Biosecurity on thin ice in Antarctica

• Main Authors: Hulme, P. E., Pyšek, P. (Petr), Winter, M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: biological invasions; Antarctica; management; Antarc*; Antarctic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0212520

In Antarctica, it is scientific personnel rather than tourists who pose the highest risk of introducing alien species on their clothes and equipment. The difficulty in eradicating established invasive alien species in these pristine environments demands a greater emphasis on risk prevention rather than minimization to be urgently adopted in existing management plans. The establishment of an International Antarctic Biosecurity Agency, funded through subscriptions from signatories to the Antarctic Treaty and a visitor levy, would be an essential first step to deliver on the full aspirations of the Madrid Protocol.