10 Feb 2016

2 Feb Voyage: Shokalskiy Antarctic Treaty

Smooth sailing conditions today meant expeditioners could enjoy a number of presentations and a film screening to help pass the time at sea.

Lecturer Samuel Blanc has a degree in biological sciences and the management and protection of natural areas. His passion for nature and love of penguins was evident in his lecture about the 18 different species found in the Subantarctic and Antarctic regions. Moscow based researcher Grigory Tsidulko then gave a fascinating presentation on marine mammals and how they have adapted to thrive the cold.

Later in the day Expedition Leader and ambassador for the Antarctica, Rodney Russ, gave a lecture on the Antarctic Treaty which highlighted the stringent guidelines that must be adhered to in order to provide opportunities for tourism in the remote wilderness of the Ross Sea region. He outlined the 12 principles behind the 1961 Treaty and the three bodies created to protect various aspects of the environment – the Conservation of Antarctic Seals in 1978, the Commission for Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources in 1980 and the 1991 Madrid Protocol, which banned any kind of mineral mining for 50 years.

To further whet our appetites for what is to come, the day’s programme ended with the screening of the first part of the dramatised version of Roland Huntford’s book ‘The Last Place on Earth’ about the race between Scott and Amundsen to the South Pole.
 
We are now at 61 degrees south, so as we learned during Rodney’s presentation, inside the area governed by the Antarctic Treaty. We’ve covered 513km since leaving Macquarie Island and have 584km to sail until we reach Cape Adare.