Tourism frozen in antarctica

In a bid to protect the fragile environment and scenery in Antarctica, the 28 countries that take cruise ships to the big freeze have agreed to impose strict, compulsory limits on the number of tourists they take and also on the size of the ships...

The USA wants tougher controls for ships going to the ice and the 28 countries that have ties to Antarctica will now face far stricter controls on their Antarctic activities after the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has called for mandatory limits on the size of ships sailing there and on the number of passengers allowed ashore.

Antarctic tourism soared from 6700 visitors in the 1992-93 season to 45,213 in the season just gone, meaning far more wear and tear on the environment and also more potential for disaster.

Limiting tourism has taken on urgency due to a surge in visits and a number of cruise ship accidents.

More than 150 people on the cruise ship Explorer spent hours adrift after the ship hit an iceberg and sank during a voyage in November 2007. Two cruise ships also ran aground during the 2008-09 season.

The 50-year-old Antarctic Treaty was discussed by the 28 countries and they all signed the pact to limit the size of cruise ships and to ban ships carrying more than 500 passengers from landing sites. No more than 100 passengers are to be allowed ashore at one time, with a minimum of one guide for every 20 visitors.

Another resolution adopted at the meeting was the implementation of a compulsory safety code on vessels operating in the region, while a third enhances environmental protection for the entire Antarctic ecosystem.

Antarctica is home to several varieties of penguin and is a crucial feeding ground for whales.

There are currently some guidelines relating to Antarctic tourism but they are voluntary, so these new rules - which met with no opposition - will become enforceable once each of the countries formally ratifies them.

Picture by Individuo