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SCAR Bulletin 148, January 2003

Decision 3 (2002)

The Status of ATCM Recommendations

The Representatives,
Conscious of the significant number of measures* adopted by previous Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings;
Desiring to clarify which of these measures, whether approved or not, still require action by the Parties;
Recognising that some of these measures are spent as a result of the passing of a specific event, or of time;Recognising also that the review of measures is an ongoing process required to maintain an accurate record of the instruments of the ATCM, and their content if relevant;

Decide that,

* adopted (under Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty) in the form of Recommendations up to ATCM XIX (1995).

Appendix to Decision 3 (2002) Spent recommendations

I-l1 (Canberra, 1961) Spent
Consultative Parties to convene a meeting of experts in Antarctic radio communications

The Representatives recommend to their Governments:

  1. that they convene as soon as practicable a meeting of specialists in Antarctic radio communications;
  2. that this meeting of specialists should discuss the telecommunications facilities needed for scientific, technical and other purposes in the Treaty Area, and their use
  3. that the meeting should take into consideration:
    1. the requirements of governments;
    2. the viewpoint of the United Nations Specialized Agencies and other international organizations having a scientific or technical interest in Antarctic communications;
    3. the relevant recommendations of the Communications Working Group of SCAR;
    4. the experience of the various Antarctic expeditions;
  4. that the meeting should examine and make recommendations regarding such matters as:
    1. the routing required to meet demands of users most effectively;
    2. the modes of transmission;
    3. the power requirements 'for effective reception;
    4. the rationalization of schedules and the evaluation of priorities for traffic in normal and post blackout conditions;
    5. new developments in the field of communications relevant to Antarctic requirements;
    6. emergency radio procedures;
    7. such other matters of an engineering or traffic nature as may be appropriate;
  5. that the governments should consult regarding the date, place and definitive agenda of the meeting, and as to which Specialized Agencies and other internal organizations referred to in paragraph 3(b) should be informed of the meeting and be invited to send observers.

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I-15 (Canberra, 1961) Spent
ATCM II

The Representatives recommend to their Governments that they accept the offer by the delegation of Argentina of the city of Buenos Aires as the seat of the second consultative meeting under Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty, to be held on a date mutually decided upon by the Participating Governments.

II-3 (Buenos Aires, 1962) Spent
Meeting of Antarctic radio communications specialists to be held between 1 May and 31 August 1963

The Representatives, taking into consideration Recommendation I-XI of the First Consultative Meeting concerning Antarctic radio communications, recommend to their Governments that the proposed meeting of specialists in Antarctic radio communications would take place between 1st May and 31st August 1963, on a date and at a place to be fixed.

II-5 (Buenos Aires, 1962) Spent
Consultative Parties to hold an Expert Meeting on logistics

The Representatives recommend to their Governments that in view of Recommendation I-VII of the First Consultative Meeting designed to achieve one of the objectives of the Antarctic Treaty, namely

  1. the creation of conditions necessary for carrying out scientific investigation, and in view of the logistic symposium organized by SCAR which is soon to take place:
    1. a meeting or symposium of experts should be held, to review the present state of knowledge acquired on the organization of expeditions, logistic support and transport, in order to evaluate such knowledge;
    2. consultations be held during the preparations for the next Consultative Meeting to fix a suitable date, place, organization and agenda for such meeting or symposium.
II-8 (Buenos Aires, 1962) Spent
Consultative Parties to encourage cooperation with regard to the International Year of the Quiet Sun (1964/5)

The Representatives recommend to their Governments that they should encourage, by whatever means they consider appropriate, international cooperation and the exchange of scientific personnel, observations and results, in connexion with their respective national programmes of Antarctic scientific investigation and research associated with the International Year of the Quiet Sun

II-10 (Buenos Aires, 1962) Spent
ATCM III

The Representatives recommend that their Governments accept the offer made by the Delegation of Belgium, to the effect that the Third Consultative Meeting under Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty be held in Brussels.
This Meeting will be held on a date to be decided upon by agreement among the participating governments.

III-3 (Brussels, 1964) Spent
Arrangements for the Expert Meeting on logistics to be considered at the ATCM IV preparatory meeting

In view of the Recommendations by the First and Second Consultative Meetings (I-VII and II-V) concerning logistics;
Taking into consideration the Logistics Symposium which took place at Boulder, Colorado, USA, in August 1962, under the auspices of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), and the Report on this Symposium published in 1963;
The Representatives recommend to their Governments that the organization, agenda, date and place for the inter-governmental meeting of experts, on the present state of knowledge about useful aspects of logistic activities in the Antarctic to which the above recommendations refer, be considered during the preparatory meetings for the Fourth Consultative meeting.

III-4 (Brussels, 1964) Spent
ATCM IV

The Representatives recommend to their Governments that they accept the offer of the Chilean Delegation to hold the Fourth Consultative Meeting under Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty, in Santiago, Chile.
The Meeting shall take place at a date which will be agreed upon by the participating Governments.

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III-5 (Brussels, 1964) Spent
Consultative Parties approve and implement the recommendations of the June '63 Telecommunications Meeting, and to continue consultations.

The Representatives, noting that experts met in an Antarctic Treaty Meeting on Telecommunications in Washington from 24th to 28th June 1963, follow upon Recommendations I-XI and II-III of the First and Second Consultative Meetings, and in accordance with Recommendation II-IX, recommend to their Governments that they take the necessary steps to approve and implement as soon as practicable those recommendations of the Telecommunications Meeting which they find themselves able to approve, taking into consideration (a) and (b) below.
The Representatives, pointing out the useful and important work effected by the Telecommunications Meeting at Washington, recommend to their Governments that they:

  1. Continue their consultations with a view to effecting further improvement in coordinating telecommunications activities.
  2. During the Preparatory Meetings for the next Consultative Meeting, examine the results of the Recommendations made by the Washington Telecommunications Meeting, and consider measures to improve Antarctic radio communications in the future.
III-6 (Brussels, 1964) Spent
Consultative Parties to examine questions concerning expert meetings and come back to it during ATCM IV.

The Representatives, recognizing the importance of the problem raised during the examination of Item 7 (that is, the Item entitled 'Questions concerning Meetings of Specialists'), recommend their governments to examine this question attentively before the Fourth Consultative Meeting and to consider including it on the Agenda of that Meeting.

III-9 (Brussels, 1964) Spent
Agreed Measures to be used as guidelines until approved.

The Representatives recommend to their Governments that until such time as the Agreed Measures on the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora may become effective in accordance with Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty, these Agreed Measures as far as feasible be considered as guide lines in this interim period.

IV-20 (Santiago, 1966) Spent
Consultative Parties to consider Recommendations IV-l to IV-19 as guidelines until the Agreed Measures are approved.

The Representatives recommend to their Governments that, until such time as the Agreed Measures on the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora may become effective in accordance with Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty, the following Recommendations as far as feasible be considered as guidelines in the interim period. Recommendations IV-l to IV-l 9 inclusive.

IV-25 (Santiago, 1966) Spent
Meeting in Japan on logistic cooperation.

The Representatives recommend to their Governments that they accept the offer made by the Government of Japan to hold a meeting on logistics in Japan in June 1968.

  1. The meeting will be held in furtherance of principles and objectives of the Antarctic Treaty.
  2. The meeting will be for a period of about one week and will be attended by experts in selected fields. The meeting will have the following terms of reference:
    1. to discuss problems in the fields of Antarctic logistics specified in paragraph 3 below;
    2. to exchange views on possible solutions which have been tried recently;
    3. to examine critically new solutions which may be proposed in papers submitted at the meeting.
  3. The fields for discussion will include aspects of:
    1. design of buildings and building services, including waste disposal and water supply
    2. oversnow transport
    3. air transport, including airfields
    4. sea transport
    5. safety measures
    6. new and urgent problems which Governments agree require discussion.
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IV-26 (Santiago, 1966) Spent
Consultative Parties to include an item on telecommunications in the agenda of ATCM V

Considering the need to keep up to date the traffic system of Antarctic radio communications and to transmit observational data from the Treaty Area to the world system for the collection and transmission of meteorological information:
The Representatives recommend to their Governments that, before the Consultative Meeting scheduled to take place in Paris in 1968, they consider including in the Agenda an examination of the Recommendations made by the Washington Meeting on Telecommunications in 1963, in the light of conditions prevailing in 1968.

IV-28 (Santiago, 1966) Spent
ATCM V

The Representatives recommend to their Governments that they accept the offer of the French Delegation to hold a Consultative Meeting under Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty in Paris in 1968, on a date to be agreed upon by the Consultative Governments.

V-l (Paris, 1968) Spent
Consultative Parties to issue stamps to commemorate the Tenth Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty.

The Representatives recommend to their Governments:

  1. that, on the occasion of the Tenth Anniversary of the entry into force of the Antarctic Treaty, each Consultative Party should issue a commemorative postage stamp during 1971;
  2. that this stamp should bear, in the language or languages of each issuing country, the following words: 'Antarctic Treaty 1961-71';
  3. that the most prominent feature of the stamp should be the Antarctic Treaty emblem representing a map of Antarctica which appears on the official documents of Consultative Meetings;
  4. that any additional matter should be consonant with the provisions and the spirit of the Antarctic Treaty;
  5. that the denominations of the stamp should remain at the discretion of each issuing country.
V-4 (Paris, 1968) Spent
Consultative Parties to draw up a list of historic monuments and further to consider the matter at ATCM VI.

The Representatives,
Recalling Recommendation I-IX,
Recommend to their Governments:

  1. that a list of historic monuments which should be preserved be drawn up;
  2. that each Government circulate a list of historic monuments through diplomatic channels to other Consultative Governments;
  3. that this subject be considered further at the next Consultative Meeting;
  4. that, in the meantime, they do what is feasible to ensure the survival as far as possible of any historic monument which has been included on any list circulated under paragraph 2.
V-8 (Paris, 1968) Spent
Consultative Parties to study draft CCAS before ATCM VI

The Representatives,
Having had a preliminary exchange of views at the Fifth Consultative Meeting on the draft Convention for the Regulation of Antarctic Pelagic Sealing annexed to the Final Report of the Meeting [not reproduced];
Recognizing the need to study the preparation of such a Convention;
Recommend to their Governments that, before the next Consultative Meeting, they study the draft Convention with a view to its consideration at that Meeting.

V-9 (Paris, 1968) Spent
ATCM VI

The Representatives recommend to their governments that they accept the offer by the Delegation of Japan to hold the Sixth Consultative Meeting under Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty in Tokyo on a date in 1970 to be mutually decided upon by the Consultative Governments.

VI-15 (Tokyo, 1970) Spent
ATCM VII

The Representatives,

Recommend to their Governments that they accept the offer by the Delegation of New Zealand to hold the Seventh Consultative Meeting under Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty in Wellington, on a date in 1972 to be mutually decided upon by the Consultative Governments.

IX-3 (London, 1977) Spent
Consultative Parties to collect data on Antarctic telecommunications, to exchange these among themselves, to ask SCAR for advice and to arrange for another Expert Meeting.

The Representatives,

Considering that requirements in the field of telecommunications as regards collection and dissemination of meteorological data, and the need for scientific, administrative and operational traffic have developed substantially since the second telecommunications meeting of experts of the Consultative Parties held in Buenos Aires in 1969;
Considering that the implementation of Recommendation VI-1 and VII-7, and participation in the programmes of the World Meteorological Organisation, particularly the World Weather Watch, require a thorough review and improvement of the network operating in the Antarctic;
Recommend to their Governments that they:

  1. Compile comprehensive data, each for its own part, on the types of traffic, modes of transmission, timing, frequencies of their telecommunications schedules and current equipment of their telecommunications programmes in the Antarctic, as well as on projects in the process of implementation and proposed improvements, in particular by designating, where appropriate, stations capable of replacing others in the event of breakdown;
  2. Forward all such data to each of the other Consultative parties via diplomatic channels on the one hand and on the other by direct despatch to the departments concerned;
  3. Arrange for a meeting of telecommunications experts to be held, on the initiative of the Government of the host country, before the Tenth Consultative Meeting, to analyze the data thus compiled, suggest desirable measures of harmonization and put forward recommendations on improvements to be made. in the operation of the telecommunications network in the Antarctic;
  4. Request SCAR through their National Antarctic Committees to undertake, at the earliest opportunity, a study of the most recent applications of science and technology to the specific problems of the Antarctic in the field of propagation of radio waves, and to pass on its conclusions to the Consultative Parties prior to their Tenth Meeting or if necessary to the next Consultative Meetings.
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X-9 (Washington, 1979) Spent
Consultative Parties to thank the Antarctic scientific community and to consider ways of commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty

The Representatives,

Noting that the Tenth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting marks the twentieth anniversary of the signature in Washington of the Antarctic Treaty and that the Eleventh Consultative Meeting in Argentina will mark the twentieth anniversary of its entry into force;
Recalling the second preambular paragraph of the Antarctic Treaty in which it is recognized that is in the interest of all mankind that Antarctica shall continue forever to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and shall not become the scene or object of international discord;
Conscious of:

  1. the responsibility assumed by the Consultative Parties for the Protection of the environment and the wise use of the Treaty area;
  2. the increased understanding of the Antarctic and of its relationship to the world as a whole that has resulted from the endeavours of the Antarctic scientific community;
  3. the benefits derived from the coordination of Antarctic scientific research through the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), its subsidiary institutions and from its cooperation with other international organizations having a scientific or technical interest in the Antarctic; and
  4. the value of the scientific advice from SCAR, requested by their Governments through their respective National Antarctic Committees, in connection with the development of the Antarctic Treaty system;

Recommend to their Governments that:

  1. Scientific research
    Through their respective National Antarctic Committees, or the offices administering their Antarctic research programmes, as appropriate, they express their gratitude to the members of the Antarctic scientific community, past and present, and to SCAR for the devoted service which they have given to the achievement of a better understanding of the Antarctic and to the development of the Antarctic Treaty System;
  2. Commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the entry into force of the Antarctic Treaty
    1. They consider suitable ways of commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the entry into force of the Antarctic Treaty, including the possibility of issuing a commemorative postage stamp during 1981 on the lines indicated in Recommendation V-1;
    2. Any commemorative event should be consonant with the provisions and spirit of the Antarctic Treaty.
XI-2 (Buenos Aires, 1981) Spent
Consultative Parties to seek the earliest possible entry into force of CCAMLR and to facilitate early operation of bodies for which CCAMLR provides

The Representatives,
Recalling the responsibilities of the Consultative Parties regarding the conservation of Antarctic marine living resources;
Recalling further the history of actions taken by Consultative Parties concerning protection of the Antarctic ecosystem, including in particular, Recommendations III-VIII, VIII-l0. VIII-13, IX-2, 1K-S and X-2;
Welcoming the conclusion of the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources at a diplomatic conference held in Canberra, Australia in May 1980 and the signature of that convention, also in Canberra, Australia in September 1980;
Noting that a meeting is to be held later this year in Hobart, Tasmania to consider steps to facilitate the early operation of the Commission, the Scientific Committee and the Executive Secretariat to be established under the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources,
Recommend to their Governments that:

  1. They seek the earliest possible entry into force of the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources; and
  2. They take all possible steps to facilitate the early operation of the bodies to be established by the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources upon entry into force.
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XIV-9 (Rio de Janeiro, 1987) Spent
Consultative Parties to convene an Expert Meeting on air safety.

The Representatives,
Recalling Recommendation 1 -X;
Recognizing the importance of safe air operations in the Antarctic and:

  1. that there is a wide range of problems in air operations which are becoming more important and urgent with increasing activity;
  2. that the principal body of knowledge and experience of Antarctic air operations, and its current problems, lies with the operators of national Antarctic programmes;

Recommend to their Governments that:

  1. Arrangements be made for a meeting of experts in accordance with Recommendation IV-24, to be held well in advance of the Fifteenth Consultative Meeting, at a time and place to be decided through diplomatic channels, and that the host Government for the XVth Consultative Meeting should initiate the necessary consultations. Delegations from Consultative Parties to the meeting should include experts with direct experience in Antarctic operations. In the course of preparing for the meeting, consideration shall be given to the invitation of ICAO and other experts to attend the meeting in accordance with paragraph 1 of Recommendation IV-24 (e.g. WMO, ITU);
  2. The terms of reference for the meeting shall be to provide for:
    1. avoidance of inter-operator air-incidents;
    2. mutual assistance in the course of Antarctic operations, including medical evacuations;
    3. coordinated measures to improve search and rescue procedures;
  3. In the fulfillment of these terms of reference, the meeting shall have regard to:
    1. existing systems for safe air operations;
    2. means of mutually coordinating air traffic movements in Antarctica;
    3. means of ensuring adequate communications between operators originating air traffic movements, between aircraft and stations in the vicinity of their operations and between aircraft, including consideration of the possible advantages of satellite communications and adoption of predetermined radio frequencies;
    4. means of rapidly initiating search and rescue operations, including the advantages of usingcommon dedicated calling frequencies and of coordinating subsequent operations;
    5. how best to ensure that, all operators in the Antarctic are aware of air-operational safety requirements and search and rescue procedures;
    6. air operations from ships.
  4. In order to facilitate the work of the Meeting they provide relevant information to the host government, preferably 3 months in advance of the meeting, for circulation to other Consultative Parties. An indicative list of such information is set out in the Annex to this recommendation.
  5. The report of the meeting be circulated to all Consultative Parties and be referred for consideration at the XVth Consultative Meeting in accordance with Paragraphs 3 and 4 of Recommendation IV-24.
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Annex
The following information is an indicative list of the relevant information to be circulated to all Consultative Parties prior to the Meeting of Experts in Air Safety in Antarctica as recommended at the XIVth Consultative Meeting:

  1. current areas of air operation;
  2. period and frequency of operation;
  3. types of aircraft used and their navigation and communication equipment;
  4. operating altitudes and ranges;
  5. other airborne devices (e.g. balloons, rockets) or other uses of air space in Antarctica
  6. runway length, width, slope, orientation, surface type and condition, load capacity and markings;
  7. Radio Direction Finding and Distance Measuring equipment;
  8. navigation aids, including beacon power and frequencies and communications equipment;
  9. features in the vicinity of landing facilities which could be hazardous to aircraft;
  10. prevailing weather conditions of significance to air operations in the vicinity of landing facilities;
  11. service facilities;
  12. type and specification of fuel used;
  13. operating times of landing and communication facilities;
  14. available air navigation charts and published visual and instrument approach procedures;
  15. medical facilities available, including medical personnel, and whether stations have trained search and rescue personnel.
XV-22 (Paris, 1989) Spent
Consultative Parties to issue a commemorative stamp on the 30th anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty.

The Representatives,
Recommend to their Governments that:

  1. On the occasion of the Thirtieth Anniversary of the entry into force of the Antarctic Treaty, each Consultative party should issue a commemorative stamp (or stamps) on a common date in 1991 (e.g.. 23 June 1991).
  2. The stamp (or stamps) should bear, in the language or languages of each issuing country, the following words: 'Antarctic Treaty 1961 - 1991'
  3. Consideration be given to the themes of protecting the Antarctic environment and international cooperation in Antarctic scientific research for the most prominent features of the design.
  4. There should be incorporated into the design of the stamp (or stamps), the Antarctic Treaty emblem representing a map of Antarctica which appears on the official documents of Consultative Meetings.
  5. Any additional matter should be consonant with the provisions and the spirit of the Antarctic Treaty.
  6. The number of stamps to be issued and the denominations of the stamp or stamps should remain at the discretion of the issuing country.
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XVI-13 (Bonn, 1991) Spent
Intersessional meeting to be held to make proposals on tourism and non- governmental activities to ATCM XVII.

The Representatives,
Bearing in mind that the XVth Consultative Meeting agreed that a comprehensive review of tourism and non-governmental activities was required;
Noting that the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty and its Annexes apply to tourist and non-governmental activities in Antarctica;
Recalling that the XIth Special Consultative Meeting asked the XVIth Consultative Meeting to address the issue of tourism and non-governmental activities;
Acknowledging that the Protocol constitutes the framework for further progress in Antarctic environmental protection;
Concerned about the possible effect of increased tourism and non-governmental activities in Antarctica;
Conscious of the need to ensure that the presence of tourists and other visitors in Antarctica be regulated so as to limit adverse impacts on the Antarctic environment;

Recommend to their Governments that:

  1. An informal meeting of the Parties be convened with a view to making proposals to the XVIIth Consultative Meeting on the question of a comprehensive regulation of tourist and non-governmental activities in Antarctica in accordance with the Protocol and taking into account the proposals made at the present XVIth Consultative Meeting, including proposals for a future Annex to the Protocol on Environmental Protection;
  2. Prior to the convening of that meeting and in order to ensure due preparation of its work, proposals should be prepared by them taking into account the list of issues stated below, which meeting should, inter alia, primarily address:
    1. environmental issues
      implementation of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty and its Annexes
      number of tourists / carrying capacity homologation of standards relating to vessels permanent infrastructure for tourists
      concentration / dispersal of tourist activities access to unexplored areas
    2. operational issues
      notification and expansion of information to be exchanged system for granting permission to visit stations self sufficiency
      insurance, including search and rescue insurance information obligation of Parties preparation and training of tour guides, and visitors' guides
      examination of the need for specific kinds of control and monitoring
      requirements for organizational procedures
  3. The meeting shall begin its work in Venice on 9 November 1992.
  4. Representatives of the WTO, IUCN, IAATO, IMO, ASOC, PATA, SCAR and COMNAP be invited to attend the Meeting as observers.