Strategies
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undertaking research to ensure that management of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean is based on sound scientific principles and the best available scientific knowledge—Australia’s research contributes to understanding environmental systems and the effects of global climate change
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developing internationally accepted environmental protection measures through the Antarctic Treaty system and pursuing other nations’ agreement to these measures
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developing, implementing and managing practical ways to minimise the effects of our own activities
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restoring past work sites
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helping combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the Southern Ocean.
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The department, through the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), participates and leads discussion in key forums including: the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting; the Committee for Environmental Protection; the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, and the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels.
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The minister approved the Australian Antarctic Science Strategic Plan 2011–12 to 2020–21 in 2010. It will guide the Australian Antarctic Science Program over the next 10 years to focus efforts within four thematic areas:
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climate processes and change
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terrestrial and nearshore ecosystems: environmental change and conservation
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Southern Ocean ecosystems: environmental change and conservation
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frontier science.
It also establishes the framework for Australian Antarctic research to which universities, research institutions, the AAD and other national and international government bodies contribute. Implementation plans were developed—one for each stream of research listed within the strategic plan—following workshops held during September and October with researchers and policy makers.
Expeditioners in rubber boat. (Chris Wilson, Australian Antarctic Division)
Results
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The Australian Antarctic science program undertook a total of 107 science projects from 30 institutions across Australia. The projects involved collaboration with a further 244 institutions from 27 countries.
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The Australian Antarctic science program supported 112 higher degree students, including 85 PhD students.
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During the 2010 calendar year 257 publications were produced within the Australian Antarctic science program. 130 were published in peer-reviewed international literature, and 13 contributed to supporting Australia’s position in key policy forums such as the Antarctic Treaty, Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels and the International Whaling Commission.
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Four permanent stations were operated, maintained and resupplied during the 2010–11 season, in line with the budget target. A total of 201 shipping days supported Australia’s Antarctic program, exceeding the budget target of 180 days. The shipping schedule was extended for several reasons including an emergency response requiring a diversion, equipment failure on the vessel impeding unloading, and heavy ice conditions necessitating long fly-off operations. Approximately 12 200 cubic metres of cargo was transported.
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In total 771 passenger movements took place in the 2010–11 season, 591 by ship and 180 by air.
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The AAD supported the French Antarctic program by carrying their personnel on the Australian Antarctic Airlink, and by providing assistance to the French program following a fatal helicopter crash early in the season. A chartered aircraft was made available to the Italian Antarctic program for separate charter. The Chinese Antarctic program also sought help in evacuating and treating an ill expeditioner from Kunlun Station.
Case study 1: Thala Valley Waste Removal Project
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Removing waste is a critical part of maintaining the integrity of the Antarctic environment.
During the 2010–11 season the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) completed a long-term clean-up program, removing contaminated waste from a disused tip site near Casey Station. This program began over 15 years ago, with an initial assessment of the site and consideration of the most effective remediation technologies.
Remediation then began in November 2003, and soon after the AAD removed 1 000 square metres of the contaminated waste, burying it in a secure site in Tasmania.
At the same time, AAD set up a monitoring program to evaluate the remediation program’s effectiveness. This involved a series of ecological field experiments to provide information at different times, and focused on detecting the impacts of the contamination in the marine benthic environment (the sea bottom) in Brown Bay. Using excavators and bulldozers, waste and contaminated soil was extracted from frozen ground and placed it into leak-proof containers for further assessment.
The final 1 000 tonnes of waste was removed in 168 purpose-built waste containers. The Chinese Antarctic vessel Xue Long assisted to get the waste back to Australia.
Burial of the waste was completed in Western Australia in April 2011.
The project has now moved to the final site validation stage. Chemical and biological monitoring over the coming years will continue to determine to what degree the clean-up has restored the natural biological and environmental conditions and over what time scale.
While the success of the remediation is yet to be fully evaluated, from both operational and ecological perspectives, it demonstrates Australia’s current approach to waste management in Antarctica—that the environmental risks posed by contaminated sites is unacceptable, and resolving the present environmental issues resulting from past practices is important.
To successfully complete this project new techniques to remediate the contaminated soils and monitor the environmental impact needed to be developed. It is an example of how to go about remediation activity—assessing whether removal of waste will have a greater environmental impact than leaving it in-situ. It also shows the most effective methods to assess the short, medium and long-term environmental effects of a clean-up operation.
Experiences and the lessons learned have been communicated through international forums, as well as publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals. The robust methodology that Australia has developed through careful planning and experience could be used in the remediation of other similar sites in Antarctica.
The program was undertaken to meet Australia’s obligations under Annex III to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, which requires the clean-up of past and present waste disposal sites.
Case study 2: Southern Ocean Marine Research
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Tracking what is happening in the ocean is the key to understanding climate change—and few places are more sensitive to change than the fragile environment of the Southern Ocean.
A major research expedition of nearly 40 Australian and international scientists set off on the Aurora Australis in January 2011 to continue measurements in the region, first begun in 1991.
As part of the Australian Antarctic Science program, the team were targeting the 140°E longitude (called the SR3 transect, Fig. 1).
Fig 1. SR3 transect showing the location of all sampling stations, together with stations sampled in the Mertz region during the 2010–11 marine science voyage (Dr Steve Rintoul, CSIRO/ACECRC).
Because this transect has been revisited several times over the past two decades, the measurements form one of the most complete records of change in the Southern Ocean.
The variations in temperature, salinity, oxygen and carbon dioxide concentration can help scientists to track how rapidly climate is changing.
Change in the region could now be more dramatic because in February 2010 the Mertz Glacier tongue, a chunk of ice 78 km by 39 km in size, located near the end of the SR3 transect, broke free after it was hit by a massive 97 km long iceberg (Figs. 2 and 3).
Fig 2. Iceberg B9B approaches the Mertz Glacier tongue, 7 Jan 2010.
Fig 3. The glacier tongue breaks free, 20 February 2010.
This region is renowned as one of the few areas in the ocean where very dense, cold, salty water forms at the surface and then sinks four or five kilometres to the sea floor.
It is a key part of the global network of ocean currents known as the overturning, or thermohaline, circulation.
Overturning circulation is very important in the world’s oceans because it largely determines how much heat and carbon the ocean can store, and thereby influences the rate of climate change.
After measuring changes in the formation of dense water in response to the loss of the Mertz Glacier tongue, the research team is beginning to understand more about the sensitivity of this part of the ocean to change. This information will be used to test and improve climate models.
The loss of the glacier tongue also allowed researchers to reach parts of the continental shelf that had previously been inaccessible. As they undertook oceanographic measurements, the team used a camera system to observe the benthic (sea floor) communities at 75 sites over the Antarctic continental shelf and slope.
According to AAD scientist, Dr Martin Riddle, the area around the glacier is one of the ‘biological hotspots’ of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean ecosystem.
The photos revealed a variety of benthic habitats and a great diversity of organisms (Fig. 4).
Fig 4. Sea floor images near the Mertz Glacier taken by the underwater camera. (Australian Antarctic Division)
The expedition has been hailed as highly productive and a great success, with oceanographic measurements taken at 149 sites and a wide range of physical, chemical and biological analyses completed. A media team from the ABC led by Karen Barlow accompanied the project, providing excellent coverage of the entire research voyage.
Highlights
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Antarctic Treaty measures were implemented, including proclaiming five new Antarctic Specially Protected Areas, three Antarctic Specially Managed Areas and three Historic Sites and Monuments, and declaring one Specially Protected Species.
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On the policy front, Australia participated in the meetings of all elements of the Antarctic Treaty system and made several key contributions including playing a lead role in developing a representative system of marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean.
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Progress was made at the 29th meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) on a number of Australia’s key priorities, including marine protected areas, improvements to observer coverage on krill vessels, sustainable management of fisheries in the Indian Ocean sector of the CCAMLR Area, and standards for an accreditation scheme for observers.
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In showing leadership in the conservation of endangered albatrosses and petrels, Australia:
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made a new National Recovery Plan for Albatrosses and Giant Petrels
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reviewed the Threat Abatement Plan to reduce seabird bycatch in longline fisheries
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continued substantial research on ways to improve mitigation measures in pelagic longline fisheries, and led an intercessional contact group
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provided other substantial support for the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels.
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The AAD organised, supported and led official Antarctic Treaty inspections of stations and facilities of other nations in Antarctica, completing inspections of Russia’s Leningradskaya and Vostok Stations, and Germany’s Gondwana Station.
Camping in Antarctica. (Chris Wilson, Australian Antarctic Division)
Outcome 3, program 3.1
Deliverables
Deliverables
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PBS Target
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Results
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The deliverables for this program are outlined below, with further specific targets quantified in the below table.
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Delivering Australian Antarctic science for the period 2004–05 to 2010–11 that is guided by a science strategy. The effectiveness of this strategy was reviewed in 2009–10 and a new 10-year Australian Antarctic Science Strategic Plan was announced in 2011.
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The Australian Antarctic science program undertook a total of 107 science projects from 30 institutions across Australia. The projects involved collaboration with a further 244 institutions from 27 countries.
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The department has met this KPI since 2004.
New Science Strategic Plan 2011–12 to 2020–21 approved by the Minister for Environment Protection in 2010. It will guide the Australian Antarctic science program over the next 10 years to focus efforts within four thematic areas:
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climate processes and change
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terrestrial and nearshore ecosystems: environmental change and conservation
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Southern Ocean ecosystems: environmental change and conservation
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frontier science.
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Conducting high priority scientific research to understand the role of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean in the global climate system, to protect the Antarctic environment and undertake work of practical, economic and national significance.
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The department undertook scientific research in accordance with the Science Strategy for Australia’s Antarctic program (2004–05 to 2010–11).
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Deliverables
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PBS Target
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Results
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Pursuing Australia’s Antarctic policy objectives through participation in the Antarctic Treaty system and related forums, including meetings of the:
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Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties and the Committee for Environmental Protection
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Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
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Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research
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Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs
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Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels.
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100%
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The department participated in the Antarctic Treaty system and related forums as listed in the following KPI table.
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Administering the Australian Antarctic Territory and the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands, including the authorisation and management of Australian activities in accordance with relevant legislation and environmental protection measures.
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The territories were administered in accordance with relevant legislation and environment protection measures.
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Maintaining three stations:
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Casey Station (Antarctica)
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Davis Station (Antarctica)
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Mawson Station (Antarctica)
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Macquarie Island Station (sub-Antarctic).
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4
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The four permanent research stations were maintained providing a permanent presence and support for research.
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Deliverables
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PBS Target
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Results
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Operating a transport and logistics network using shipping and air services to:
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transport expeditioners and cargo between Australia, Antarctica and sub-Antarctic Islands
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support scientific research in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.
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180
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A total of 201 shipping days supported Australia’s Antarctic program. The shipping schedule was extended for several reasons including an emergency response requiring a diversion, equipment failure on the vessel impeding unloading, and heavy ice conditions necessitating long flyoff operations.
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Scientists active in Antarctica, the sub-Antarctic and the Southern Ocean during the financial year [#].
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100
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105
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Participation in key Antarctic Treaty related forums [% attended].
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100
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100%
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Permanent stations operated, maintained and resupplied [#].
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4
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4
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Logistical Support
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Shipping days in support of Australia’s Antarctic program [#].
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180
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201
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Flights between Hobart and Casey Station [# of return flights].
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15
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Due to weather conditions, two flights to Wilkins were completed with a further five flights conducted with assistance provided by the US Antarctic Program via the US McMurdo Station. Nine flights were undertaken on behalf of the US program in return for that support.
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