BIOPROSPECTION EN ANTARCTIQUE : JURIDICTION DES ÉTATS ET LIBRE DISPOSITION DES RÉSULTATS
Bioprospection is a scientific research activity featuring an economic component. For several years, it has been conducted in the Antarctic. The Antarctic’s management operates within the framework of the Antarctic Treaty System. Under this System, territorial sovereignty is not acknowledged. Thus,...
| Published in: | Revue québécoise de droit international |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Text |
| Language: | French |
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Société québécoise de droit international
2010
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.7202/1068402ar http://id.erudit.org/iderudit/1068402ar |
| Summary: | Bioprospection is a scientific research activity featuring an economic component. For several years, it has been conducted in the Antarctic. The Antarctic’s management operates within the framework of the Antarctic Treaty System. Under this System, territorial sovereignty is not acknowledged. Thus, the parties involved in the Antarctic Treaty must abide by the requirements for the free-disposal of scientific results. The fact that the Antarctic Treaty System does not regulate bioprospection raises many questions. Which jurisdiction will allow bioprospectors access to the Antarctic territory? Does the potentially commercial aspect of bioprospection represent a risk for the requirements concerning the free-disposal of scientific results? Other international treaties such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea do not provide any solution. This theme has been subject to debate for some years at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. Up to now, no consensus has emerged. Several solutions come to mind, for example its endorsement by an already existing treaty or the creation of a new convention. La bioprospection est une activité de recherche scientifique possédant une composante économique. Elle s’effectue en Antarctique depuis quelques années. La gestion de l’Antarctique se fait dans la cadre du système du Traité sur l’Antarctique. Sous ce système, il n’existe pas de souveraineté territoriale reconnue. Aussi, les Parties au Traité sur l’Antarctique doivent respecter des obligations de libre disposition des résultats. Le système du Traité sur l’Antarctique ne réglementant pas la bioprospection, dont plusieurs questions se soulèvent. Quelle juridiction autorisera l’accès aux bioprospecteurs sur le territoire antarctique ? Le caractère potentiellement commercial de la bioprospection pose-t-il un risque à l’obligation de libre disposition des résultats scientifiques ? D’autres traités internationaux, tels que la Convention sur la diversité biologique et la ... |
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