Money-making in Antarctica and Related Challenges to the Antarctic Treaty System

This article discusses commercial activities in Antarctica and the challenges these activities pose for the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS). Attention focuses on developments in fishing, tourism and biological prospecting in Antarctica and on possible future ice harvesting. The discussions show that ‘money-making’ in Antarctica has expanded and diversified over the past decades. While all these activities are subjected to existing ATS regulations, many policy questions are waiting for an answer from the countries that jointly govern the Antarctic. A common characteristic regarding all commercial activities is that decision-making to proactively prevent negative impacts and risks to the principles and values of the ATS has proven to be very limited. This can directly affect the resilience of the ATS: continued lack of decision-making is likely to water down and undermine these principles and values, which may also increase tensions between the Consultative Parties to the Antarctic Treaty. It is incumbent on Consultative Parties to work harder to try advance resolution of the outstanding policy issues, particularly in a time when the Antarctic ecosystem is also under increasing pressure from climate change.