Moreover, the Ross Dependency and Ross Sea region is an area in respect of which the Antarctic Treaty System recognises New Zealand s special stewardship responsibilities. As a Party to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, New Zealand has committed itself to the comprehensive protection of Antarctica and its dependent and associated ecosystems. This Environmental Strategy translates the broad commitment into specific New Zealand actions for the Ross Sea region, and aims to publicise our programme of environmental stewardship work for the region. The number of people visiting Antarctica and the Ross Sea region is likely to increase. There is already clear growth in summer traffic to Antarctica.
Indications are that pressure from tourist activity is also likely to intensify.
Since 1997 exploratory fishing has been conducted in the Ross Sea region. New Zealand is committed to managing these activities in the Ross Sea region in a way which is consistent with our international obligations and with our national policy objectives. These aim for the comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment and for all activity carried on in the area to conform to this underlying principle. Fundamental to the Environmental Strategy s aims is a high quality understanding and knowledge about the regions ecosystems, and human interactions with it. We believe the Science Strategy strongly encourages this understanding.