Antarctic landmark’

Press, 9 March 1982, Page 6

Antarctic landmark’

Parliamntary reporter . New Zealand has become an official party to the international Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. At a special ceremony in Canberra yesterday, the formal instrument signifying New Zealand's ratification of the convention was conveyed to the Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Street). This action opened the way for the convention to become effective, as a result of stipulation that it would do so 30 days after the eighth country became a party to it. The convention has. been hailed as a landmark.) in i international environmental

law, in that 'it takes a true ecological approach. It treats Antarctic waters as a single ecosystem covering the relationship of all the marine creatures of the area — mammals, fish, birds, and other organisms.: - . ; The seven countries which have preceded New Zealand in ratifying the convention are Australia, Chile, Japan, South Africa/ the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The convention was adopted at’a-conference in Canberra in May, 1980, and signed by New Zealand and the 14 othef countries which participated later that year. . To give effect ;to the obliga-.

tions assumed by New Zealand on becoming a party to the treaty, the Government enacted the Antarctic Marine Living Resources Act late last year. The Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Cooper) said yesterday that it was particularly gratifying that New Zealand’s ratification directly enabled the convention to become effective.* “Bridging the convention into force is the'culmination of the concerted efforts .of the Antarctic. Treaty countries .to establish a sound conservation system to protect the living resources of Antarctica and to prevent over-fishing,” he., said.