Population aspects of Weddell Seal harvesting at McMurdo Sound, Antarctica

• Published in: Polar Record
• Main Author: Stirling, Ian
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1971
• Subjects: General Earth and Planetary Sciences; Ecology; Geography, Planning and Development; Antarctic; The Antarctic; McMurdo Sound; Weddell; Antarc*; Antarctica; Leptonychotes weddelli; Polar Record; Weddell Seal; Weddell Seals
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0032247400061763; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0032247400061763

The preservation and conservation of living resources was one of the original stated objectives of the Antarctic Treaty, 1959. The harvesting of animals near bases for food, especially Weddell Seals Leptonychotes weddelli received particular attention at the Fourth Meeting of SCAR, 1960 (Polar Record ,1961) and several regulations were suggested including: a permit required before killing, records to be kept of animals killed, and use of alternative food where possible. Annex D, Section (b)i states “… Without detailed biological research it is impossible to assess the permissible annual crop which the various [Weddell] seal colonies would stand, but it is certain that this figure is being seriously exceeded in many areas.”