INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION Prepared for 2016/2017 – 2019/2020 ANTARCTIC CRUISE PROGRAMMES On the Polar ResearCh Vessels PROFESSOR KHROMOV (tradinG as Spirit of Enderby) and AKADEMIK SHOKALSKIY INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION ANTARCTIC TOURISM CRUISES 2016/2017 – 2019/2020 SEASONS 1 CONTACT DETAILS This Initial Environmental Evaluation has been prepared for and on behalf of: Rodney Russ Owner and Founder Heritage Expeditions Ltd P O Box 7218 Christchurch NEW ZEALAND Tel: (03) 365 3500 Fax: (03) 365 1300 email: [email protected] Nathan Russ Operations Manager Heritage Expeditions Ltd PO Box 7218 Christchurch NEW ZEALAND Tel: (03) 365 3500 Fax: (03) 365 1300 [email protected] to whom all enquiries and comments should be directed. External consultant: Dr. Neil Gilbert Director Constantia Consulting Ltd. Christchurch NEW ZEALAND Tel: 021 997 994 [email protected] 2 Contents CONTACT DETAILS ......................................................................................................................... 2 NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... 6 1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 8 1.1. TOURISM IN ANTARCTICA ................................................................................................................... 8 1.1.2. Antarctic Governance and Tourism .......................................................................................... 8 1.1.3. International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) ................................................. 9 1.2. HERITAGE EXPEDITIONS LTD. .............................................................................................................. 9 2. THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS ......................................................... 11 2.1. INTERNATIONAL REQUIREMENTS ......................................................................................................... 11 2.2. NATIONAL REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................................ 12 2.3. ADDITIONAL LEGAL AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS .............................................................................. 14 3. SCOPE OF THE EVALUATION .................................................................................................... 15 3.1. GEOGRAPHICAL SCOPE OF THE IEE ...................................................................................................... 15 3.2. TEMPORAL SCOPE OF THE IEE ............................................................................................................ 16 3.3. ACTIVITIES NOT ASSESSED BY THIS IEE ................................................................................................ 16 4. DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES ................................................................................................. 17 4.1. PURPOSE ...................................................................................................................................... 17 4.2. EXPEDITION LEADERS ...................................................................................................................... 17 4.3. THE VESSELS AND SHIP OPERATIONS .................................................................................................... 18 4.3.1. Spirit of Enderby (Professor Khromov) ................................................................................... 18 4.3.2. Akademik Shokalskiy ............................................................................................................ 19 4.4. PASSENGER LANDINGS - OVERVIEW ...................................................................................................... 20 4.5. PASSENGER LANDINGS – SITE SPECIFIC DESCRIPTIONS .............................................................................. 23 4.5.1. Cape Adare – 71° 17'S, 170° 14'E ......................................................................................... 23 4.5.2. Possession Islands – 71° 56'S, 171° 10'E ............................................................................... 23 4.5.3. Franklin Island – 76° 05'S, 168° 19'E ..................................................................................... 23 4.5.4. Ross Island – 77° 30'S, 168° 00E .......................................................................................... 23 4.5.5. Cape Hallett – 72° 19'S, 170° 16'E ........................................................................................ 24 4.5.6. Terra Nova Bay Region – 74° 50'S, 164° 30'E ......................................................................... 24 4.5.7. Coulman Island – 73° 28'S, 169° 45'E .................................................................................... 25 4.5.8. Scott Island – 67° 24'S, 179° 55'W ........................................................................................ 25 4.5.9. Balleny Islands – 66° 55'S, 163° 20'E .................................................................................... 26 4.5.10. Cape Wheatstone – 72° 37'S, 170° 13'E ............................................................................... 26 4.5.11. Inexpressible Island – 74° 54'S, 163° 39'E ........................................................................... 26 4.5.12. Duke of York Island – 71° 38'S, 170° 04'E ............................................................................ 26 4.5.13. Downshire Cliffs – 71° 37’S, 170° 36'E ................................................................................. 26 4.5.14. Kay Island – 74° 04'S,165° 19'E .......................................................................................... 26 4.5.15. Cape Roget – 71° 59'S, 170° 37'E ........................................................................................ 27 4.5.16. Bay of Whales – 78° 30'S, 164° 20'W ................................................................................... 27 4.5.17. Dellbridge Islands – 77° 40'S, 166° 25'E .............................................................................. 27 4.5.18. Hells Gate Moraine / Evans Cove – 74° 52'S, 163° 48'E ......................................................... 27 4.5.19. Northern Foothills – 74° 44'S, 163° 55'E .............................................................................. 27 4.5.20. Depot Island – 76° 42'S, 162°58'E ....................................................................................... 28 4.5.21. Botany Bay, Granite Harbour – 77o 00’ S, 162o 32’ E ............................................................. 28 4.5.22. Mertz Glacier tongue – 67o 30’ S, 144o 45’ E ........................................................................ 29 4.5.23. Way Archipelago – 66° 53’S, 143° 40E ................................................................................. 29 4.5.24. Cape Denison – 67° 00’ S, 142° 39’E ................................................................................... 29 4.5.25. Cape Hunter – 66o 57’ S, 142o 21’ E .................................................................................... 29 4.5.26. Port Martin – 66° 40’S, 141° 30’E ........................................................................................ 30 4.5.27. Dumont d’Urville Station – 66° 45’S, 140° 10E ...................................................................... 30 3 4.5.28. Cap Jules – 66o 44’S, 140o 55 E ........................................................................................... 31 4.5.29. Ile Pasteur – 66o 37’ S, 140o 06’ E ....................................................................................... 31 4.5.30. Rocher du Dèbarquement – 66o 36’ S, 140o 03’ E ................................................................. 31 4.5.31. Cape Bienvenue – 66o 43’ S, 140o 31’ E ............................................................................... 31 4.5.32. Gouverneur Island – 66o 40’ S, 139o 57’ E ............................................................................ 31 4.5.33. Cape Geodesie – 66o 40’ S, 139o 50’ E ................................................................................. 31 4.5.34. Snorkeling, Diving and Swimming – various locations ........................................................... 32 4.5.35. Entry into Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs) .......................................................... 32 5. DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL STATE ............................................................ 37 5.1. ROSS SEA REGION .......................................................................................................................... 37 5.2. BIOGEOGRAPHIC REGIONS ................................................................................................................ 37 5.3. ANTARCTIC SPECIALLY PROTECTED AREAS ............................................................................................ 38 5.4. IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS .................................................................................................................. 39 6. ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED ACTIVITY ......................................................................... 42 6.1. CHANGES TO THE ITINERARY ............................................................................................................. 42 6.2.