Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals
The Contracting Parties,
Recalling the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic
Fauna and Flora, adopted under the Antarctic Treaty signed at
Washington on 1 December 1959;(1)
Recognizing the general concern about the vulnerability of
Antarctic seals to commercial exploitation and the consequent need for
effective conservation measures;
Recognizing that the stocks of Antarctic seals are an important
living resource in the marine environment which requires an
international agreement for its effective conservation;
Recognizing that this resource should not be depleted by
over-exploitation, and hence that any harvesting should be regulated
so as not to exceed the levels of the optimum sustainable yield;
Recognizing that in order to improve scientific knowledge and
so place exploitation on a rational basis, every effort should be made
both to encourage biological and other research on Antarctic seal
populations and to gain information from such research and from the
statistics of future sealing operations, so that further suitable
regulations may be formulated;
Noting that the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research of
the International Council of Scientific Unions (SCAR) is willing to
carry out the tasks requested of it in this Convention;
Desiring to promote and achieve the objectives of protection,
scientific study and rational use of Antarctic seals, and to maintain
a satisfactory balance within the ecological system,
Have agreed as follows:
1. This Convention applies to the seas south of 60deg. South
Latitude, in respect of which the Contracting Parties affirm the
provisions of Article IV of the Antarctic Treaty.
2. This Convention may be applicable to any or all of the following
species:
Southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina,
Leopard seal Hydrurga leptonyx,
Weddell seal Leptonychotes weddelli,
Crabeater seal Lobodon carcinophagus,
Ross seal Ommatophoca rossi,
Southern fur seals Arctocephalus sp.
3. The Annex to this Convention forms and integral part thereof.
1. The Contracting Parties agree that the species of seals enumerated
in Article 1 shall not be killed or captured within the Convention
area by their nationals or vessels under their respective flags except
in accordance with the provisions of this Convention.
2. Each Contracting Party shall adopt for its nationals and for
vessels under its flag such laws, regulations and other measures,
including a permit system as appropriate, as may be necessary to
implement this Convention.
1. This Convention includes an Annex specifying measures which the
Contracting Parties hereby adopt. Contracting Parties may from time to
time in the future adopt other measures with respect to the
conservation, scientific study and rational and humane use of seal
resources, prescribing inter alia:
a. permissible catch;
b. protected and unprotected species;
c. open and closed seasons;
d. open and closed areas, including the designation of reserves;
e. the designation of special areas where there shall be no
disturbance of seals;
f. limits relating to sex, size, or age for each species;
g. restrictions relating to time of day and duration, limitations
of effort and methods of sealing;
h. types and specifications of gear and apparatus and appliances
which may be used;
i. catch returns and other statistical and biological records;
j. procedures for facilitating the review and assessment of
scientific information;
k. other regulatory measures including an effective system of
inspection.
2. The measures adopted under paragraph (1) of this Article shall be
based upon the best scientific and technical evidence available.
3. The Annex may from time to time be amended in accordance with the
procedures provided for in Article 9.
1. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Convention, and Contracting
Party may issue permits to kill or capture seals in limited quantities
and in conformity with the objectives and principles of this
Convention for the following purposes:
a. to provide indispensable food for men or dogs;
b. to provide for scientific research; or
c. to provide specimens for museums, educational or cultural
institutions.
2. Each Contracting Party shall, as soon as possible, inform the
other Contracting Parties and SCAR of the purpose and content of all
permits issued under paragraph (1) of this Article and subsequently of
the numbers of seals killed or captured under these permits.
1. Each Contracting Party shall provide to the other Contracting
Parties and to SCAR the information specified in the Annex within the
period indicated therein.
2. Each Contracting Party shall also provide to the other Contracting
Parties and to SCAR before 31 October each year information on any
steps it has taken in accordance with Article 2 of this Convention
during the preceding period 1 July to 30 June.
3. Contracting Parties which have no information to report under the
two preceding paragraphs shall indicate this formally before 31
October each year.
4. SCAR is invited:
a. to assess information received pursuant to this Article;
encourage exchange of scientific data and information among the
Contracting Parties; recommend programmes for scientific research;
recommend statistical and biological data to be collected by sealing
expeditions within the Convention area; and suggest amendments to the
Annex; and
b. to report on the basis of the statistical, biological and
other evidence available when the harvest of any species of seal in
the Convention area is having a significantly harmful effect on the
total stocks of such species or on the ecological system in any
particular locality.
5. SCAR is invited to notify the Depositary which shall report to the
Contracting Parties when SCAR estimates in any sealing season that the
permissible catch limits for any species are likely to be exceeded
and, in that case, to provide an estimate of the date upon which the
permissible catch limits will be reached. Each Contracting Party shall
then take appropriate measures to prevent its nationals and vessels
under its flag from killing or capturing seals of that species after
the estimated date until the Contracting Parties decide otherwise.
6. SCAR may if necessary seek the technical assistance of the Food
and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in making its
assessments.
7. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 1 the
Contracting Parties shall, in accordance with their internal law,
report to each other and to SCAR, for consideration, statistics
relating to the Antarctic seals listed in paragraph (2) of Article 1
which have been killed or captured by their nationals and vessels
under their respective flags in the area of floating sea ice north of
60deg. South Latitude.
1. At any time after commercial has begun a Contracting Party may
propose through the Depositary that a meeting of Contracting Parties
be convened with a view to:
a. establishing by a two-thirds majority of the Contracting
Parties, including the concurring votes of all States signatory to
this Convention present at the meeting, an effective system of
control, including inspection, over the implementation of the
provisions of this Convention;
b. establishing a commission to perform such functions under this
Convention as the Contracting Parties may deem necessary; or
c. considering other proposals, including:
i. the provision of independent scientific advice;
ii. the establishment, by a two-thirds majority, of a scientific
advisory committee which may be assigned some or all of the functions
requested of SCAR under this Convention, if commercial sealing reaches
significant proportions;
iii. the carrying out of scientific programmes with the
participation of the Contracting Parties; and
iv. the provision of further regulatory measures, including
moratoria.
2. If one-third of the Contracting Parties indicate agreement the
Depositary shall convene such a meeting, as soon as possible.
3. A meeting shall be held at the request of any Contracting Party,
if SCAR reports that the harvest of any species of Antarctic seal in
the area to which this Convention applies is having a significantly
harmful effect on the total stocks or the ecological system in any
particular locality.
The Contracting Parties shall meet within five years after the entry
into force of this Convention and at least every five years thereafter
to review the operation of the Convention.
1. This Convention may be amended at any time. The text of any
amendment proposed by a Contracting Party shall be submitted to the
Depositary, which shall transmit it to all the Contracting Parties.
2. If one-third of the Contracting Parties request a meeting to
discuss the proposed amendment the Depositary shall call such a
meeting.
3. An amendment shall enter into force when the Depositary has
received instruments of ratification or acceptance thereof from all
the Contracting Parties.
1. Any Contracting Party may propose amendments to the Annex to this
Convention. The text of any such proposed amendment shall be submitted
to the Depositary which shall transmit it to all Contracting Parties.
2. Each such proposed amendment shall become effective for all
Contracting Parties six months after the date appearing on the
notification from the Depositary to the
Contracting Parties, if within 120 days of the notification date, no
objection has been received and two-thirds of the Contracting Parties
have notified the Depositary in writing of their approval.
3. If an objection is received from any Contracting Party within 120
days of the notification date, the matter shall be considered by the
Contracting Parties at their next meeting. If unanimity on the matter
is not reached at the meeting, the Contracting Parties shall notify
the Depositary within 120 days from the date of closure of the meeting
of their approval or rejection of the original amendment or of any new
amendment proposed by the meeting. If, by the end of this period,
two-thirds of the Contracting Parties have approved such amendment, it
shall become effective six months from the date of the closure of the
meeting for those Contracting Parties which have by then notified
their approval.
4. Any Contracting Party which has objected to a proposed amendment
may at any time withdraw that objection, and the proposed amendment
shall become effective with respect to such Party immediately if the
amendment is already in effect, or at such time as it becomes
effective under the terms of this Article.
5. The Depositary shall notify each Contracting Party immediately
upon receipt of each approval or objection, of each withdrawal of
objection, and of the entry into force of any amendment.
6. Any State which becomes a Party to this Convention after an
amendment to the Annex has entered into force shall be bound by the
Annex as so amended. Any State which becomes a Party to this
Convention during the period when a proposed amendment is pending may
approve or object to such an amendment within the time limits
applicable to other Contracting Parties.
This Convention shall be open for signature at London from 1 June to
31 December 1972 by States participating in the Conference on the
Conservation of Antarctic Seals held at London from 3 to 11 February
1972.
This Convention is subject to ratification or acceptance. Instruments
of ratification or acceptance shall be deposited with the Government
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, hereby
designated as the Depositary.
This Convention shall be open for accession by any State which may be
invited to accede to this Convention with the consent of the
Contracting Parties.
1. This Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day
following the date of deposit of the seventh instrument of
ratification or acceptance.
2. Thereafter this Convention shall enter into force for each
ratifying, accepting or acceding State on the thirtieth day after
deposit by such State of its instrument of ratification, acceptance or
accession.
Any Contracting Party may withdraw from this Convention on 30 June of
any year by giving notice on or before 1 January of the same year to
the Depositary, which upon receipt of such a notice shall at once
communicate it to the other Contracting Parties. Any other Contracting
Party may, in like manner, within one month of the receipt of a copy
of such a notice from the Depositary, give notice of withdrawal, so
that the Convention shall cease to be in force on 30 June of the same
year with respect to the Contracting Party giving such notice.
The Depositary shall notify all signatory and acceding States of the
following:
a. signatures of this Convention, the deposit of instruments of
ratification, acceptance or accession and notices of withdrawal:
b. the date of entry into force of this Convention and of any
amendments to it or its Annex.
1. This Convention, done the English, French, Russian and Spanish
languages, each version being equally authentic, shall be deposited in
the archives of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland, which shall transmit duly certified copies
thereof to all signatory and acceding States.
2. This Convention shall be registered by the Depositary pursuant to
Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations.
In witness whereof, the undersigned, duly authorized, have
signed this Convention.
Done at London, this 1st day of June 1972.
The Contracting Parties shall in any one year, which shall run from 1
July to 30 June inclusive, restrict the total number of seals of each
species killed or captured to the numbers specified below. These
numbers are subject to review in the light of scientific assessments:
a. in the case of Crabeater seals Lobodon carcinophagus,
175,000;
b. in the case of Leopard seals Hydrurga leptonyx, 12,000;
c. in the case of Weddell seals Leptonychotes weddelli,
5,000.
a. It is forbidden to kill or capture Ross seals Ommatophoca
rossi, Southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina, or fur
seals of the genus Arctocephalus.
b. In order to protect the adult breeding stock during the period
when it is most concentrated and vulnerable, it is forbidden to kill
or capture any Weddell seal Leptonychotes weddelli one year old
or older between 1 September and 31 January inclusive.
The period between 1 March and 31 August inclusive is a Closed Season,
during which the killing or capturing of seals is forbidden. The
period 1 September to the last day in February constitutes a Sealing
Season.
Each of the sealing zones listed in this paragraph shall be closed in
numerical sequence to all sealing operations for the seal species
listed in paragraph 1 of this Annex for the period 1 September to the
last day of February inclusive. Such closures shall begin with the
same zone as is closed under paragraph 2 of Annex B to Annex 1 of the
Report of the Fifth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting at the
moment the Convention enters into force. Upon the expiration of each
closed period, the affected zone shall reopen:
Zone 1 - between 60deg. and 120deg. West Longitude
Zone 2 - between 0deg. and 60deg. West Longitude, together with that
part of the Weddell Sea lying westward of 60deg. West Longitude
Zone 3 - between 0deg. and 70deg. East Longitude
Zone 4 - between 70deg. and 130deg. East Longitude
Zone 5 - between 130deg. East Longitude and 170deg. West Longitude
Zone 6 - between 120deg. and 170deg. West Longitude.
It is forbidden to kill or capture seals in the following reserves,
which are seal breeding areas or the site of long-term scientific
research:
a. The area around the South Orkney Islands between 60deg.20' and
60deg.56' South Latitude and 44deg.05' and 46deg.25' West Longitude.
b. The area of the southwestern Ross Sea south of 76deg. South
Latitude and west of 170deg. East Longitude.
c. The area of Edisto Inlet south and west of a line drawn
between Cape Hallett at 72deg.19' South Latitude, 170deg.18' East
Longitude, and Helm Point, at 72deg.11' South Latitude, 170deg.00'
East Longitude.
a. Contracting Parties shall provide before 31 October each year
to other Contracting Parties and to SCAR a summary of statistical
information on all seals killed or captured by their nationals and
vessels under their respective flags in the Convention area, in
respect of the preceding period 1 July to 30 June. This information
shall include by zones and months:
i. The gross and nett tonnage, brake horse-power, number of crew,
and number of days' operation of vessels under the flag of the
Contracting Party;
ii. The number of adult individuals and pups of each species
taken.
When specially requested, this information shall be provided in
respect of each ship, together with its daily position at noon each
operating day and the catch on that day.
b. When an industry has started, reports of the number of seals
of each species killed or captured in each zone shall be made to SCAR
in the form and at the intervals (not shorter than one week) requested
by that body.
c. Contracting Parties shall provide to SCAR biological
information, in particular:
i. Sex
ii. Reproductive condition
iii. Age
SCAR may request additional information or material with the approval
of the Contracting Parties.
d. Contracting Parties shall provide to other Contracting Parties
and to SCAR at least 30 days in advance of departure from their home
ports, information on proposed sealing expeditions.
a. SCAR is invited to report on methods of sealing and to make
recommendations with a view to ensuring that the killing or capturing
of seals is quick, painless and efficient. Contracting Parties, as
appropriate, shall adopt rules for their nationals and vessels under
their respective flags engaged in the killing and capturing of seals,
giving due consideration to the views of SCAR.
b. In the light of the available scientific and technical data,
Contracting Parties agree to take appropriate steps to ensure that
their nationals and vessels under their respective flags refrain from
killing or capturing seals in the water, except in limited quantities
to provide for scientific research in conformity with the objectives
and principles of this Convention. Such research shall include studies
as to the effectiveness of methods of sealing from the viewpoint of
the management and humane and rational utilization of the Antarctic
seal resources for conservation purposes. The undertaking and the
results of any such scientific programme shall be communicated to SCAR
and the Depositary which shall transmit them to the Contracting
Parties.