[] TL: WHALE SANCTUARY IN ANTARCTICA SO: ANTARCTIC AND SOUTHERN OCEAN COALITION DT: January 1993 Keywords: whales oceans species endangered antarctic marine mammals greenpeace groups expeditions ships / 37 Nicholson Street, Studio 14 Balmain, NSW 2041 AUSTRALIA 707 D Street S.E. Washington D.C. 20003 U.S.A. TEL 202-544-0236 FAX: 202-544-8483 (GP) 29 January, 1993 Dear ASOC Member, Happy New Year! Let's hope that this is a good year for the Antarctic campaign. The U.S. election results should mean that the United States will be a leader in a new era for Antarctic protection. Spain is still the only country that has ratified the Madrid Protocol, so there is still much work to be done before the Protocol is implemented and enforced. As we write, Greenpeace is in Antarctica on their annual Antarctic Expedition, carrying out environmental monitoring at stations in the Antarctic Peninsula region. Greenpeace is using this expedition to put further pressure on particular countries, such as Chile, Argentina and the United Kingdom to ratify the Protocol as soon as possible. An issue that has been causing much controversy lately, and indeed has done since its inception, is the hard rock airstrip at the French Antarctic station, Dumont d'Urville. ASOC has been opposed to the construction of the airstrip since construction commenced in 1983. Construction has involved the levelling of five islands, which were home to countless of sea birds, including thousands of Adelie penguins. These birds have been displaced and there has been little success with their relocation. The airstrip construction was started without an environmental impact assessment (EIA) being prepared. After much outrage from other countries and environmental groups around the world, an EIA was prepared, followed by an updated version. Neither document managed to adequately address the serious environmental impacts of the airstrip. The airstrip is due to be completed in February 1993 and France intends to carry out a trial flight, possibly from Christchurch, New Zealand. ASOC will oppose this trial flight. As you will have noticed, we have decided to adopt a new format for the ASOC mail-out. In the past, we have included all relevant documents, updates and news clippings. This uses up an incredible amount of paper, and is of course very expensive to post. So, the idea now is to provide you with a list of all available documents and if you are interested in receiving any of them, simply write to your nearest ASOC office, and we will forward them to you. Enclosed are The Antarctica Project newsletters for Fall 1992 and Winter 1993, which are produced by ASOC USA in Washington D.C., and the ECOs produced by ASOC at the treaty meeting. (The ECO newsletter was not produced at the 1992 CCAMLR meeting.) Since the last ASOC mailing in August/September 1992, a number of Antarctic Treaty System meetings have taken place around the world. ASOC representatives attended all these meetings and tabled various papers. The recent meetings were: i) the XI CCAMLR (Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) meeting in Hobart, Australia, 26 October to 6 November, 1992 ii) the informal meeting on Antarctic tourism in Venice, 9-10 November, 1992 iii) the XVII Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) in Venice, 11-20 November, 1992. Documents that are available for distribution: i) XVII ATCM report ii) XVII ATCM ECO's (4) iii) XI CCAMLR report iv) ASOC Information Paper on the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, presented at XI CCAMLR meeting v) Ozone Depletion: The Threat to Antarctic Ecosystems, presented by ASOC at the XI CCAMLR meeting and XVII ATCM vi) Three Cheers or (N)One for the Committee for Environmental Protection submitted by ASOC at the XVII ATCM v) Annex on Liability and Compensation for Antarctic Activities submitted by ASOC at the XVII ATCM vi) Regulation of Non-Governmental and Tourism Activities in Antarctica submitted by ASOC at the XVII ATCM vii) Upon Closer Inspection submitted by ASOC at the XVII ATCM viii) Exchange of Information submitted by Greenpeace International at the XVII ATCM ix) Update on Dumont d'Urville hard rock airstrip x) Update on Greenpeace 1992/93 Antarctic Expedition xi) Environmental Issues and Concerns, and Impacts of U.S. Antarctic Policy on Science; presented by Sue Sabella (Greenpeace) and Beth Marks (The Antarctica Project)to the Committee on Antarctic Policy and Science, U.S. National Research Council, Polar Research Board (December 14-15, 1992.) Also two documents are available from Barbara Mitchell: the Wildlife Link Reports on the visits to Signy and Rothera in 1991. They can be obtained from Wildlife Link, 246 Lavender Hill, London SW11 1LN, U.K. Thank you for your continued support of ASOC and the work we do in striving to protect Antarctica. This mailing was partly funded by a donation from Research Center for International Law, University of Cambridge (U.K.) A brochure about the book International Law and the Antarctic Treaty System is enclosed. Any contributions you could make would be greatly appreciated. Please forward all donations to your nearest ASOC office. This financial support is crucial to the continuation of our work and helps to provide ASOC representation at international Antarctic Treaty and associated meetings. Yours sincerely, Lyn Goldsworthy ASOC Convenor Jim Barnes ASOC Counsel The Antarctica Project Volume 1 Issue 3 Fall 1992 Inside This Issue 3 Protocol Ratification 3 Membership Information 4 Calendar of events 4 Polar Shift Compact Disk Whale Sanctuary in Antarctica A SAFE HAVEN FOR WHALES IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE? As reported in the last Newsletter, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) decided in 1992 to defer a decision on the proposal from France to make the whole of the Southern Ocean south of 40 degrees a sanctuary for whales, free from commercial whaling. The proposal will be up for decision at the next IWC meeting, to be held in Japan in May 1993. To be successful, the proposal must win a three quarters majority of the IWC member nations attending the meeting. This will be a crucial opportunity for the IWC to allow the Antarctic marine ecosystem to recover from the devastation of twentieth century whaling. More than one million whales were killed in these waters this century, and it is estimated that only around two percent of the original biomass of the largest species of Antarctic whales now remains. The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty commits the Treaty Parties to "the comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems." Yet, because it is the IWC not the Antarctic Treaty that has legal competence over whaling, it requires a joint venture to provide protection to the marine ecosystem. Fortunately, the membership of the two treaties largely overlaps, so there is a chance of the task begun by the Antarctic Treaty being completed in the IWC. The proposed sanctuary area covers the main feeding grounds of the sperm whale and of all baleen whale species except the tropical Bryde's whale. The sanctuary's northern boundary roughly coincides with the northern limit of distribution of the whales' prey. In spite of the predictable protests from Japan, the one country that wants to resume commercial whaling in Antarctic waters, the sanctuary proposal is quite consistent with the Revised Management Procedure (RMP), currently being revised by the IWC. The RMP will attempt to regulate any future whaling in a sustainable way. The sanctuary would supplement the RMP, not replace it, and would act as a safeguard against failures of the RMP. The IWC's previous management procedures - the infamous "Blue Whale Unit", and the New Management Procedure that replaced it in 1975, both failed to prevent the over- exploitation of whale stocks. Every attempt to regulate commercial whaling has been fraught with insuperable difficulties of inspection and enforcement. Once legitimized, commercial whaling invites pirate whaling and the 'laundering' of whale meat into the Japanese market. Although some scientists have high hopes for the RMP, they are not infallible, and it is in line with the Precautionary Principle to keep the Antarctic free of whaling as an insurance against the failure of the RMP. Whaling is not the only threat to the depleted whale stocks of the Antarctic. The latest evidence on the effect of the "hole" in the ozone over Antarctica points to an alarming reduction in primary production of phytoplankton of between 6% and 12%, due to the increased level of UV-B radiation. The whales' food stocks are thus directly threatened. This is an additional reason why whaling should not now be reopened. The French proposal for a whale sanctuary in Antarctica will need all the support it can get at the next meeting of the IWC, and because of its influence the support of the USA is particularly important. TAKE ACTION by writing to the head of state in your country. In the USA write to: The President The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20500 After January 20, 1993, write to President Bill Clinton at the above address. Focus On SCIENCE Ozone LOWEST EVER OZONE LEVELS RECORDED OVER ANTARCTICA Scientists working at Syowa base in Antarctica confirmed that this year's ozone "hole" is the worst on record. This continues the trend of observed ozone depletion consistently outstripping scientific predictions. On October 4, 1992, Japanese meteorologists measuring ozone depletion found that ozone in the stratosphere between 8 - 11 miles above the South Polar region had been entirely destroyed. The New York Times (Sept. 27, 1992) stated that "man-made chemicals, particularly chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) used in refrigerators, air conditioners, and several industrial processes, are thought to play a large role in the ozone depletion." IMPACTS ON ANTARCTIC MARINE ECOSYSTEMS This depletion has allowed an increased amount of ultraviolet (UV) radiation to reach earth. There are indications that this increased UV radiation could adversely affect all forms of life. The richly productive Antarctic marine ecosystems are particularly at risk. Research has already shown a significant decline in phytoplankton productivity in the Southern Ocean. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has warned that phytoplankton are particularly vulnerable. UV-B, the biologically damaging wavelengths of ultraviolet radiation, has been shown to penetrate 65 meters in clear Antarctic waters. Decreased phytoplankton production in the Southern Ocean has been observed as a consequence of ozone depletion. Phytoplankton in the Southern Ocean contribute a significant proportion of total oceanic primary productivity, underpinning the entire marine food chain. Concentrations of phytoplankton in sub polar waters may be 10 times greater than concentrations of phytoplankton in tropical and subtropical waters. The ecosystem of the Southern Ocean is an integral part of the biosphere and perturbations on a local scale are directly linked to global processes. For example, phytoplankton play a substantial role in oceanic uptake of carbon dioxide. UNEP has estimated that a loss of ten percent of marine phytoplankton would reduce annual oceanic uptake of carbon dioxide by significant amounts (According to the UNEP report "Environmental Effects of Ozone Depletion - 1991 Update," the reduction in annual oceanic uptake of carbon dioxide would be an amount equal to annual emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel consumption.) Krill (Euphasia Superba) rely almost exclusively on phytoplankton as their food source. Whales and penguins depend largely on krill for their nutrition. In a worst-case scenario, increased UV-B in the Antarctic would cause a decrease in phytoplankton productivity. Less food available to krill would cause a decrease in krill populations as both their survival and reproductive capacity would be affected. Depletion of the ozone layer has unknown consequences, both immediately and on a time scale beyond our lifetimes. Although uncertainty exists as to how this atmospheric event is affecting life on earth, the world will experience worsening ozone depletion for at least the next decade, because not all of the chemicals produced have reached the ozone layer. ASOC contends that the governments of the world must agree to much faster phase-out of all chemicals that destroy ozone. Any ban on ozone-destroying chemicals must include industry's chosen substitutes, hydro-chloro-fluorocarbons (HCFCs), as well as Methyl Bromide. HCFCs do most of their damage in the short term, and it is in the short term that the ozone layer will be most eroded by existing (mostly CFC) pollution. Commercially viable and safe alternatives exist for virtually every use of ozone- destroying chemicals. There is no valid excuse for Governments to delay any longer in agreeing and enforcing a rapid phase-out of all chemicals that destroy ozone. For more information about what you can do to save the ozone layer, contact The Antarctica Project and ask for the ozone packet. Protocol On Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty Ratification Update for the 26 Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties ARGENTINA - Ratification is well developed and may be finished late this year. AUSTRALIA - has begun to change laws to bring them into harmony with the Protocol; hopes to ratify by early 1993. BELGIUM - Ratification is under way, with completion expected by early 1993. BRAZIL - Ratification process is under way. Protocol has been translated; it then goes to the International Treaty Dept. of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then to F.A. Minister, then to President's office, then to both houses of Congress. Ratification unlikely before March 1993. CHILE - Chamber of deputies has already approved the Protocol & it has gone to Senate. Chile is strongly committed to rapid ratification. CHINA - Legal process towards ratification has started. State Committee for Antarctic Research has adopted measures necessary to bring their practices into compliance with the Protocol. ECUADOR - The Executive has sent the text to the National Congress; efforts have been made to insert it in national legislation. FINLAND - Actively involved in ratification process, which involves Protocol being translated, then circulated for comments, then taken to House of Representatives. Ratification expected before the end of 1993. FRANCE - The National Assembly is expected to approve the Protocol by early December, after which it is translated into national legislation. GERMANY - Draft law is under discussion. Hope to have completed ratification by end of 1993. Meanwhile, all government institutions have orders to strictly comply. INDIA - signed the Protocol on 2 July, 1992. No word yet on ratification. ITALY - Bill for ratification was approved Oct. 16 and sent to Parliament. Money for compliance has been put into the budget for next year. As we go to press, Italy is hosting the Antarctic Treaty Consultative meetings in Venice. JAPAN - Japan was the last Antarctic Treaty Consultative party to sign the Protocol, one year after it was signed by most of the other parties. Ratification probably not before the end of next year. KOREA, REPUBLIC OF - Has started to implement provisions of the Protocol, but will have to amend some domestic laws. NETHERLANDS - Hopefully a package including a National Antarctic Law & Ratification can be submitted in early 1993, with Ratification in 1994. Meanwhile, practical implementation is being undertaken. NEW ZEALAND - Ratification expected by the end of 1993. NZ is keen to have the Protocol ratified, and will possibly link ratification with the reintroduction of the Protected Area/Prohibition on Mining Bill, which prohibits mining in national parks. NORWAY - Probably will ratify by end of 1992. PERU - no information available as we go to press. POLAND - A report on the Protocol is being considered by Ministers now. RUSSIA - Russia has taken over the Antarctic program of the former Soviet Union. No word yet on ratification. Environmental Protection measures are being implemented in the interim, according to the Protocol. SOUTH AFRICA - Protocol "under consideration" but far from being ratified. SPAIN - Ratified the Protocol on July 1, 1992. The first country to ratify (and the only one so far) but has not yet passed implementing legislation. SWEDEN - Ratification expected before end of 1992. UNITED KINGDOM - The government is in the process of developing implementing legislation, but it will be late 1993 before ratification occurs. USA - Although the U.S. Senate voted to give its "advice and consent to ratify" the Protocol, it did not pass the necessary implementing legislation. Bills were introduced in the House by both the Democrats and the Bush Administration, and a companion Democratic bill was introduced in the Senate. Implementing legislation must pass both houses and be signed by the President; this is likely in 1993. The Antarctica Project thanks the following organizations for their funding support: CS Fund, Earth Sea Institute, Highland, Homeland, Threshold, and Scherman Foundations; National Audubon Society; and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) International. OZONE INFORMATION PACKET AVAILABLE For more information about what you can do to save the ozone layer, contact The Antarctica Project, and ask for the ozone packet. It explains what we can do now as individuals to avoid using ozone-destroying chemicals, and includes the addresses of Ministers of the Environment around the world. ANTARCTICA REACHES THE WHITE HOUSE Vice President-elect Al Gore is the first campaigner for Antarctic protection to attain the second-highest office in the land. In his "Postcard Antarctica" (The New Republic, 12/26188) Senator Gore wrote from Antarctica: "I came here because Antarctica is now the frontier of the global ecological crisis." We look forward to hearing reports of similar words being repeated at meetings in the White House next year. --------------------------------------------------------------- The Antarctica Project Volume 2 Issue 1 Winter 1993 Inside This Issue 2 CCAMLR 3 Whale sanctuary 4 Penguins threatened 4 Calendar of events 4 New nations join treaty ANTARCTIC TREATY MEETING RESULTS The Antarctic Treaty Parties held their XVII Consultative Meeting (ATCM) in Venice from 11-21 November 1992. Prior to that, from 9-10 November, an informal working group on Tourism and Non-governmental Activities was convened. The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) was invited to participate as an expert at both of these meetings. Eleven ASOC representatives attended; they represented World Wide Fund for Nature, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, The Antarctica Project and FIDE XII (Chile). We had hoped that Treaty nations would quickly ratify and implement the Protocol's provisions, thus ensuring the careful stewardship of Antarctica's fragile environment. Instead, only Spain has ratified the Protocol, and has yet to pass the requisite domestic implementing legislation. ASOC had several substantive goals for these meetings, as well as continuing to develop its expert status to the Treaty. Coalition goals for the meeting included: Pushing governments to quickly ratify and implement the Protocol on Environmental Protection; Killing a proposed annex to regulate tourism and nongovernmental activities, which could in effect have given governments a veto over any non-governmental expedition; Creation of a Secretariat for the Antarctic Treaty System; Starting the negotiation of a Liability Annex to the Protocol, which is the key missing component of the comprehensive protection framework; Drafting the rules of procedure for the Committee for Environmental Protection, and interim implementation of the Committee; Lobbying governments to take progressive positions on ozone depletion, given that the science done in Antarctica provides the best evidence about the ozone problem, that Antarctica's ecosystems are being adversely affected by the ozone hole, and that most of the Antarctic Treaty governments are also members of the Montreal Protocol, which held its Fourth Meeting of Parties in Copenhagen at the end of November, immediately following the ATCM. In general, ASOC made good progress towards achieving its goals, although overall there were disappointingly few substantive results from the ATCM. The most hopeful outcome was the commitment stated by nearly all the Treaty Parties that they intend to ratify the Protocol within the next year or so. If they succeed, the next Treaty meeting should be much more productive. In addition, ASOC made progress on its other goals: ù The proposed annex on tourism and non-governmental activities was defeated [shelved]; ù Considerable progress was made towards getting agreement on the Secretariat; ù The liability negotiation will get underway next year; and ù Our lobbying papers on ozone depletion were well received. Jim Barnes served as head of the ASOC delegation. The eleven ASOC representatives who attended the meetings were: Jim Barnes (representing The Antarctica Project and Friends of the Earth [FOE], USA); Maj DePoorter (Greenpeace [GP] International, New Zealand); Andrea Figari (GP, Argentina); Alan Hemmings (GP, New Zealand); Beth Marks (The Antarctica Project, USA); and Cassandra Phillips (World Wide Fund for Nature, U.K.) In addition, three ASOC members served on their national delegation as the non-governmental representative: Janet Dalziell (Greenpeace, Australia), Sue Sabella (Greenpeace, USA), and Hernan Mladinic (FIDE XII, Chile). The ASOC team published four issues of ECO. ASOC also tabled eight papers to the meeting, covering such topics as: ù Regulation of tourism in Antarctica; ù The roles and functions of the Secretariat, Committee on Environmental Protection and Inspectorate, and how they might work together; ù Annex on liability and compensation for Antarctic activities; ù National action plans to save the ozone layer (written by FoE- International); ù Ozone Depletion: The Threat to Antarctic Ecosystems. Please contact The Antarctica Project if you would like more information about these documents. Focus on SCIENCE El Nino Correlated With Seal Pup Success Rate A biologist monitoring seal populations offshore from Ross Island has concluded that seal reproductive rates are correlated with the climatic phenomenon known as the El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Dr. James Ward Testa, of the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, has been monitoring changes in the population of an Antarctic seal community for the past 12 years. In most years, about 400 seal pups are born. But this year, only 317 births were recorded. Dr. Testa noticed that the number of births declines every four to six years. This is coincident with the occurrence of an ENSO. An ENSO occurs when a tropical pool of warm water shifts from the western Pacific eastward and alters weather in much of the tropical and temperate latitudes. As reported in Science News (Vol. 142, Oct. 24, 1992), an ENSO developed in 1991, and affected the Pacific through the middle of 1992. The current dip in birth rates supports Testa's theory that tropical weather can disturb seal populations. He speculates that the declines may result from changes in the seals food source: shifts in the ocean currents possibly affect the location and quantity of the fish which the seals consume. The lowered birth rate for seals represents the most southern biological effect ever recorded for an ENSO, according to Science News. Whether the ENSO is affecting other Antarctic animals is not known since biologists have not kept as extensive records for other animals. But biologists carrying out research on krill on the other side of the continent found that after several poor years, the 1991/92 fishing season saw a great increase in krill populations, and have hypothesized that the ENSO is affecting the populations of these invertebrates. Slow Progress for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Life Antarctic Coalition members participate in recent CCAMLR meeting The eleventh meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) was held from 26 October to 6 November 1992, in Hobart, Australia. The Scientific Committee met from 26 to 30 October, 1992. Progress was made on several issues, including the adoption of a scientific observer scheme. Nineteen Conservation Measures and one resolution were adopted, and two Conservation Measures were amended. As in past years, consensus was not reached on several important issues, including: * defining an exploratory fishery, i.e., reclassifying as an "exploratory" fishery, any fishery that was previously classified as a "new" fishery. This would have ensured that new fisheries do not develop ahead of the acquisition of biological and demographic information; * limiting the krill fishery during critical periods to protect krill predators; * closure of nursery grounds to fishing to protect juvenile fish (for the second year, data were not available). As in past years, the fishing nations attempted to gain consensus for catch levels which were economically beneficial, regardless of the state of the fishery. Although submission of data was better than in the past, timely submission of data is still a problem. Several new or "expanding" fisheries were reported, and new nations are starting Antarctic fisheries (Ukraine, Bulgaria, Chile and U.S.). We worked closely with CCAMLR nations to try to ensure that new fisheries would develop slowly. Seven people from member organizations of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) attended the meetings. Three individuals from ASOC organizations were on their nation's official delegation to CCAMLR. Beth Marks (The Antarctica Project, USA) amended as non-governmental (NGO) representative on the U.S. delegation. Janet Dalziell (Greenpeace [GP] International, Australia) attended as ASOC representative on the Australian delegation. Indrani Lutchman (WWF, UK) was NGO representative on the UK delegation. In addition, four other ASOC representatives attended. Maj De Poorter (GP International, New Zealand) attended as ASOC representative in both the Scientific Committee and the Commission meeting. Cassandra Phillips (WWF, UK) attended as ASOC observer to the Commission meeting. Kaye Dyson (GP, Australia) and Johanna Wesnigk (GP, Germany) attended as ASOC lobbyists. Pressures on the Antarctic ecosystem continue. As the world gains new nations, and these turn to the Southern Ocean for what they perceive as easy, accessible fisheries, it becomes increasingly difficult to apply the "precautionary principle." Constant vigilance by ASOC and those CCAMLR member nations that are truly committed to protecting Antarctica's ecosystem is critical. Intersessional meetings with delegates from the fishing nations is probably the best way to ensure that consensus will be reached at CCAMLR XII for strong conservation measures. For the year ahead, we need to focus on the following conservation measures: 1. A measure defining an exploratory fishery, including reporting requirements for that fishery; reclassifying any previous "new" fishery as an "exploratory" fishery. 2. A measure limiting or closing the krill fishery during critical periods to protect krill predators (including an allocation scheme for the Statistical Areas). 3. A measure protecting nursery grounds. ASOC tabled two papers: one on the IWC Southern Ocean whale sanctuary proposal, and one on the possible effects of ozone depletion on the Southern Ocean ecosystem. This year for the first time, ASOC decided not to produce the newsletter "ECO" because of the high level of access and acceptance that ASOC now has within the meeting. The ASOC Report on CCAMLR XI, and the papers submitted at the meeting are available from TAP and other ASOC Secretariats. AUSTRALIA SUPPORTS WHALE SANCTUARY In December 1992 the Australian government announced that it will push for the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to establish a sanctuary for whales in the Southern Ocean. The sanctuary had been proposed by the French last year. "Under the Southern Ocean Sanctuary proposal, whaling would be banned in all waters south of 40 degrees South, the main summer feeding grounds for the great whales in the southern hemisphere," said Ros Kelly, the Australian Minister for Arts, Sport, the Environment and Territories. "While all whales and dolphins are protected in Australian waters, many whales are highly migratory, and we depend upon cooperation through the IWC to protect them globally." Nations Join Antarctic Treaty System The Ukraine has acceded to the ATS, making it the 14th Nonconsultative Party. This brings to 40 the number of nations which have acceded to the Antarctic Treaty. Bulgaria has become the seventh nation to accede to The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. These seven nations join the 21 nations that are members of CCAMLR. PENGUIN COLONY THREATENED BY OIL PLANT CONSTRUCTION According to recent press reports in Argentina, the life of twenty thousand penguins could be endangered by the construction of an oil plant in the province of Santa Cruz. A Chilean oil company, in cooperation with the Argentine state oil company, plans to build on a site that is home to the second largest penguin colony in Latin America. The plant is a menace because of the site selected, which was chosen to save the company on the installation of hundreds of meters of oil and gas pipeline. However, according to a congressional representative from the province, the risk could be minimized by a deviation of the tubing system, at a cost of only $50,000 (U.S. dollars). Also the proposed construction date, January and February 1993, is of concern because it occurs during breeding time. Several Argentinean conservation groups have now gone to court, which should delay construction. The Antarctica Project thanks the following organizations for their funding support: CS Fund, Earth Sea Institute, Homeland, Scherman and Weeden Foundations; Humane Society of the U.S., National Audubon Society, and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) International. Attention D.C. Area Groups: Beth Marks, Antarctic Scientist and Director of the Antarctica Project, is available to speak to local groups in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area. Beth's talk includes an Antarctic slide show.