Item 17: Biological Prospecting in Antarctica

320. 
     Belgium introduced WP 48, Biological prospecting in Antarctica – the need for improved information, jointly prepared with the Netherlands and Sweden, which proposed a method of improving the informational basis relating to commercial uses of Antarctic genetic and living resources. The proposal included further development of databases and geographically referenced data, and suggested that the exchange of information on this topic between Parties be improved and made more easily accessible through the EIES.
     
321. 
     Belgium also presented IP 22, An Update on Status and Trends in Biological Prospecting in Antarctica and Recent Policy Developments at the International Level, jointly prepared with the Netherlands, which stated that activity in patenting of uses and applications based on Antarctic genetic and living resources had grown. Belgium noted that international discussions had made progress in analysing the issues related to access to genetic resources in the context of Article 10 of the Nagoya Protocol and in the United Nations Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group to study issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. The paper recommended that biological prospecting be included in the Strategic Work Plan.
     
322. 
     Some Parties welcomed the analysis, but suggested that, because Parties did not share a common understanding of the definition or implications of biological prospecting, the issue should not be prioritised immediately.
     
323. 
     Several Parties highlighted the importance of the discussions held in other fora with regard to bioprospecting and benefit sharing. These Parties reinforced the need to exchange information with other fora so as to learn from these other processes. [NZ alt: The Meeting could not reach consensus on] [Some Parties, however, did not support] the proposal for the ATCM to encourage Consultative Parties to promote the exchange of views at the national level to inform the ongoing discussions related to access to genetic resources in other international fora.
     
324. 
     Some Parties underlined the importance of reaffirming the role of the ATCM in addressing the issue as it related to the Antarctic, by retaining the item as a strategic priority for the ATCM.
     
325. 
     The Meeting considered that the ATCM had already decided that it was the competent body to discuss the matter, and therefore it should attest to other fora that it was active on the subject. The Meeting adopted Resolution H (2013), Biological Prospecting in Antarctica.
     
326. 
     Argentina presented IP 18, Reporte de las recientes actividades de bioprospección desarrolladas por Argentina durante el período 2011-2012, which gave its support to increased sharing of information on scientific activities.
     
327. 
     ASOC presented IP 64, Biological prospecting and the Antarctic environment, which examined biological prospecting from the perspective of its environmental impacts. ASOC was concerned that bioprospecting was currently unregulated, and recommended that Parties should declare any intent to conduct biological prospecting in their submissions to the EIES, identify its potential environmental impacts in EIAs, and monitor the environmental effects of these activities. In addition, ASOC recommended that a suitable mechanism be established to identify harvesting of marine living resources in the Southern Ocean related to biological prospecting.
     

328. 
     The Meeting welcomed the kind invitation of the Government of Brazil to host ATCM XXXVII in Brasilia from [dates], 2014.
     
329. 
     For future planning, the Meeting took note that the following likely timetable of upcoming ATCMs:
     

• 
  2015 [Bulgaria]
  
• 
  2016 [Chile]
  

330. 
     Brazil presented a proposed schedule for the 36th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, Brazil, 2014, […]
     
331. 
     The Meeting [welcomed the proposed schedule for ATCM XXXVII].
     

332. 
     In accordance with established practice, the Meeting agreed that the following organisations having scientific or technical interest in Antarctica should be invited to send experts to attend ATCM XXXVII: [the ACAP Secretariat, ASOC, IAATO, IHO, IMO, IOC, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), IUCN, UNEP, WMO and WTO].
     

333. 
     [The Meeting approved the Preliminary Agenda for ATCM XXXVII.]
     

334. 
     [Pursuant to Rule 11, the Meeting decided as a preliminary matter to propose the same Working Groups at ATCM XXXVII as at this Meeting.]
     

335. 
     [Taking into account the valuable series of lectures given by SCAR at a number of ATCMs, the Meeting decided to invite SCAR to give another lecture on scientific issues relevant to ATCM XXXVII.]
     

336. 
     [There was no other business.]
     

337. 
     [The Meeting adopted the Final Report of the 36th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting.]
     
338. 
     The Chair of the Meeting, Ambassador Mark Otte, made closing remarks.
     

2. Election of Officers and Creation of Working Groups

3. Adoption of the Agenda and Allocation of Items

4. Operation of the Antarctic Treaty System: Reports by Parties, Observers and Experts

5. Operation of the Antarctic Treaty System: General Matters

6. Operation of the Antarctic Treaty System: Matters related to the Secretariat

7. Review of the Multi-Year Strategic Work Plan

8. Report of the Committee for Environmental Protection

9. Liability: Implementation of Decision 4 (2010)

10. Safety and Operations in Antarctica

11. Tourism and Non-Governmental Activities in the Antarctic Treaty Area

12. Inspections under the Antarctic Treaty and the Environment Protocol

13. Science Issues, Scientific Cooperation and Facilitation

14. Implications of Climate Change for Management of the Antarctic Treaty Area

15. Education Issues

16. Exchange of Information

17. Biological Prospecting in Antarctica

18. Preparation of the XXXVIII Meeting

19. Any Other Business

20. Adoption of the Final Report