Greenpeace, the famous environment conservation company, has a different view about fishing in Antarctica, than do fisherman. Fishermen argue that it brings them family income and their families are dependable on fishing and no-one has a right to stop them making a living. However Greenpeace argues that fisherman can get by doing something different than putting marine life off the coasts of Antarctica into danger. They insist that fishing be banned or catches be strictly controlled, and that Antarctica is overly fragile. Fisherman say that they will control their catches if everyone else does – this is not the case thus over-fishing is a continuing problem in Antarctica and surrounding areas. As a consequence to animal catchers killing unnecessary numbers of seals, in 1972 Greenpeace managed to launch the ‘Convention of the conservation of Antarctic seals’, which protects seals in the Antarctic area (Seals are now an endangered species), however over-fishing persists.
The World Wide Fund (WWF) has an ongoing conflict with various mining and oil companies. Mining companies argue that valuable minerals are available in Antarctica and even more can be explored. Signs of oil off the coast of Antarctica have been found during drillings in the 1970’s - the oil companies’ main argument is that the oil available in stock today will not last forever, and thus new oil reserves are needed. Oil is an essential fuel for humanity and thus they argue they should be allowed to drill in Antarctica. WWF strictly opposes these opinions and argues further, stating that accidents involving oil tankers running aground pollute the environment. Oil is deadly to marine life, killing seals and birds. Other forms of pollution, such as waste dumping due to mineral exploitation and drilling, can cause problems for whales, penguins, krill, and fish.
Scientific researchers are the only permanent residents of Antarctica, but they too are considered tourists of the area. Environmentalists argue that prolonged residence of scientific researchers in Antarctica cause pollution – open burning, burning of fossil fuels, and littering all contribute to this over the years of residence. Scientists say their stay and research is very important for modern science – climate, geology, biology, ozone studies and studies of ice can help humanity in various ways. Studying climate can help gain insight into the worlds changing weather, and pollution studies are providing information on the effects of human activities on climate. These aspects of research will benefit humanity in the future nevertheless environmentalists persist on the idea the permanent residency in the are should be monitored and limits should be assigned to amounts of people living in certain areas.
Even politics can be affected by Antarctic tourism. Politicians in LEDCs argue that MEDCs should not be able to exploit the area the way they do. Only developed countries have the money and power to send their scientists and oil companies to research, drill, and mine. On the other hand LEDCs do not have the wealth to be able to do this thus the majority of scientists and oil companies in Antarctica are MEDC-based. LEDCs say that if this area of true wilderness is to be ravaged, than the whole world should benefit from it, not merely the nations of wealth and power. The developed world has the upper hand in this debate and they continue sending their scientists and oil companies to Antarctica, leaving LEDCs empty handed.
Management of these conflicts is something that interest groups are continually trying to achieve – but it stays a struggle. Certain treaties are one solution to ongoing debates – the ‘Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty in Madrid (1991)’ says that resource exploitation and oil drilling is banned in Antarctica for fifty years. It’s reasoning is a compromise for oil and mining companies and environmentalists – exploitation will only be allowed when certain resources actually do start running out everywhere else in the world. Until this is not the case, i.e., an assumed time of 50 years, Antarctica is not to be exploited for resources or oil.
For the fisherman, catches should be strictly controlled and monitored – fish catches should only be allowed at certain times, and only a given amount of per catch. This monitoring will enable fisherman to make a living and also to conserve the marine life around Antarctica.
Generally, the amount of tourist inflow into Antarctica should be monitored, so this way there will not be an overly large population of permanent residents (scientists) in Antarctica. This way pollution due to the scientists residence for extended periods of time can be minimized.
