Australia in Antarctica the Australian Antarctic Program the Australian Antarctic Division Head Office Is Located in Kingston, Tasmania
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1 AUSTRALIA IN ANTARCTICA THE AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC PROGRAM The Australian Antarctic Division head office is located in Kingston, Tasmania. (Photo: Wendy Pyper) 2 ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE Territories, Environment & Treaties Strategies General Manager Corporate Communications Branch Business Support Financial Services Operations Support General Manager Center People Support Information & Communications Technology Asset Management Mechanical Engineering Supply Services Antarctic Infrastructure Director Polar Medicine Property & Security Climate Processes & Change Science Chief Scientist Parliamentary & Branch Terrestrial & Nearshore Ecosystems Ministerial Liaison Southern Ocean Ecosystem Change Wildlife Conservation & Fisheries Science Planning & Coordination 2 Antarctic Modernisation Modernisation Program Manager Science Technical Support Taskforce Australian Antarctic Data Centre Our Vision...Antarctica: valued, protected and understood 20 YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN The Australian Government initiated a 20 year Australian Antarctic Strategic © Commonwealth of Australia Plan in November 2013, led by Dr Tony Press, CEO of the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre. The plan is focused on the Australian Antarctic Division long term strategic challenges and needs for Australia in the Antarctic and 203 Channel Highway addresses the following issues: Kingston, TAS 7050, Australia • Expanding the role of Tasmania as the gateway for Antarctic expeditions Phone: +613 6232 3209 and scientific research; Email: [email protected] • Ensuring robust and reliable access to the Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT); Editor: Wendy Pyper • Extending Australia’s reach across the AAT; Design: giraffe.com.au • Undertaking nationally and globally significant science; and www.antarctica.gov.au • Exercising influence in the region through the Antarctic Treaty system. The Australian Antarctic Division’s instrument Different phytoplankton species are grown to feed krill in the workshop at its head office. (Photo: Peter Whyte) Australian Antarctic Division’s krill aquarium. (Photo: Peter Whyte) THE AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC DIVISION 3 The Australian Antarctic Division also maintains relationships with Division is part of the Australian nations active in eastern Antarctica and Government and is responsible with other key bilateral partners, to achieve operational, environmental for the Advancement of Australia’s and scientific goals. strategic, scientific, environmental and economic Some 300 permanent staff are employed interests in the Antarctic by at the Australian Antarctic Division’s protecting administering and Kingston headquarters and other researching the region. locations on the Hobart waterfront (Tasmania). Unlike many other polar THE We manage Australia’s presence and programs, Antarctic Division staff activities in the Australian Antarctic are fully integrated across the areas AUSTRALIAN Territory and the Southern Ocean, and in of science, policy and operations, ANTARCTIC the subantarctic Territory of Heard Island with support from communications DIVISION and McDonald Islands (HIMI) and their and administration personnel. Our adjacent waters. facilities house laboratories for science, electronics and electron microscopy, Our activities include: mechanical and instrument workshops, Established in 1948; • leading a world class science program a krill research aquarium, a herbarium, administers the Australian under the Australian Antarctic Science equipment stores, telecommunications Antarctic program Strategic Plan (2011–12 to 2020–21); infrastructure, and other operational and support facilities. Employs about 300 staff at its • operating three permanent Antarctic Kingston headquarters and research stations (Casey, Davis and The Antarctic Division’s headquarters locations on the Hobart Mawson), a subantarctic research in Hobart is the foundation stone of waterfront in Tasmania station on Macquarie Island, and support facilities in Hobart; Tasmania’s role as a gateway for Antarctic science and logistics and provides a major Employs between 70 • managing a combined sea, air and contribution to the Tasmanian economy and 200 staff at four continental transport capability; through employment, skills development research stations at any one time • administering and managing the and research, and the purchase of goods Australian Antarctic Territory and HIMI; and services. and Procures $14-$20 million of goods In summer up to 500 people travel south and services from around 100 • representing Australia’s interests in to work at our Antarctic and subantarctic Tasmanian businesses annually international Antarctic forums and research stations and to conduct marine negotiations. science. Most people remain for a short Administers an annual time – from weeks to a few months – while Through the Australian Antarctic Division, budget of about Australia engages internationally in small wintering teams will remain up to 15 $100 million for the matters affecting Antarctica; including months. Expeditioners include scientists, Australian Antarctic through the Antarctic Treaty Consultative professionals and tradespeople to run and program Meeting, the Commission for the maintain our stations, voyage management Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living to resupply our stations by ship, aviation Resources (CCAMLR), the Council of teams to support our varied aviation Managers of National Antarctic Programs needs, policy-makers, and media and arts and other international forums. The representatives. Wind turbines at Mawson research station help reduce Australia’s environmental footprint in Antarctica. (Photo: John Smith) INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ON 4 ANTARCTIC GOVERNANCE Countries cooperate through a set of agreements known as the Antarctic Treaty system, to govern the Antarctic continent and surrounding Southern Ocean. The Australian Antarctic Division provides scientific and policy advice to Government on Australia’s engagement in these agreements, as well as representing Australia in the international forums of the Antarctic Treaty system. ANTARCTIC TREATY MADRID PROTOCOL Australia was an original signatory to In 1991, Australia and the other Antarctic the Antarctic Treaty in 1959, alongside Treaty nations signed an historic pact to 11 other nations, and continues to play conserve the Antarctic environment. a leading role in international Antarctic The Protocol on Environmental Protection Fleming) (Photo: Tony affairs. The Antarctic Treaty establishes to the Antarctic Treaty (known as the Antarctica as a continent dedicated to Madrid Protocol) came into force in peace and science, and puts in place 1998, providing for the comprehensive principles including freedom of scientific protection of the Antarctic environment, investigation, exchange of scientific and declaring Antarctica as a natural information, protection of the positions reserve dedicated to peace and science. of Parties on issues of sovereignty, a ban The Madrid Protocol puts in place a CCAMLR on nuclear explosions or waste disposal, system of environmental principles, Australia is an original signatory of the and rights to conduct inspections measures and standards, which make 1982 Convention on the Conservation of facilities at any time. Each year protection of the Antarctic environment of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. Australia participates in the Antarctic a fundamental consideration in the Decisions relating to the Convention Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM). planning and conduct of all activities in are made by the Commission for the We work closely with fellow Parties the Antarctic Treaty area. Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living to the Treaty to preserve Antarctica’s Resources (CCAMLR), whose secretariat unique environment and ensure good The Madrid Protocol bans mining, and is based in Hobart. governance of the region. requires that all activities be subjected to prior environmental impact assessment. Australia’s priorities are pursued in line Under the Protocol, a Committee for with CCAMLR’s objective to conserve Environmental Protection develops Antarctic marine living resources, where environmental advice and formulates conservation includes rational use. recommendations to the Antarctic Treaty Australia has both fishing and conservation Parties on the implementation of the interests and is active in the meetings of Protocol. Australia plays a leading role in CCAMLR, with a focus on ecosystem this Committee to address existing and conservation, the sustainable harvest of emerging environmental challenges. marine living resources, and establishment of a representative system of marine protected areas within the CCAMLR Convention Area. Heads of Delegations at the 35th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in 2012, hosted by Australia. (Photo: Richard Jupe) INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ON ANTARCTIC GOVERNANCE 5 ACAP The multilateral Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) seeks to conserve albatrosses and petrels by coordinating international activity to mitigate known threats to populations of these endangered seabirds. These threats include mortality resulting from interactions with fishing gear, especially longline and trawl, as well as diseases, habitat loss, pollution and climate change. Through the Australian Antarctic Division the Australian Government is a strong supporter of ACAP, which came into force on 1 February 2004, following the ratification of six Parties (Australia, New Zealand, Ecuador, Spain, the Republic of South Africa and