulting in
considerable reduction in the populations of some fish
species. Fishing activities, especially by long-liners, has
severely impacted on some bird species, especially alba-
trosses. The establishment of bases by various countries and
the activity of research parties have also had an impact on the
pristine environment, resulting in environmental problems
of solid waste management, fuel spills, and the disposal of
liquid wastes with consequent impacts on marine commu-
nities. Tourism, which has grown considerably in recent
years, has added to human impact. Research vessels and
the increasing number of tour ships have raised the possi-
bility of oil spills. Mans release of greenhouse gases resulting
in ozone depletion and global warming have impacted
Antarctica (see Chapter 19 and Chapter 20). All of such
impacts will be discussed below.
