)LQDO5HSRUWRIWKH)RUW\ߑUVW Antarctic Treaty &RQVXOWDWLYH0HHWLQJ ANTARCTIC TREATY CONSULTATIVE MEETING Final Report RIWKH)RUW\ߑUVW Antarctic Treaty &RQVXOWDWLYH0HHWLQJ Buenos Aires, Argentina 13 - 18 May 2018 Volume II Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty Buenos Aires 2018 Published by: Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty Secrétariat du Traité sur l’ Antarctique ɋɟɤɪɟɬɚɪɢɚɬȾɨɝɨɜɨɪɚɨɛȺɧɬɚɪɤɬɢɤɟ Secretaría del Tratado Antártico Maipú 757, Piso 4 C1006ACI Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires - Argentina Tel: +54 11 4320 4260 Fax: +54 11 4320 4253 This book is also available from: www.ats.aq (digital version) and online-purchased copies. ISSN 2346-9897 ISBN (vol. II): 978-987-4024-73-2 ISBN (complete work): 978-987-4024-63-3 &RQWHQWV 92/80(, Acronyms and Abbreviations PART I. FINAL REPORT 1. Final Report 2. CEP XXI Report 3. Appendices Appendix 1: Preliminary Agenda for ATCM XLII, Working Groups and Allocation of Items Appendix 2: Host Country Communique PART II. MEASURES, DECISIONS AND RESOLUTIONS 1. Measures Measure 1 (2018): Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 108 (Green Island, Berthelot Islands, Antarctic Peninsula): Revised Management Plan Measure 2 (2018): Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 117 (Avian Island, Marguerite Bay, Antarctic Peninsula): Revised Management Plan Measure 3 (2018): Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 132 (Potter Peninsula, King George Island [Isla 25 de Mayo], South Shetland Islands): Revised Management Plan Measure 4 (2018): Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 147 (Ablation Valley and Ganymede Heights, Alexander Island): Revised Management Plan Measure 5 (2018): Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 170 (Marion Nunataks, Charcot Island, Antarctic Peninsula): Revised Management Plan Measure 6 (2018): Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 172 (Lower Taylor Glacier and Blood Falls, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Victoria Land): Revised Management Plan 2. Decisions Decision 1 (2018): Secretariat Report, Programme and Budget Annex 1: Audited Financial Report for 2016/17 Annex 2: Provisional Financial Report for 2017/18 Annex 3: Secretariat Programme for 2018/19 Decision 2 (2018): Renewal of the Contract of the Secretariat’s External Auditor Annex: Tasks to be carried out by the external auditor Decision 3 (2018): Multi-Year Strategic Work Plan for the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting Annex: ATCM Multi-Year Strategic Work Plan 3. Resolutions Resolution 1 (2018): Site Guidelines for visitors Annex: List of sites subject to Site Guidelines Resolution 2 (2018): Guidelines for the assessment and management of Heritage in Antarctica Annex: Guidelines for the assessment and management of Heritage in Antarctica Resolution 3 (2018): Revised Guide to the presentation of Working Papers containing proposals for Antarctic Specially Protected Areas, Antarctic Specially Managed Areas or Historic Sites and Monuments Annex: Guide to the presentation of Working Papers containing proposals for ASPA, ASMA and HSM Resolution 4 (2018): Environmental Guidelines for operation of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in Antarctica Annex: Environmental Guidelines for Operation of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in Antarctica Resolution 5 (2018): SCAR’s Environmental Code of Conduct for Terrestrial 6FLHQWL¿F)LHOG5HVHDUFKLQ$QWDUFWLFD $QQH[6&$5¶V(QYLURQPHQWDO&RGHRI&RQGXFWIRU7HUUHVWULDO6FLHQWL¿F Field Research in Antarctica Heads of Delegation picture 92/80(,, Acronyms and Abbreviations 9 PART II. MEASURES, DECISIONS AND RESOLUTIONS (Cont.) 11 4. Management Plans 13 Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 108 (Green Island, Berthelot Islands, Antarctic Peninsula): Revised Management Plan 15 Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 117 (Avian Island, Marguerite Bay, Antarctic Peninsula): Revised Management Plan 27 Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 132 (Potter Peninsula, King George Island [Isla 25 de Mayo], South Shetland Islands): Revised Management Plan 43 Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 147 (Ablation Valley and Ganymede Heights, Alexander Island): Revised Management Plan 55 Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 170 (Marion Nunataks, Charcot Island, Antarctic Peninsula): Revised Management Plan 73 Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 172 (Lower Taylor Glacier and Blood Falls, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Victoria Land): Revised Management Plan 89 PART III. OPENING AND CLOSING ADDRESSES AND REPORTS 1. Opening and Closing Addresses 109 6SHHFKE\WKH$UJHQWLQH0LQLVWHURI)RUHLJQ$൵DLUVDQG:RUVKLS+LV([FHOOHQF\ Jorge Faurie during the ATCM Opening Ceremony 111 2. Reports by Depositaries and Observers 113 Report of the USA as Depositary Government of the Antarctic Treaty and its Protocol 115 Report of Australia as Depositary Government of CCAMLR 133 Report of Australia as Depositary Government of ACAP 135 Report of the UK as Depositary Government of CCAS 137 Report by the CCAMLR Observer 141 Report by the ACAP Secretariat 145 Report of SCAR 147 Report of COMNAP 149 3. Reports by Experts 155 Report by WMO 157 Report by ASOC 159 Report by IAATO 163 PART IV. ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS FROM ATCM XLI 1. List of Documents 169 Working Papers 171 Information Papers 174 Secretariat Papers 179 Background Papers 181 3. List of Participants 183 Consultative Parties 185 Non-Consultative Parties 189 Observers, Experts and Guests 190 Host Country Secretariat 190 Antarctic Treaty Secretariat 190 $FURQ\PVDQG$EEUHYLDWLRQV ACAP Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels ACBR Antarctic Conservation Biogeographic Region ASMA Antarctic Specially Managed Area ASOC Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition ASPA Antarctic Specially Protected Area ATS Antarctic Treaty System or Antarctic Treaty Secretariat ATCM Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting ATME Antarctic Treaty Meeting of Experts BP Background Paper CCAMLR Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources and/or Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources CCAS Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals CCRWP Climate Change Response Work Programme CEE Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation CEP Committee for Environmental Protection COMNAP Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EIES Electronic Information Exchange System HSM Historic Site and Monument IAATO International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators IBA Important Bird Area ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization ICG Intersessional Contact Group IEE Initial Environmental Evaluation IGP&I Clubs International Group of Protection and Indemnity Clubs IHO International Hydrographic Organization IMO International Maritime Organization IOC Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission IOPC Funds International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds IP Information Paper IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature MARPOL International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships MPA Marine Protected Area RCC Rescue Coordination Centre SAR Search and Rescue 6&$5 6FLHQWL¿F&RPPLWWHHRQ$QWDUFWLF5HVHDUFK 6&&$0/5 6FLHQWL¿F&RPPLWWHHRI&&$0/5 SGCCR Subsidiary Group on Climate Change Response SGMP Subsidiary Group on Management Plans SOLAS International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea SOOS Southern Ocean Observing System SP Secretariat Paper UAV/RPAS Unmanned Aerial Vehicle / Remotely Piloted Aircraft System UNEP United Nations Environment Programme UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change WMO World Meteorological Organization WP Working Paper WTO World Tourism Organization PART II Measures, Decisions and Resolutions (Cont.) 4. Management Plans Measure 1 (2018) Management Plan for Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 108 GREEN ISLAND, BERTHELOT ISLANDS, ANTARCTIC PENINSULA Introduction The primary reason for the designation of Green Island, Berthelot Islands, Antarctic Peninsula (65°19'S, 64°09'W; area 0.2 km2) as an Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) is to protect environmental values, and primarily the rich Chorisodontium-Polytrichum moss turf present within the Area. Green Island was originally designated as a Specially Protected Area (SPA) through Recommendation IV-9 (1966, SPA No. 9) after a proposal by the United Kingdom. It was designated on the grounds that the vegetation “is exceptionally rich, [and] is probably the most luxuriant anywhere on the west side of the Antarctic Peninsula”. The Recommendation noted: “in some places the humus is 2 metres thick and that this area, being of outstanding scientific interest, should be protected because it is probably one of the most diverse Antarctic ecosystems”. A Management Plan for the site was prepared by the United Kingdom and adopted through Recommendation XVI-6 (1991). The original reasons for designation were extended and elaborated, although following comparisons to other sites in the vicinity, Green Island was no longer considered to be particularly diverse. Nevertheless, the vegetation on the island was described as extensive on the north-facing slopes, with well-developed continuous banks of moss turf formed by Chorisodontium aciphyllum and Polytrichum strictum that, over much of their extent, overlie peat of more than one metre in depth. Antarctic hair grass (Deschampsia antarctica), one of only two native vascular plants that grow within the Antarctic Treaty area, was noted as frequent in small patches near an Antarctic shag (Phalacrocorax [atriceps] bransfieldensis) colony. The colony of Antarctic shags, located on the steep, rocky northwestern corner of the island, was noted as being possibly