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Bulletin Vol 13. No. 10, June 1995

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Antarctic Vol. 13 No. 10 Issue No. 153 June 1995 Contents International XlXth Antarctic Treaty Meeting 398 IWC 401

ANTARCTIC is published quarterly by National programmes the New Zealand Antarctic Society Inc. NZ Historic sites declared 405 ISSN 0003-5327 Antarctic Heritage Trust 408 New Scott Base team 409 Editor: Robin Ormerod Third phase of Belgian research Assistant editor: Alison Welch programme 410 Please address all editorial inquiries, Brazil: International emphasis contributions etc to the strong 412 Editor, P.O. Box 2110, Wellington. N.Z. Bulgaria concludes third Telephone: (04) 4791.226 International: +64 + 4+ 4791.226 expedition 416 Fax: (04) 4791.185 United Kingdom operations at Signy International : +64 + 4 + 4791.185 rationalised 416 United States' President Clinton on All New Zealand administrative inquiries mid-winter 419 should go to the National Secretary, P.O. Box 404, Christchurch, Sub-Antarctic All overseas administrative inquiries should go to the Overseas Branch Secre Marion Island cats 420 tary, P.O. Box 2110, Wellington Australian adventurers 420 New Zealand. Inquiries regarding back issues to General P.O. Box 16385, Christchurch, New Zealand. Greenpeace's ninth expedition 421 Antarctic centenary 425 Memorial service for Shackleton 427 Conservation Trophy presented 404 Society News 404, 426, 427,

\CJ No part of this publication may be Cover: The French supply vessel reproduced in any way without the prior per /'Astrolabe takes advantage of the mission of the publishers. channel cut by the Kapitan Khlebnikov on her way to Dumont d'Urville. Photo: Tim Higham ANTARCTIC June 1995 Vol.13 No. 10

Treaty Brief XIX Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting

The XlXth Antarctic Treaty Consulta ties to identify sites affected by tour tive Meeting was held in Seoul, Repub ism and control sites unaffected by lic of Korea between 8 and 19 May, visitor activity. The United States sub 1995. It was attended by representa mitted a paper on the work being done tives of all the Consultative parties. Of on the Antarctic site inventory and the 16 non-consultative parties to the suggested it might be useful for the treaty, 12 attended but only Canada, parties. The nature, magnitude and Greece and Switzerland participated trend of cumulative impact of all hu in the entire meeting. man activities in Antarctica was noted Observers and experts comprised as also needing consideration. SCAR representatives from CCAMLR, SCAR, was asked to report back on this issue COMNAP, ASOC, IAATO, IHO, IUCN, to the XXth ATCM. It was also asked to UNEP and WMO. advise on the designing of baseline The first week of the meeting was assessment and monitoring pro devoted to the work of the Transitional grammes for the impact of tourism. Environmental Working Group (TEWG) and to the meeting of the Group of Environmental monitoring and data Legal Experts on Liability. Dr Pietro requirements Giuliani of Italy chaired TEWG, a group SCAR presented its report on the use set up by the XVIIIth ATCM to provide of incinerators in Antarctica. Nine advice and recommendations to the countries, including New Zealand, are XXth ATCM on the implementation of still using incinerators. It was agreed the Protocol. During the second week that wherever possible waste should the two working groups met. The first be removed from Antarctica for dis was chaired by Ambassador Dietrich posal, that work should be done on Granow of Germany and thesecond by minimising emission impacts and that Dr Roberto Puceiro of Uruguay. incinerators should be operated by trained staff only. TEWG Implementation of El A procedures Six items were on the agenda. They The meeting agreed that a list of com included: pleted Initial Environmental Evalua tions (lEEs) and Completed Environ Environmental impacts of tourism mental Evaluations (CEEs) carried out TEWG noted the need to consider in the preceding calendar year would measures to minimise the impact from be published as an annex in the final tourism and recognised that existing report of the next and subsequent information is insufficient to detect the ATCMs New Zealand and South Africa environmental impact on Antarctica. presented a paper outlining an ap Parties were urged to support activi proach on follow-up procedures in re- 398 Vol.13 No. 10 June 1995 ANTARCTIC

spect of any changes required to an tional opening addresses given by the activity once a final CEE has been of the delegations of the participating completed. New Zealand also circu nations. The agenda*was then adopted lated the EIA prepared by Southern and the reports received. At the con Heritage Expeditions for the Ross Sea clusion of this, the plenary session, tour activities during the 1993/94 sea the working groups were constituted. son. Many delegates commented that the paper provided a model for future Working Group 1 ElAs. This considered the relevance of de velopments in the Arctic to the Antarc Antarctic Protected Area System tic; the Protocol on Environmental Pro New Zealand and the UK submitted tection to the Antarctic Treaty which revised management plans for Antarc focused on implementation, liability tic protected areas. New Zealand pro and relations with other environmental posed that guidelines be introduced fo treaties and the operation of the treaty the designation of historic sites and system in which the secretariat was monuments. These guidelines have one of the key items. been developed by New Zealand's Antarctic Heritage Trust. New Zea Liability Meeting land's proposals for listing sites were The Group of Legal Experts on Liabil prepared by the AHT and co-spon ity, chaired by Professor Ruediger sored by Norway and the UK. Wolfrum discuss proposals for a Li ability Annex based on his "third offer Specific Environmental Protection ing". After considering suggestions a Measures "fourth offering" is now being prepared The meeting considered papers on oil by the Professor. The Group is to meet spill controls and measures to miti intersessionally in Belgium from 27 to gate against the introduction of non- 30 November and again at ATCM XX. native species and plants and animals through human activities. The Nether The Secretariat lands introduced a proposal on the Discussion on settling the location of application of the "best available tech the Secretariat continued without reso niques", and the meeting decided to lution. Australia focused on the detail ask COMNAP to consider the desir of a secretariat and in a working paper ability of using such a concept for co-sponsored by Italy and South Af protecting the Antarctic environment. rica, it proposed a number of organi sational, legal and technical aspects Global change involved in the establishment of a per SCAR told the meeting it has appointed manent secretariat. This is now the a project officer to improve interdisci basis for continued discussion with plinary communication lines with the planned intercessional meetings. An Group of Specialists on Global Change interim solution may be considered at in the Antarctic. the next ATCM but in the meantime the question of a permanent location re Official opening mains on the agenda for future meet Theofficial opening of theXIXth ATCM ings. was held on 15 May. After the opening Working group II addresses the chairmen of the working Agenda items comprised tourism groups were elected and the addi and non-government activities, envi- 399 ANTARCTIC June 1995 Vol.13 No. 10 ronmental education and training and Protocol into a reality but it would inspections under the Antarctic Treaty. have to continue to work hard with like Under this item it was reported that minded countries to ensure the mo inspections were undertaken by the mentum of implementation was main US and Argentina during the 1994-95 tained. season. The US inspected Dumont This year the delegation had six D'urville (France), Mirny (Russia), main objectives: Davis (Australia), Zhongshan (China), support the early establishment Syowa (Japan) Neumayer (Germany) of the Treaty Secretariat Signy (United Kingdom) and Orcadas support the development of (Argentina). The Argentinian team in practical measures that will make spected King Sejong (Korea), Rothera the Protocol a working reality and Signy (United Kingdom.) No vio support the development of lations to the treaty were observed. practical measures to improve the Russia, possibly with Belgium, ATCM meeting procedures may carry out inspections in 1995-96. introduce a prototype tourism International Antarctic Scientific and database for discussion with a view Logistic cooperation, Antarctic Mete to future use by all Treaty parties orology, Telecommunications and re support the work and priorities lated services, data management and of TEWG data bases and global change all re continue to support develop ceived attention with presentation of ment of an Annex on liability papers and some discussion. The Plenary resumed on May 19. The XXth ATCM will be held in the Netherlands from 2 April to 3 May New Zealand delegation 1996. The XXIst will be held in New Seven delegates represented New Zealand. Zealand at the Treaty meeting. They were Dr Stuart Prior, head of the Ant arctic Policy Unit at the Ministry of Penguin politics Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), Don MacKay, director of legal division of In the March 1995 issue of Antarctic MFAT; Louise Sparrer APU MFAT, (Vol 13. No.9) we featured an article on Michael Prebble, Ministry for the Envi Kelly Tarlton's entitled "The Northern most Hut. It has been brought to our ronment Gillian Wratt, Director of the attention that the article was not terribly New Zealand Antarctic Programme, clear as to the outcome of the organisa Colin Harris, International Centre for tion's investigation into collecting pen Antarctic Information and Research, guin eggs from Antarctica. The author Christchurch and Alan Hemmings, rep of the article and head curator Craig Thorburn wishes to make it quite clear resenting the NGOs. The delegation reported that New that the collection of Adelie and Em peror chicks was a option explored in Zealand's strategic approach of con 1993 and subsequently ruled out. Any centrating on the practicalities of im potential collaboration with NSF sci plementing the Madrid Protocol was ence events, was at a personal and in indicated by the solid achievements in formal stage at the tirne. Kelly Tarlton's the Transitional TEWG. New Zealand has no intention, now or in the future, to collect either Adelie eggs or aban demonstrated that on many issues it is doned' Emperor chicks from Antarc at the forefront in developing proc tica. We apologise to anyone who found esses and practices needed to turn the that section of the article misleading. 400 Vol.13 No. 10 June 1995 ANTARCTIC

IWC Legal basis of Southern Ocean Sanctuary being questioned

Continued "scientific whaling" by Ja ary covering the feeding ranges of at pan in the Southern Ocean whale sanc least one biological population of each tuary area resulted in strong resolu of the globally distributed species of tions being adopted by a large major large whales. By that time the concept ity at the 47th annual meeting of the had the support of a large number of International Whaling Commission. By anti-whaling countries and several the conclusion of the meeting, held in leading environmental groups. France Dublin from 21 May to 2 June, Japan had hoped to take the issue to the vote had challenged the legal basis of the that year but under the commissions Commission's decision to establish the rules, a three quarters majority was sanctuary. Fuller discussion of this is required to establish the sanctuary and now on the agenda for next years meet the numbers were insufficient. A longer ing. In the meantime Japan may well term strategy was required and the expand its whaling programme in the meeting agreed a resolution that kept area. the sanctuary alive for further discus Countries attending this years sion in 1993. meeting included Antigua, Argentina The following year the meeting was Australia, Austria, Barbuda, Brazil, held in Kyoto and Japan pursued its Chile, China, Denmark, Dominica, Fin reservations. There was still insuffi land, France, Japan, Germany, India, cient support for the proposal to be Ireland, Mexico Monaco, Netherlands, adopted but Chile, Sweden and Swit New Zealand Norway, Republic of Ko zerland co-sponsored a resolution that rea, Oman, Russian Federation, St. acknowledged progress in the debate, Lucia, St. Vincent, Solomon Islands, identified the differences of opinion South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzer and paved the way for an intersessional land, United Kingdom, USA, meeting in Australia. This meeting The establishment of the sanctu addressed the outstanding legal, po ary was a key feature of the 46th meet litical, ecological, geographical, man ing held at Puerto Valarta in May 1994. agement, financial and global issues It was proposed initially by France in relating to the establishment of the March 1992 and covers the area south Sanctuary which had'precedents within of 40 degrees (South). A the meeting the framework of the IWC's longer term in May of that year the French submit programme. ted a detailed paper setting out argu Recommendations were formulated ments for establishing a large sanctu to enable the IWC to take a "full deci- 401 ANTARCTIC Vol.13 No.10 sion" on the Sanctuary at its 1994 tion has withdrawn its reservation. meeting and a further intersessional Despite strong disapproval from meeting was held in Norfolk Island in the IWC Japan announced its inten February 1994 under Swiss chairman tion to take up to 330 whales for ship. Views were freely aired and the scientific purposes in the Sanctuary final recommendation stated that there area and over last summer sent the were "no irreconcilable objections to Nisshin Maru and the Toshi Maru No. establishing a sanctuary in conformity 78 south to obtain them. The fleet was with Article V of the 1946 Convention supported by the Oriental Falcon, a among members of the Working Group, vessel which carries the Panamanian and that a sanctuary can be created by flag and is crewed by Koreans. The the Commission if its members so figures for this years take have not decide." been announced. The next meeting in 1994 was held at Puerto Vallarta and the sanctuary was the main item on the agenda. Approval was far from certain and there were now difficulties with the French suggestion that the northern boundary be 40 degrees south latitude. Coun tries such as Chile wanted the bound ary to be 55 degrees while others preferred it to be at the equator. The Sanctuary still made good scientific and management sense and when put to the vote it secured the support of 23 member countries with Japan only voting against it. Norway did not participate and six countries abstained. Consensus now indicated that the Sanctuary was justified and should be established and it was to come into effect 7 December 1994 with the pro viso that countries had until Septem ber 7 to lodge reservations. Only the Russian Federation and Japan did so and the Sanctuary has no legal effect on them. Japan's reservation relates only to the southern ocean minke whale which is the most populous species in the area. It continues to hunt this spe A Japanese whalecatcher at work in cies for "scientific purposes" which are the Southern Ocean, an area which not covered within the context of the has internationally been declared a Sanctuary. Moreover, Japan's lodging sanctuary. Photo: Greenpeace of a reservation would allow it to resume commercial hunt of minke At this years meeting Japan an whales if the moratorium is ever lifted. nounced its intention to continue this In the meantime the Russian Federa programme. This resulted in two reso- Vol.13 No. 10 ANTARCTIC lutions on scientific whaling being in the Antarctic. Japan has offered to adopted by substantial majorities. One host it. The scientific committee how calls for countries to refrain from issu ever is already occupied with the out ing special permits for research in come of a Norwegian estimate made in volving the killing of cetaceans in sanc 1992 of the population of minke whales tuary sanctuaries and the other rec in the North East Atlantic where they ommends that research to assist in the continue to hunt commercially. The comprehensive assessment of whale thrust of the objection appears to be stocks be done by non-lethal means the methodology by which the Norwe and that lethal research be permitted gians have arrived at their estimate only in exceptional circumstances." and agreement was reached among The Commission has also re the committee that the current figures quested the Scientific Committee to are not accurate. Thirteen countries review all lethal research programmes sponsored a strongly worded resolu and report on whether they are justifi tion urging Norway to reconsider its able or could be resolved resolved by objection to the moratorium on com other means. mercial whaling and halt its current In the meantime, the Scientific activities. Twenty one countries voted Committee had proposed a special in favour with six against. There were intersessional meeting to review the six abstentions. Japanese lethal research programme Towards the close of the meeting

Sue Miller, for merly of the World Wide Fund for Na ture, receiving the Society's Nature Conser vation Trophy from the Hon. Denis Marshall during a short cveremony in January. Photo: Bill Hopper

Story: page 404 ANTARCTIC June 1995 Vol.13 No. 10

Japan and Norway claimed that the ficult to detect the illegal trade. The Sanctuary had not been established other dealt with guidelines for surveys on scientific grounds and had no legal to determine population estimates. basis. Japan circulated a legal opin Little progress was made on agree ion obtained from an American law ment of a system of Observation and professor questioning the decision Inspection and this remains the last which was argued strongly against by element of the RMS to be negotiated. conservation minded countries. It was noted that the decision to establish the Society's Conservation Trophy Sanctuary had been taken in accord awarded for Sanctuary work ance with IWC procedures and could only be reversed by an amendment to The New Zealand Antarctic Society's the Schedule. Japan called for the Conservation Trophy, awarded to or matter to be referred to relevant inter ganisations or individuals who have national institutions. France requested made outstanding contributions to the a close to the debate without a vote conservation of Antarctic flora and and it was ruled that the matter be fauna, went in October last year to Sue discussed again next year. Miller for her work as a scientist in In March 1995 New Zealand, Aus volved with the World Wide Fund for tralia, South Africa, Chile, Argentina Nature's (WWF) conservation cam and Uruguay, which did not attend the paign against commercial whaling. Sue, a marine and freshwater sci IWC meeting, constituted the Valdivia entist from Howick, in Auckland, was Group. This fosters exchanges and New Zealand's representative in a 14 cooperation on environmental and re strong WWF team at the IWC's meet lated scientific matters among partici ing at Puerta Vallarta at which the pating nations and includes a working concept of the Southern Ocean Whale group on bio-diversity. Towards the Sanctuary was adopted. end of the IWC meeting they expressed When announcing the award late their regret that whales continue to be last year the Society's President Dr taken in lethal scientific whaling pro Margaret Bradshaw, said Ms Miller, acting as spokesperson for WWF, grammes in the Sanctuary area de brought balanced and informed sum spite the existence of alternative ways maries of the discussions to the people of obtaining the information necessary of New Zealand, but always endorsed for their management and conserva a very positive view for the acceptance tion. This was introduced during the of the sanctuary. Her regular reports Sanctuary debate by Chile and en on radio, television and in the newspa dorsed by Brazil, France, the United pers ensured all New Zealanders were States and Uruguay in absentia. kept fully informed of the negotiations RMS as they took place. Without her daily dispatches the adoption of this mo There was little progress at the mentous international agreement would meeting on the Revised Management have passed virtually unnoticed in New Scheme which has to be agreed before Zealand. Her role in making the public a 'decision can be taken to lift the fully aware of the protection offered by moratorium on commercial whaling. the proposed sanctuary was an out Two resolutions were however, passed. standing contribution to conservation. One was aimed improving mechanisms Sue Miller is currently working in to prevent illegal trade in whale meat Apia, Western Samoa, as species pro and called on countries to monitor and tection officer for the South Pacific dispose of stockpiles that make it dif Regional Environmental Programme. 404 Vol.13 No. 10 June 1995 ANTARCTIC

New Zealand Six new historic sites named in Ross Dependency

Six Antarctic sites were recommended before being returned to their owners by New Zealand for listing with the Taylor and Debenham. A New Zealand Antarctic Treaty as a historic site or scientific party visited the site in Octo monument and approved at the XIX ber 1962 and noted the hut was still Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. standing well, but the seal skin roof had The monuments are mostly associ fallen fallen in. The ice axe was taken ated with the Heroic Age of Antarctic back to Scott Base. Exploration. Four relate to the Biritish On 19 December 1981, two New Antarctic expeditions of 1901-1904 and Zealanders and an American scientist 1910 to 1913. Two date from the Nor visited the hut which was still in good wegian Antarctic expedition of 1910- condition but the sledge was beginning 1912 and the whaling activity of the last to disintegrate. century. By 1990 the deterioration was accel erating. During a 1992 Waikato Uni The sites are: versity Botanical expedition, a tobacco tin was found between two rocks about Rock Hut (Granite House) Cape eight metres from the hut. It contained Geology, Granite Harbour a note written by Taylor during the (77degOO'E/162 deg32'E). This is a 1911-1912 summer to Captain Pennell rock field kitchen which was built in of Terra Nova. The letter is now in the December 1911 by the second western Scott Polar Research Institute in Cam geological party of the British Terra bridge, UK. Nova expedition of 1910-1913. It was enclosed on three sides with granite Supply Depots, Hell's Gate Mo boulder walls, and used a sledge to form raine adjoining Inexpressible Island, a roof-tree which supported seal skins Terra Nova Bay. (74 deg 56'S/163deg anchored by heavy rocks. 48'E). This is an emergency depot con Moss was stuffed in wall cracks to sisting of a sledge of supplies and equip keep out draughts. The construction ment, placed on 25 January 1913 at was used mainly as a kitchen with cook the end of the Biritish Antarctic Expedi ing done on a sheet-iron blubber stove tion of 1910-1913. . brought from Cape Evans. It was redis The depot was originally set up on 8 covered on 18 November 1959 by a US January 1912 by the Terra Nova's crew, geological field party, which recorded as security in case the ship couldn't many artefacts including a sledge and return to pick them up. When the Terra an ice axe. Two books were found and Nova did return a year later at the end taken back to the United States. They of the expedition, specimens were re were studied by paper conservators, covered and a large emergency depot 405 ANTARCTIC Vol.13 No. 10

Message Post, Cape Crozier. It was rediscovered exactly 50 years later by a survey party. The depot con This was built on 22 January 1902 tained six weeks rations for six people, by Scott's Discovery Expedition of a Nansen sledge, a 120 foot climbing 1901-1904. It consists of a plotto which rope, a cooker, a tent and tools. The a metal cylinder containing an account party left everything as they found it, of the expedition's movements was at reporting that the sledge and tent poles tached to give information to relief ships. were all weathered while the rope and (Lat 77deg,27min South/169degl6' tent were complete but rotten. East). Although weathered the message The depot was re-examined in De post is still standing but the record cyl cember 1964 and January 1970, when inder has long gone. Robert Swan of the it was reported that the artefacts were Footsteps of Scott Expedition in July in an advanced state of decay due to 70 1985 described it as a forlorn and pa years of wind blast, salt spray, pen thetic marker. guins, rust and perhaps tourists. The Antarctic Heritage Trust pro posed to remove the contents of the Message post, Svend Foyn Island. depot to Scott Base for conservation The pole, with box attached, was during the 1994-1995 season. placed on 16 January 1895 during the

Rock Hut, "Granite House, Cape Geology Photo: Antarctic Heritage Trust Vol.13 No. 10 ANTARCTIC whaling cruise of Henryk Bull and Cap wegian Antarctic Expedition 1910- tain Leonard Kristensen and the ship 1912 77degl2'S/154edeg30'W. Antarctic. 71deg52'S/171degl0'E. The site contains a collection of The post was found intact by the specimens of all the rocks found in the Southern Cross expedition on 3 Febru area. It was rediscovered by a New ary 1900. It was sighted twice by US Zealand scientific party on 19 Decem icebreakers in 1956 and 1965. Its cur ber 1987 but hasn't been visited since. rent condition isn't known. Message Post, Cape Wadworth, Cairn at the foot of main bluff Coulman Island. Scott Nunataks, Queen Alexandra Mountains. A red pole with a metal cylinder attached was set up by the National This is a small rock cairn at the foot Antarctic Expedition (1901-1904) on of the main bluff on the north side of the 15 January 1902 by Scott. It was placed nunataks placed by Lieutenant Prestrud about eight metres above sea level and on 3 December 1911, during the Nor the rocks behind it' painted red and

Hells Gate Moraine Depot Photo: Dr Colin Harris ANTARCTIC June 1995 Vol.13 No. 10

white to make it stand out. A helicopter 1989-1900 but it wasn't examined and pilot sighted the post in the summer of its condition is not known.

AHT - for the record Antarctic Heritage Trust work focused on five sites in 1994/95 season

The Antarctic Heritage Trust pro Scott Base. Empty drug containers and gramme for last summer, 1994-95 fo photoplates were returned to their origi cused on Cape Royds, Cape Evans, Hut nal positions. Point, Scott Base and Inexpressible Is General work, including clearing ice land. and snow, checking security and repairs John Charles, Neville Ritchie, Roger needed to the hut, and preventative Fyfe and ....Smith travelled to Antarc maintenance and general housekeep tica in December to continue the Trust's ing. UV filters were installed at specific five year programme. sites for testing. All four staff were at Cape Royds At both huts the team took every from 20 to 29 December. Tasks there opportunity to obtain a good photo included stabilisation and repair work graphic record of the surroundings of to the outside of the hut and work inside the wider environment to be used for the hut on shelving. A report was made promotional purposes. on the condition and security of the Two members of the event worked building, including the structural and at Hut Point doing general housekeep repair work needed. Preventative main ing and maintenance. They replaced tenance and housekeeping was under some floorboards and a broken win taken. Arrangements were made to re dow. Interior shelvirtg was reinforced move construction rubbish, and ice and and stabilised, ice accumulations were snow accumulation. cleared and a full report, made on the Staff also surveyed the environs and hut's condition. made up an action plan for restoring the The same two team members spent site. Surveys were also done at Back eight days at Scott Base from 8 January door and Arrival Bays. 1995, making an inventory and stock The conservation programme was list of all the trust equipment at the base monitored. as well as a completed inventory and From 30 December to 7 January photographic record of all artefacts held the team worked at Cape Evans. in the Trust container, including the Again exterior repairs were under items returned from the Hells Gate taken on the hut and interior work done Depot. on shelving. An action plan was drawn Two other members went to Inex up for site restoration, after the envi pressible Island on 14 and 15 January rons were surveyed and non-historic to prepare and and pack items for re items were charted, photographed, iden covery and return to Scott Base where tified and isolated. Any rubbish around a further inventory was prepared. the site or in the hut was retrograded to Artefacts recovered from Inexpressible 408 Vol.13 No. 10 ANTARCTIC

Island included: a small sledge, gener ally in good condition. It contained a Scott Base team for pick, a fuel can, shovel, six leader load securing ropes, six bamboo tent poles coming season joint joined together with a leather top plate, a Nansen-type cooker, compris The new team for the 1995/96 ing 19 aluminium cooking and eating season at Scott Base has recently been utensils, a length of rope, three short announced. stubby candles, one longer candle and The engineering services manager the tattered remains of a tent, one piece and mechanic is Ron Rogers of Kaiapoi. of which bears the name John Edgington There are two base engineers, Steven Makers, Old Kent Road, London. Harry of Dunedin and Steve Palmer of Food boxes were found beside the Bulls and the electrician is Mike Pahl of sledge; two boxes of Fry's cocoa, two Westport. These four will winter over. boxes of Tate Refined Sugar; two boxes of Limmers Flour. Left at the site under During the summer the engineering a boulder was one remnant of a tin of group is strengthened with a mechanic Jeremy Ridgen of Chirstchurch. There Fry's cocoa, part of a tin liner from a will also be three summer carpenters flour box and flour residue, some short Richard Struthers and Mike Brophy both fragments of rope and small frozen of Queenstown and Peter (Jock) Walton pieces of tent fabric. of Dunedin. The operational support Coverage of the work planned for manager will be Rex Hendry of the 1995-96 season will feature in our Christchurch and AF Antarctic field September issue. training instructor is Jo Haines of Site of ice cave at Inexpressible Is Turangi. Wintering over will be a field land. Photo: AHT support officer Chas Tanner of Dunedin. ANTARCTIC June 1995 Vol.13 No. 10

and two science technicians David by Jacqui Unwin of Chirstchurch during Hornstein of Christchurch and Robyn the summer. The Senior New Zealand Holland of Auckland who will double as represetnative on the ice from October base support office. The chef for the to December will be Malcolm winter is Stewart Hopkins of Wellington MacFarlane, who on approximately who will be suppported by kitchenhand December 9 will handover to Peter Ray Ellis of Oamaru over the summer, Brookman who will stay until the end of while the winter domestic is Alana Muir the season. of Balclutha whose work will be shared Belgium Third phase of Belgian research concludes this summer

The third phase of the Belgian Antarctic based scientists. All research costs per research programme is scheduled to sonnel, equipment, travel, working and conclude this coming summer. Seven overheads financed by OSTC. scientists are involved and they will be Seven major research lines are be working with the French, Italian, New ing pursued under three priority areas. Zealand and German national pro These are studies of the ecodynamics of grammes. The thrust of the Belgian the Southern Ocean and interactions research is science based conservation with the climate in which the foci are and management of the Antarctic envi biogeochemical fluxes and cycles in the ronment and the assessment of the main trophic compartments; modelling mechanisms through which the Antarc the global dynamics of ecosystems and tic and global climate interact. Empha assessment of the role of "new produc sis is being placed a multi-disciplinary tion" in the burial of atmospheric C02 approach the dynamics of the global by the Southern Ocean. The second functioning of Antarctic natural systems, priority covers the evolution and pro their evolution and interaction. tection of marine ecosystems and the Initiated in 1985, the programmes foci here are the applications of predic are funded, managed and co-ordinated tive ecological models to simulate eco by the Federal Office for Scientific system responses to man-made climatic Technical and Cultural Affairs, OSTC, disturbances and a study of hydrocar (formerly the Science Policy Office). bon spills dispersion. The third priority Ninety-two million Belgian francs were is the role of the Antarctic in global allocated in the first phase which cov changes in which the two major study ered 1985-88; 96 million BEF spent on areas are the ocean-cryosphere atmos the second phase from 1988-1992 while pheric interactions and the sedimen the budget for the current phase of tary palaeoenvironment.. 1992-95 amounts to 126 million BEF. Field activities for the Belgian scientists Each of the projects operates over three are undertaken within the framework of years and is undertaken by university voyages and expeditions organised by

410 Vol.13 No. 10 June 1995 ANTARCTIC other countries and such involvement is same area. Dr J.L. Tison will again considered by the government to pro undertake glaciological work as part of vide a unique opportunity to develop Italianartide XI with the Italians in Terra lines of international co-operation. As Nova Bay. Professor R. Lorrain will an result most research projects are work with New Zealand scientists on a increasingly contributing to, and taking glaciological programme in the Dry advantage of the common implementa Valleys of South Victoria Land and Ms tion of internationally integrated stud M. Beghyn and Ms S. Vanhove will ies. work with German scientists on marine Typical was the summer of 1993-94 ecology programmes aboard the RAV when 16 scientists participated in expe Polarstern in the South-eastern Weddell ditions to the Antarctic organised by Sea. France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. They included Dr J.L. Tison who undertook a glaciological programme in Terra Nova Bay with Italiantarde IX; Nordic Mr Ph Bart, Dr De Batist and Eng. E. Van Heuverswy who studied marine co-operation in geophysics aboard R/V Hesperides in the Bransfield Strait and South Shet 1995-96 land Islands; Drs F. Dehairs and L. Goeyens who, with Mr M. Semench, Under a continuing joint logistics agree u n d e r t o o k s t u d i e s i n m a r i n e ment it is the Fins turn to transport the biogeochemistry aboard the MAS Marion annual Nordic expedition to Antarctica Dufresne as part of ANTARES 2 and in 1995-96. The focus of the expedi Dr Ch Lancelot and Ms P. Menon (Free tion, which comprises Norwegian, Finn University of Brussels) who also worked ish and Swedish scientists, is marine aboard the vessel on aspects of marine research. They will travel south aboard ecology. Eng E Maes and K Vanneste the RAV Aran da, a 59 metre long vessel shared marine geophysics work with with a gross weight of 1600 tons which the Germans on ANT XI/3 aboard the is capable of carrying 28 scientists. It is Polarstern operating in the Amundsen owned by the Finnish Institute of Ma and Bellingshausen Seas. Further ma rine Research and was last in Antarctica rine ecology programmes were under in the summer of 1989/90. taken by Ms M. Beghyn and Ms S. The research programme is three Vanhove at Signy Base with the scien fold. It will comprise chemical sampling tists from the UK and by Dr A. Goffart, and hydrographic profiling during the Dr J.H. Hecq and Ms C Veeschkens cruise to the Weddell Sea and in the University of Liege) who worked with eastern Weddel Sea; Sea ice and re the Italians on Project ROSSMIZE (Ross mote sensing and air-sea interaction in Sea Marginal Ice Zone Ecology) in the the marginal ice zone in the eastern Ross Sea. Weddell Sea and marine geological stud This coming season Dr C. Lancelot ies in the continental shelf region off the and Ms J. Piraux will work with the Riiser Larsen Ice Shelf. The automatic French on marine ecology programmes meteorological statidn at the Finnish in the Indian sector of the Southern base, Aboa in Queen Maud Land, which Ocean. Dr L. Goeyens will study aspects sends data out via the Argos system will of marine biogeochemistry with be serviced and maintained but the sta ANTARES 3 with the French in the tion will not be occupied. 411 ANTARCTIC June 1995 Vol.13 No. 10

The marine geological programme and human research from Denmark, will be jointly conducted by the Finnish, Norway and Sweden and Fins who evalu Norwegian and Swedish scientists and ated the political and technical and com the air-sea interaction and marine me mercial components of the programme. teorology research has been planned in In general it was found that the research cooperation with the international was of a high level in most fields but AnZone/SCOR group. more results should b*e published. They Earlier this year an evaluation of advocated a permanent base for the Finnish Antarctic programme was car organisation which should be related to ried out by experts in natural sciences their Arctic work. Brazil International co-operation strong in Brazilian Antarctic Programme

Seven different science projects in Pichu Station on King George Is volving ten other nations are encom land. passed within the Brazilian Antarctic Staff from INPE are also working science programme in addition to their with the University of Magallanes in own national programme. International Chile to develop a programme of logistic cooperation is also a feature. ozone layer and UV radiation moni • One of the major developments toring in southern South America is a glaciological expedition which and West Antarctica. will be conducted in the summer of In 1994 Brazil hosted the First 1995/96 by scientists from Brazil, Latin-American conference on Ant Argentina, France and Russia who arctic Space and Atmospheric Sci are studying the physical and ences, where participants from Latin chemical characteristics of the King Ameria, France, the United King George Island ice cap. dom and the United States. They • One of the key organisations in reviewed the present situation of volved in the overall programme is atmospheric and space research in the National Institute for Space West Antarctica. Research - INPE of Brazil (Instituto The Laboratory of Glaciological Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais) and Antarctic Studies (Laboratorio which, with the Radio Observatory de Estudos Glaciologicos e of Jimarca in Peru, is initiating joint Antarticos) of the University of Rio investigations of the irregularities Grande do Sul (Brazil), the Argen and auroral electric flows using ra tine Institute and the University of dar equipment installed at Machu Magallanes (Chile) are conducting

412 Vol.13 No. 10 June 1995 ANTARCTIC

glaciological research on possible for flights during 23-27 January, 6-10 climatically induced changes in the March, 22 and 26 May, 24-28 July with King George Island ice cap. the last 9-13 October 1995. The flight • A German research team utilised programme has operated under the the Emioli Goeldi summer refuge, command of Lieutenant Colonel Paulo maintained by Brazil on Elephant Roberto de Oliveira Pereira, from the Island, for performing geodetic sur First Transportation Squadron of the vey and the installation of a GPS Brazilian Air Force. station. Acquired by the Brazilian Navy in • The University of Sao Paulo is 1994 the Ary Rongel was formerly the conducting geological investigations Research Vessel Polar Queen. Con on King George Island, with the structed by Rieber shipping A/s in Nor participation of scientists from way in 1981 and remodelled in 1986, it Canada, France, Poland and the has a gross tonnage of 3,700 tons, United States. cruising speed of 12 knots. The vessel is Currently wintering over at 75.20 metres long, 13 metres wide, Commande Ferraz on the Keller Penin and carries 95 passengers. It is capable sula on King George Island are a team of being at sea for 60 days and is ice of 19 support staff and scientific per class lal. Aboard are two AS 355 sonnel. The leader, is Commander Ecureuil 2 helicopters which provide Haroldo de Oliveira Amaral. There is an additional logistic support. (Recently a executive officer, medical officer, en new helipad has been installed at Ferraz gine technician, radio operator, elec station. It is 28 metres square, built of tricity technician and electronic techni metal with a capacity of 5,000 kg. The cian and a cook with nine physicists and area is frequently used by Super Puma two biologists. The physicists are helicopters.) Armando T. Hadano, Domingos D. Last summer's schedule saw the Sardella, Eduardo M.B. Alonso, Joao vessel leave Rio de Janiero on 3 Novem Carlos Pencala Rae, Luiz de Souza ber 1994 for Rio Grande in Brazil Mangueira, Liuz Gonzaga Rios Pilho, before heading to King George Island, Nilson C. Amorim and Rene. all of whom Elephant Island, Nelson Island and re are from INPE, and Claudio de O. turning to King George prior to Brandao, from the Federal University of resupplying at Punta Arenas from late North Rio Grande. The biologists are December to early January. On the next Mateus Sugizaki from the University of voyage it called in at the islands again Sao Paulo and Pedro Helio Lucciari but included Livingston Island in its itin from the University of Estadual Paulista. erary before resupplying at Ushuaia The team were left at the end of a from 17 to 21 February 1995. On its comprehensive summer programme of last voyage for the season it retrieved scientific activity supported logistically scientists from King George and El by the Brazilian Air Force and the ocea ephant Islands before going to Montevi nographic and supply ship Ary Rongel. deo, Rio Grande and Rio de Janeiro Seven C-130 support flights were where it was scheduled to arrive on scheduled by Brazilian Air Force be April 5. tween Rio de Janeiro and President Aboard the vessel, captained by Eduardo Frei, the Chilean Base on King Commander Herz Aquino de Queiroz George Island. These were made be over the summer, were 17 officers, three tween 5-9 December 1994, 26-30 De chief petty officers, 17 sergeants, 33 cember 1994. In 1995 the schedule is sailors, maintainence crew of two and 413 ANTARCTIC June 1995 Vol.13 No. 10 officers of the Argentinean, Chilean, during the 1984/85 season, is located South African and Uruguayan Navy as on the Keller peninsula on King George well as an observer of the Ministry of Island at coordinates 62degl0.5'S/ Foreign Affairs and two midshipmen of 05859W and provides logistical sup the Brazilian Naval academy. port for five scientists. Additional logistic support last sea Additional temporary field camps son was provided for a Bulgarian team were established to enable scientists to visiting their station on Livingstone Is land, transport from Antarctica to Bra carry out glaciological activities at zil for a Polish winter team from Hannequin Point and earth science pro grammes on the Fildes Peninsula Arctowski Station, transporation and Scientific personnel last summer lodging for Ecuadorian personnel re comprised three biochemists, seven sponsible for maintaining their refuge in Admiralty Bay and transport f6r the botanists, one chemist, three meteor ologists, 14 physicists, 21 biologists Uruguayan antarctic program. A and four geologists. Of these four bota Urugayan Navy official also visted Bra nists were deployed to the Elephant zil to collect information on the sewage Island refuge, seven to the Nelson Is system at Ferraz, the process for trans land refuge, ten geologists and one ferring fuel from ships to station and the mountaineer to the Fildes Peninsula. use of alternative energy sources. logis The mountaineer, Bruno A. Sellmer, tic support between the Brazilian and also supported four glaciologists at the Chilean Antarctic Programes continued. Hannequin Point Campsite The Brazilian expedition leader Scientific programmes being under and operations manager was Captain taken at Commande Ferraz include Jose de Souza Braga and summer sta meteorological work, investigations into tion manager was Commander Ewerton the Antarctic ionosphere, studies of Monteiro da Silva. radionuclides in the atmosphere, FIX- At the centre of Brazilian Antarctic VLF propagation in the lower iono operations is Comandante Ferraz sphere, atmospheric measurements of erected in the Keller Pensinusla on King minor constituents and geomagnetics George Island in February 1994 to sup programmes. port scientific programmes. It lies at Much of the biologcal work is cen 62deg05'S/ '58deg23.5'W and is open tred on Admiralty Bay. Scientists are through throughout the year. In addition there are four Antarctic researching the biochemical and physi ological behaviour of marine animals, refuges, each providing accomodation organochlorinated pesticide residues for up to six scientists, which they use and PCB levels in the trophic chain, to support their summer activities. These environmental impacts on Antarctic fish, are the Engenheiro Wiltgen, established in the summer of 1984/85 on Elephant ecophysical studies on krill and amphipods, levels of biogenic and fossil Islandat61deg04'S/55deg21*W.More hydrocarbon in the marine environment. recently, in the summer of 1988/89, Larval dispersal and reproduction of accommodation there was supple benthonic mollusc are is also being mented by the building of the Emilio studied. Goeldi at 61.05deg04'S/ 055deg20'W. In the South Shetlands a compre Astronomo Cruls was established dur hensive study of continental vegetation ing the 1984/85 summer season on is being undertaken. A regional Nelson Island at 62degl4'S/ biooptical algorithim for the South At 055deg00'W. Zpadre Rambo, also built lantic and Antarctic waters is being de- 414 Vol.13 No. 10 ANTARCTIC veloped and the absorption process and land. The geological and stratigraphic trans-epithelial transport and correlation of the tertiary volcano-sedi phagocytosis of protein macro-mol mentary sequences of Robert and Green ecules in the digestive system of Antarc wich Islands. tic fish is being studied. On Elephant Aboard the ship dynamics of plank- and Nelson islands the continental veg tonic organisms and biological proc etation is being studied. esses in the south-eastern Atlantic Ocean Earth science programmes involve ecosystem and photo-identification of mass balance, ice stream mechanisms Jubarte and Minke whales are among and ice dynamics on King George Is the main scientific work.

Bulgaria Third expedition concluded

In a brief opening address at the XIX Programme. Neither the number of Antarctic Consultative Meeting at Seoul participating scientists nor details of the in Korea in May the Bulgarian repre specific programmes involved in this sentative reported the conclusion of the expedition were announced inthe state third Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition. ment but the systematic collection of The Republic of Bulgaria acceded to the data and of samples was begun in the Antarctic Treaty in 1978 becoming the fields of geology, glaciology, meteorol 20th contracting party and in March ogy and human medicine. 1995 it became an associate member In May 1994 a three year National of SCAR. Scientific Antarctic programme was The first Bulgarian scientists went accepted by the Bulgarian government. south in 1987/88 as part of an expedi It is being financed by the Bulgarian tion organised by the University of So National Fund for scientific research. fia with scientific and logistic support Biology and physics have been added to from the British Antarctic Survey and the programme and this last summer the Russian Institute for Antarctic and biological work was a also a component Arctic Research. During this expedition of the expedition in which the scientists a refuge was established on the north collaborated with the scientific east side of the South Bay of Livingston Argentinean Antarctic Institute. A joint Island at 62deg38'29"S/ geological project was also carried out with Argentinians at a field camp on 60deg21'53"W. In 1993-94 the refuge was enlarged Byers Island. and used as summer base. It has been named St. Lkliment Ohridski by an offi cial Act of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria. This programme was or ganised by the Bulgarian Antarctic In stitute and the Atlantic Club with logis tic support from the Spanish Antarctic ANTARCTIC June 1995 Vol.13 No.10 United Kingdom Operations at $igny being rational sed

Activities at the British Signy station number of smaller structures, associ are being rationalised with the year ate 1 radio areas and a bulk fuel tank. round facility being closed and replaced Th$ buildings contain laboratories, con by a smaller summer-only base. This is trolled temperature experimental part of British Antarctic Survey's con rooms, a seawater aquarium and tinuing reconstruction programme at SCUBA diving facility, closely grouped its Antarctic bases and in accordance arc und a small jetty and slipway. Up to with Annex 1 of the Protocol on Envi 27 scientists and support personnel can ronmental Protection to the Antarctic be accommodated at the station during Treaty it presented an Initial Environ the summer but usually there have been mental Evaluation at theXIXth ATCM. on y 24. In winter the facilities accom- The programme also complies with the mcdate 12 to 16. principles described in the policy docu The station has been operating as ment "Antarctica 2000" released in tht main centre for the BAS inshore 1989 by the National Environment Re merine, terrestrial and freshwater biol- search Council (NERC) of which BAS is og; research programmes in Antarctic. a component. By 1996/97 the redevelopment will The research station is located on m«ke it the focus of summer freshwater the east side of Factory Cove, Borge research projects. The current inshore Bay where the ground consists of boul mFalkland Islands Dependencies Survey for freshwater sciences, including enemi (FIDS). The area had previously been es 1 and radioisotope analysis suites. The used as a small whaling station in 1920/ building will also house up to eight sci 21. By 1993/94 a the station complex entists and support staff in four two covered an area of 9800 square metres porson bunkrooms with an additional and comprised six main buildings, a two person bunkroom for overflow and 416 Vol.13 No. 10 ANTARCTIC

igny Island for use by F.RS fah k Ross Research Station.

maintenance staff. The existing boathouse will be refurbished as a power house containing two mobile generators each capable of producing 60kVA and associ Soulh ated plant. The existing power Shelland . • house is to be refurbished to accommodate a waste compactor and provide dry storage and freezer space. A fully bunded fuel storage area will consist of two steel tanks designed to hold 100 cubic metres of fuel. These will Mil '-■■FossilJ „ be built in front of the present Blull main building and be capable of holding all the fuel stored in Y > the tanks. Unused buildings and facili ties are to be closed. These

comprise the present main South accommodation and labora bOO Pole tory building and Tonsberg ANTARCTIC Vol.13 No. 10

Signy Research Station, associated facilities and proposed contraction.

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House, the woodstore, generator con Adapted from the IEE, Redevelop tainers and the bulk fuel tank. All con ment of Signy Research Station, Signy tents are to be removed from these Island, South Orkney Islands, Antarc buildings which will then be sealed and tica; a document written Dr John left in weatherproof condition. Shears in 1995 and presented as XIX The new facilities at Signy have ATCMANF10 at the meeting in Seoul. been designed for ten years of opera tion. All the construction work is being undertaken by a contractor to BAS. United States Associated plant and materials are be President Clinton's ing transported to Signy by BAS ves sels. The contractor and staff are being midwinter message accommodated at the station.. Site demolition last summer involved four staff being on site for up to 26 days. Greetings to the international commu Construction and refurbishment involves nity of scientists and support personnel 15 staff on site for a maximum of 154 wintering in Antarctica on this year's days. The total volume of cargo im Midwinter's Day. Science is a limitless ported for the building programme in frontier. As we explore and extend this 1994/95 was 18 cubic metres and the frontier, we increase our understanding estimated total 400 cubic metres in of the world around us and improve our 1995/96. ability to respond to new challenges. By 1996/97 the redevelopment of This knowledge is a resource of inesti the station will be complete and the mable value and the key to a brighter planned science programme fully op future. As a natural laboratory, Antarc erational. tica plays an important role in this proc In deciding to restructure the station ess of discovery. Even before people the British examined four alternatives. first arrived at its icy threshold, the These included the rebuilding and ex possibility of the continent's existence pansion, use of other sites on the island fuelled the human drive to learn. Since for summer only operations, the use of its discovery, many explorers have existing station facilities in the Penin sought its remote shores, and scientists sula region or continued used of Signy have worked to uncover the secrets of as it was. The option chosen will in the continent's past to understand its crease the efficiency of BAS opera role in the future. These investigators tions, provide new opportunities for significantly advanced scientific under freshwater biological research in the standing, opening our eyes to see Ant maritime Antarctic and allow continua arctica not as an isolated region but as tion of the bird monitoring programme an integral component of the global carried out for the Convention on the system. Extending a tradition of excel Conservation of Antarctic Marine Liv lence in science and creating valuable ing Resources (CCAMLR). cooperative partnerships among indi viduals and among nations, all of you In undertaking this project, the British who work in Antarctica have an exciting are complying fully with the provisions opportunity at hand. By conveying to of the Protocol including subsequent others what you have learned you can audits of activities. help the public to understand the value of scientific research, to embrace the 419 ANTARCTIC June 1995 Vol.13 No. 10

principles of responsible environmental On behalf of all Americans, I applaud stewardship, and to help prepare peo you for your efforts and wish you much ple everywhere for the challenges of the continued success. Twenty-First Century. Sub-Antarctic The Marion Island cats

South of South Africa at a latitude of petrels has already improved with no about 47 degrees South lie the Prince chick mortality since 1990. Edward and Marion Islands. Both be long to South Africa and have large Adapted from Challenges and populations of breeding seabirds and Achievements, marine and Antarctic seals. They were utilised by sealers in Conservation in South Africa and the the 19th century, when house mice Summer 1994 issue of Expeditio the were, inadvertently, introduced to South African Antarctic Newsletter Marion Island, the larger of the two. In 1948 a meteorological station was es tablished on the Island and in order to control mice in the kitchen, five house Australian adventurers cats were introduced. They were nei ther neutered, nor of the same sex. By bring Antarctica into 1975 there were an estimated 2,000 school classrooms cats on the island and their numbers were increasing at an estimated rate of Ajstralians Don and Margie Mclntyre 23 percent a year. Also in 1975 the ai e now almost halfway through a year cats were estimated to have consumed ir complete isolation in Antarctica. almost half a million burrowing petrels, The couple are wintering alone near and they now posed a serious threat to the site of Sir Douglas Mawson's hut, in the remaining populations. Commonwealth Bay, Antarctica. Control measures were introduced I No one has wintered at Cape in 1977 but, although the numbers were Denison since Mawson was there from reduced to about 600 in 1982, the 1911 to 1913. numbers and breeding success of sev The Mclntyre's expedition - Icebound eral other bird species had decreased 1995 - began in Dedember 1994 with sharply. Populations of greatwinged and the departure from Sydney of two 15 grey petrels were particularly affected. metre yachts. The couple has set up Following trials a full scale hunt was tl leir base in a 2.4 metre by 3.6 metre initiated in 1986 and the process later high tech survival hut. Power comes augmented with trapping. The last cats from four 32 watt solar panels and two were trapped in July 1991 and with no high speed wind turbine generators sightings since then, it is believed that which supplement a 4 HP air-cooled they are now eradicated. The breeding kerosene motor turning an 80 amp al success of the threatened greatwinged ternator to charge three dryfit 90 amp

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12 bolt gelt batteries. Students were asked to compose a The engine-driven generator system short wake up call for the couple for the is being operated in a completely sealed morning after the Longest Night, 21 fibreglass enclosure so no fuel oils es June. cape. During the year the Mclntyres are Margie and Don's scientific pro undertaking scientific experiments, and gramme is dependent on weather, but filming, writing and communicating they planned to focus on monitoring the about the experience of living in ex environmental effects of Antarctic cruise treme conditions. ships, observing birds, whales and seals, A unique feature of the expedition is taking a census of the local Adelie pen that schools throughout New Zealand guin colonies, collecting data to estab are linking up with Don and Margie lish links between nutrients from feed using fax, audioconference and elec ing and nesting birds and the presence tronic mail. of lichens and regular tracking of the Twenty-four hour communications are movements of the South Magnetic pole. being maintained with the expedition headquarters in Sydney using the Inmarsat Standard C satellite. A small Greenpeace blizzard proof aerial is mounted on the concludes ninth hut roof and a satellite photo facsimile system is used to transmit colour photo expedition graphs from the hut to the media. A back-up high frequency single side band radio and Ham radio have also been set Greenpeace concluded its ninth pro up. Marine VHF and UHF hand held gramme of activities in Antarctica this radios are being use onshore for mobile last season with visits to ten bases in the communications. Antarctic Peninsula area, observation Don and Margie are sending regular and peaceful obstruction of Japanese weekly bulletins to students, whose whaling activities in the north of the schools have registered with the expedi Ross Sea and a programme of scientific tion. As well as general news about hi research focusing partly on whales. how things are going, the bulletins cover For its expedition the organisation topics such as preparing for the journey used MV Greenpeace, a 58 metre ocean to the ice, the seasons, and daylight, tug registered in the Netherlands. The weather, flora and fauna, under the ice, ship's hull was strengthened in 1985. geology and geography, migration of She made trips to the Ross Sea region animals, tourism and private expedi in 1985/86, 1986/87, 1987/88 and tions and the social effects on people 1992/93 some of which supported the who winter-over. installation, resupply and subsequent Thirty-five audioconferences are being removal of the organisation's base at held throughout the year, each for about Cape Evans. She spent further time in 20 minutes. Up to 50 schools are being Antarctic waters in the 1991/92 and chosen to take part in each session. A 1992/93. different five or six schools ask ques Last season she was skippered by tions, while the others listen in. Telecom Arne Sorenson. The first mate was Andy New Zealand, through its Telecom Edu Troia and the expedition leader Kieran cation Foundation, has been coordinat Mulvaney. Ricardo Roura was responsi ing the communications and education ble for the shore work and acted as aspects. environmental officer. Scientific re- 421 ANTARCTIC June 1995! Vol.13 No. 10

search was carried out by Elizabeth Carr, mental Impact Assessment requirements Dr Roger Grace, Chris Pierpoint and and procedures as the cornerstone of Lie. Ricardo Roura supported by the thej Madrid Protocol, but they consider crew who came from 11 nations. All up them to be among the aspects that are there were 27 on board the vessel for least understood at base commander the expedition. Roger Grace and Dave level and the least followed overall. Most Flett photographed the expedition's officers in charge of the bases were activities for Greenpeace in London and either unfamiliar with the concept or Renato Castelli, an independent jour unaware of any EIA's carried out at nalist from Las Ultimas Noticias in their stations, despite, most having been Santiago, accompanied members on expanded during the past few years. base inspections. The exceptions were Almirate Brown, The expedition departed from Commandante Ferraz and Jubany. Ushuaia in Argentina on 28 December J They reported international scien 1984 and concluded In Hobart on 17 tific cooperation at Arctowski and at March 1995. Jubany where the Germans added an Between December 31 and January annex in 1992/93. Several stations had 7 she visited eight stations on King George Island and two on the continent. Baselogistic Presidente cooperation Eduardo with Frei the Montalva Chilean They included Ferraz (Brazil), Arctowski where there is a hard rock airstrip which (Poland) and Machu Picchu (Peru) in the Chilean authorities consider en Admiralty Bay, King Sejong (South hances their territorial claim in the area. Korea), Jubany (Argentina) Frei (Chile), Great Wall (China) and Bellingshausen Fuel spills (Russia) in Maxwell Bay, Almirante Brown (Argentina) and Gonzalez Videla The organisation claims that terres (Chile) in Paradise Harbour. trial fuel spills are still one of the most ccjmmon features of Antarctic stations. Inspections Greenpeace inspections paid particular attention to the SCALOP (Standing During the visits, expedition per Committee on Antarctic Logistics and sonnel focused specifically, but not ex Operators) recommendations for the clusively, on the implementation of the Madrid Protocol. (See Antarctic Vol prevention of fuel spills. These include tephnical advice on spillage prevention, 13, 11 September 1995). Other issues containment and detection. In all, re affecting the Antarctic environment but ports the organisation, these recom not contained in the Madrid Protocol mendations were followed to some de were also observed and documented. gree at Jubany, Ferraz and King Sejong According to the expedition's official but largely ignored at the other bases it report, Greenpeace found, overall, that visited. over the three years since the signing of [ During previous visits severe spill the Madrid Protocol on Environmental age was observed at Bellingshausen and Protection, countries with Antarctic Frei and to a lesser extent at Ferraz and bases are continuing to violate the pro Gjreat Wall. A recent spill was reported visions, and many people working on a: Jubany. Fuel systems at the continent were unaware of the pro Bellingshausen, Frei and Great Wall tocol's requirements. were, in general, not in very good con Greenpeace perceives the Environ dition.

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Few of the stations had clearly de each having considerable backload of fined fuel spill contingency plans. Only several years waiting removal, both however expected to solve their prob Jubany and Ferraz had containment lems in the near future. under fuel tanks or spare fuel storage While some waste was being re space. There was no use of clean energy moved from Antarctica, there was con systems at any of the bases they visited. At Frei, Greenpeace was informed that siderable reliance on incineration or open burning. In addition, it was obvi one of the buildings was going to be ous to the expedition that waste separa provided with a wind generator. tion systems were not as effective as Flora and fauna would be desirable. In consequence, there were instances of small (or in In terms of flora, fauna and pro some case, large) quantities of waste tected areas, Greenpeace described the being burnt of a type which the Protocol most significant damage to flora and requires should not be incinerated. Vio fauna in the area of the Great Wall, lations were observed at Arctowski, Bellingshausen, Frei and Great Wall. Bellingshausen and Frei. Management Several stations were still pouring raw plans for protected areas were followed to a large extent at Arctowski and Jubany sewage into the sea but the only viola which are located close to SSSI No. 8 tion of the Protocol was documented at Jubany. (Western Shore of Admiralty Bay) and Arctowski and Ferraz, both in Admi SSSI No. 13 (Potter Peninsula). Feraz and King Sejong had permitting sys ralty Bay, are common destinations for tems to protect local flora and fauna and tourist ships. At Arctowski it was re ported to Greenpeace, that compared both had specific "no-go" areas. Ardley to previous years, the trend seems to be Island's management plans were report for more ships each, however, carrying edly being ignored by Frei and Great fewer tourists. Wall, with the exception of the require ment to avoid overflying Ardley Island, a requirement respected by Chilean air The science programme craft. Three of the five projects which Waste management practices were made up the science programme fo also observed. At most of the bases visited there was evidence of waste be cused on whales. They included visual ing removed to the country of origin or surveys, acoustic studies and photo iden other destinations such as Punta Arena tification of cetaceans. In addition, a in Chile or Ushuaia in Argentina. The survey of natural and human-made float report states that "the removal of waste ing debris and a study of the effect of from Antarctica, though not as com UV exposure on phytoplankton pigment composition in the Southern Ocean were plete as required, seems to be the most undertaken. The programmes were notable (and often the only) change in conducted during the ship's transit from procedures to comply with the Madrid Protocol. As a consequence, most bases Ushuaia, Argentina to the Antarctic Peninsula; in the Gerlache Strait area in do not dump waste any more on land or the Peninsula, during the transit from at sea. The exception was the Peninsula to the Ross Sea region Bellingshausen where little removal of waste has taken place over the years. and from the Ross Sea to Hobart. In addition opportunistic studies were un Arctowski and Great Wall reported dertaken during the whaling campaign problems in removing their waste with 423 ANTARCTIC June 1995 Vol.13 No. 10 in the Ross Sea area which took the ployed from an inflatable and moni expedition as far south as the fast ice in tored from the ships radio room. McMurdo Sound. Preliminary results from this pro The expedition report states that they gramme comprised recordings of hump- continued previous work done by their bask whales in the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctic Expeditions in the summers and sperm whales and orcas in the Ross of 1990/91 and 1992/93 in which Seja and McMurdo Sound. The equip humpback whales were photographed ment has now been tried under differ for identification purposes in the Ant ent conditions both in sheltered waters arctica Peninsula area. The purpose and in the open sea and the feasibility of was to obtain photographs of the unique obtaining whale sounds from both the ship and the inflatables was demon physical features that allow repeated strated. identification of individual whales. This ■ As part of the visual observation year, the project was expanded to in clude sperm whales and orcas, among programme, all encounters with whales other species. throughout the entire voyage of ap The transects carried out in the proximately 13,000 nautical miles were Antarctic Peninsula during previous trips logged. The records included identifica were repeated whenever possible. Pho tion of species as well as behavioural tographs were taken from an inflatable and environmental data. The observa when the time and weather conditions tions were made constantly during the allowed, or from the deck or bridge. normal bridge watch but when whales Useable photographs are to be sent to were more abundant, personnel free the Humpback Whale Catalogue, being and conditions good, extra observers compiled at the College of the Atlantic, were sited on the bridge wings or mon Bar Harbour, where they will be re key island. viewed and compared to the existing The survey of natural and human- collection to determine if any show re- made debris was a continuation of the sightings of the same individual. w|ork carried out in the Indian Ocean Acoustic studies aimed to record the number, frequency and intensity of hrrior in 1994. General Observations whale vocalisations to asses the possi 3rhaleere made Sanctuary of all floating from the debris SVRainbow through ble value of future acoustic surveys. out the trip by the ship's watch and Efforts were made to detect and detailed observations were made every record whale sounds from a wide range day for one hour from the bridge wings of frequencies and, in particular, to iden or the ship's bow depending on the tify individual sperm whales. The team weather conditions. A fine-mesh net (1 members used hydrophones in the 10 mm) was also towed once a day for an to 100 kilohertz range and recorded the hour from the leeward side of the ship. Three detailed observations were made output. Because of the size of MV each day while crossing the Antarctic Greenpeace the surveys were carried out from an inflatable operated to low convergence. The study of the effects of UV expo speed to reduce interference or using static deployment techniques. Only oc sure on phytoplankton pigment compo sition in the Southern Ocean was ear casionally, when the Greenpeace, was drifting at 2-3 knots was the hydrophone ned out across a range of latitudes and towed behind. The experiment also used longitudes in both Antarctic and sub- free floating sonabuoys which were de Antarctic waters. Samples of

424 Vol.13 No. 10 June 1995 ANTARCTIC phytoplankton and zooplankton were and Tasmania and longitudes from the collected using standard 55 micron and Peninsula to the Ross Sea. Two of the 250 micron nets and filtered through stations in the Ross Sea were sampled glass fibre filters and preserved for pig three times at intervals of approximately ment analysis. Profiles of temperature one week. In 23 stations sampling was and salinity (up to a depths of 25 me undertaken from inflatables. tres) were taken at each station, along All the samples and data have been with estimates of UV penetration forwarded to the Exeter Lab, Depart through the water column. Surface inci ment of Earth Sciences, University of dent UV-B and photosynthetically ac Exeter in the UK and results will be tive radiation (PAR) were measured published in due course. hourly all along the cruise track, and at The third component of the voyage all sample stations. comprised anti-whaling activities along Overall a total of 31 stations cov the theme of highlighting support for ered the wide range of latitudes be the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. tween Terra del Fuego and the Antarc (See pages -40Iff of this issue of Ant tic Peninsula and between the Ross Sea arctic).

An Antarctic Centenary Bob Headland, Archivist at Scott leries adjacent. On the last day the first Polar Institute, Cambridge decision was that the seventh congress would be held in Berlin in 1899, then a Of the various commemorations series of 21 resolutions were presented which are becoming timely one is the to the Congress for consideration. The centenary of the International Geo first four of these, which had previously graphical Congress which met in Lon been adopted by the General Meeting , don. The series of congresses had be were read: number three was That this gun in Antwerp in 1871 and progressed congress record its opinion that the to various cities where a geographic society was established. In London the sixth of these was organised by the Royal Geographical Society and held in the Imperial Institute with the ' 'delegates of Foreign and Colonial Governments and Geographical Societies who were presented by the Ambassadors, Minis ters, or Diplomatic Agents' from 50 states attending. It began on 26 July and finished, with a General Meeting on 3 August 1895 in the Great Hall of the Institute. Many countries involved also exhibited maps and other items of geo graphical interest in the two large gal 425 ANTARCTIC June 1995 Vol.13 No. 10 exploration of the Antarctic Regions meiin a dead letter (Keltie and Mill, is the greatest piece of geographical 1896). exploration still to be undertaken. The resolution, with the encourage That in view of the additions to knowl ment of the Secretaries note, was a edge in almost every branch of sci dominant factor in encouraging the sub ence which would result from such a sequent epoch of Antarctic continental scientific exploration the Congress ex ploration which came to an end largely redo recommends that the scientific because of the First World War. Antarc societies throughout the world should tic winter expeditions were despatched urge in whatever way seems to them from Australia and New Zealand, Ar most effective, that this work should gentina, Belgium, Britain, France, Ger be undertaken before the close of the many, Norway and Sweden during this century'. The resolution had been h notable historical period. Summer drafted on 29 July by the Committee on expeditions were also dispatched from Polar Exploration and had been pre thsse and several other countries. Two sented to the General Meeting on 1 other historical events during it were August by Professor Karl von der ths establishment of permanent occu- Steinen (a member of the German Inter pe tion of the South Orkney Islandsffrom national Polar Year expedition on South 1 April 1903 by the Scottish National Georgia, 1882-83). It was carried unani Antarctic Expedition) and South Geor mously on 1 August. gia (Nob November 1904 by Norwe Several Antarctic voyages had im gian whalers). The attainment of the mediately preceded this and had, in South Pole twice was the most well practice, introduced the Heroic Age of known achievement of the period. Antarctic exploration. These were: the The International Geographical two Norwegian whaling reconnaissances Congress resolutions p adopted on 3 from Sandefjord of Captain Carl Anton August 1895 covered many topics ane aboard Jason (1982-93 and 1893-94), concerned most parts of the world. the second being accompanied by Number three of these resolutions was Morten Pedersen (aboard Castor) and notable in that it set continuing prec Carl Julius Evensen (Hertha); the simi edents for international cooperation in lar voyage from Tonsberg in 1983-95 geographical and scientific exploration led by Henrik Johan Bull (aboard Ant of Antarctica. arctic commanded by Leonard Kristensen); and a British whaling expe Keltie, J.S. and Mill! H.R,. 1896 Re dition (1892-93, the Scottish whalers port of the Sixth International Geo- from Dundee) of Alexander Fairweather g-aphical Congress. London, John (Balaena), Thomas Robertson (Active), Murray. Robert Davis Davidson (Diana) and James Davidson (Polar Star). It was Editor retires this conference that stimulated interna After ten years as editor of Antarctic tional interest in the subject. At the end Robin Ormerod has retired, effective of their preface the two Congress Sec September 1, to pursue other interests. retaries noted it has been made incum She would like to thank particularly those bent on this officials to take steps to see r<>presentives from the different national that the resolutions passed by the con A ntarctic organisations as well as the gress are as far as practicable carried non-government and independent into effect, so they may not, as has been groups who have helped with the provi- too frequently the case in the past, re- s on of information on which the bullet- 426 Vol.13 No. 10 ANTARCTIC in is so dependent. A new editor will be Hopefully the good ^relationships that appointed at the forthcoming meeting have been built up over the last few of the National Council of the Society years can be continued. They have been scheduled for September 2 and 3. much appreciated. Memorial service at Shackletons grave

On 10 March 1995, Society member Antarctic collection and some stamps. Mr Arthur Helm of Wellington, joined He then conceived the idea for the members of the crew and passengers service and approached the Society for from MV Explorer in a short wreath suitable wreath - it had to fit in his laying service at Shackleton's grave at suitcase! Grytvikken in South Georgia to com The simple service comprising a memorate the explorer's life. prayer, written for the occasion by Pe Earlier this year, when the opportu ter Graham, Cruise Director who also nity arose for Arthur Helm to cruise read "Let us thank God for men of aboard MV Explorer to the Antarctic, Greatness. May their achievements and he noted that the itinerary included memories live in our hearts and may the Grytvikken, South Georgia and resolved gesture here given by friends and ad to join the ship. Mr Helm has had a mirers be a part of eternal life, that in lifelong interest in the continent, was turn we may all share and be proud that deeply involved in many aspects of the organisation of the New Zealand com Peter Graham, Cruise Director, reads ponent of the Commonwealth Trans- a short prayer during the service held Antarctic Expedition of 1955 to 1957 for Shackleton at Grytvikken in South and holds Sir Ernest Shackleton in the Georgia. He is accompanied by Arthur highest regard. To fund the trip Mr Helm and expedition director Matt Helm sold many of the best books in his Drennan who stands on the right. ANTARCTIC Vol.13 No.10

in our own humble way we came to pay the British Arctic Expedition 1925, and our respects and gratitude to one who in trading vessels until 1939. He served helped educate and make the world a in World War II until his death in 1943. better place. Arthur Helm then gave a Harry McNeish, the Scots carpen short address before laying the wreath ter, returned to the Mercantile marine and the service concluded with the read for a few years after the expedition and ing of the 23rd Psalm, Shackleton's eventually worked his way to New Zea favourite, by Matt Drennan, expedition land on the Ruapehu. For a time he leader. The wreath of red poppies car worked in Wellington for the New Zea ried the inscription "Sir Ernest land shipping company but an accident Shackleton: In memory of a gallant ex and severe rheumatism brought an end plorer and his Antarctic comrades.'' The to this and he had not been in the New Zealand Antarctic Society March country long enough to qualify for a 1995. Initially it was intended to leave it pension. McNeish lived his last years in on the grave but when Mr Helm learned the Ohiro Bay Old People's Home and of the fierce storms and the six feet of died in September 1930 having been snow that lay in the vicinity during the supported by donations from the winter he entrusted it to the care of Mr watersiders who held him in high re and Mrs Carr, the curator of the whaling gard. He was buried in Karori Cemetery museum at Grytviken and his wife. with full military honours; the flag used The MV Explorer was formerly the during the service formerly flew over Linblad Explorer. This voyage, which Scott Base. His expedition diary is in began at Port Stanley, comprised visits the Alexander Turnbull library. to the South East Falkland Islands. South Georgia, Gough Island, Tristan da Cunha, Nightingale Island, St. Helena, Ascension Island, Cape Verde Island, the Canary Islands. At Grytvikken the ship anchored a short distance offshore and the passengers were transferred to I.H.SMACmilOK the island by zodiac in several contin STROMNESS WHALINC STATION gents after which they walked to a small MANAGER'S VILLA hill where the cemetery is situated. ARRIVEDJS^tf^JX8 HERE S,R ERNESI ACCOUPANIED SHACKLETON Br FRANK During the previous evening, on WORSLET AND TOM CREAN AFTER AN EPIC board the ship, Arthur Helm had spo TREK OF 30 MILES FROM KINO HAAKON BAY. THERE THEY HAD LEFT THRFF ken about the men who had been with COMRADES WITH THE TINY BOAT MAMF S CAIRO1. IN HER THEY HAD SAILED 800 Shackleton and who were associated MILES FROM ELEPHANT ISLAND FOR HE1 l< AFTER THEIR SHIP'ENDURANCE'HAD BFEN with New Zealand. Commodore Frank CRUSHED BY ICE IN THE WEDDELL SEA. Worsley D.S.O., O.B.E. R.D, R.N.R, THIS WAS THEIR FIRST CONTACT WITH THE was born in Akaroa on Banks Peninsula OUTSIDE WOULD FOR SEVENTEEN MONTHS. in 1872 and was captain of the Endur ance in 1914-16. After the rescue of the party from Elephant Island he served 'JAMES CAIRD' INIl :tKVEMS*»TI«E UMUt HI UlltlUt II with distinction on the "Q" ships oper TNC «e» Mil ILEUM*' IEK0EL. OIUMDOIUOHTE* Of SU E»»EJT SH»C*UT0», ating against German submarines in the runout u»4 F i r s t W o r l d W a r a n d l a t e r a s OHIO ItTIMM. COMMISSURE*. hydrographer and sailing master of the Quest in 1921-22. on the Island with The New Zealand Antarctic Society Secretary, Inc., was formed in 1933. It comprises Wellington Branch, New Zealanders and overseas friends, New Zealand Antarctic Society Inc., many of whom have been to the Antarc P.O. Box 2110, tic and all of whom are vitally interested WELLINGTON, 6000 in some phase of Antarctic exploration, history, development or research. South Island residents should write to the: The annual subscription entitles members to-. Secretary, Canterbury Branch, >Antarctic, published each March, New Zealand Antarctic Society Inc., June, September and December. 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