The Antarctic: Legal Issues
On Saturday 10 June 2006, the British Institute of International and Comparative Law and the Scottish Centre for International Law hosted a one-day Conference on Legal Issues arising from the Antarctic Treaty Regime, to coincide with the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Party Meetings taking place in Scotland over the following fortnight.
The Conference at the University of Edinburgh drew speakers and guests from all over the world, including Russia, Chile, Argentina, China, Japan, Croatia, Ecuador, Australia, New Zealand and the United States, and was an excellent opportunity for discussion and exploration of the topics likely to become of significance for the Regime, now that the Liability Annex, which has occupied the Agenda of many past Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings (ATCMs), has been successfully negotiated.
A Keynote Address was given by Dr Marie Jacobsson of the Swedish Foreign Ministry, and a welcome by Professor Alan Boyle of Edinburgh University and Professor Gillian Triggs, Director of the Institute. Papers on subjects such as marine scientific research, Antarctic tourism, Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing and vessel-sourced pollution were given by: Professor Christopher Joyner, Ivana Zovko, Karen Scott, Professor Stuart Kaye, Dr Thomas Bauer, Professor Don Rothwell, Patrizia Vigni and Jan Huber. A closing address was given by Dr Jorge Berguño.
The Conference was followed by a drinks reception during which delegates were entertained by the Bagpipes, and then a traditional Scottish Dinner in the magnificent Playfair Library.
It is anticipated that a Collection of Papers from the Conference will be gathered into a publication provisionally entitled: 'Future Challenges for the Antarctic Treaty Regime', to be edited by Professor Gillian Triggs and Anna Riddell and published by the Institute in early Autumn.
