The Antarctic (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The Antarctic (Amendment) Regulations 2025 revise the 1995 Antarctic Regulations to reflect decisions from four recent Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings.
The regulations update the lists of Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs) and Antarctic Historic Sites and Monuments (AHSMs), adding new sites and revising existing descriptions.
Several ASPAs and AHSMs have been removed, with revised descriptions provided for others.
New sites are added, along with updated geographical coordinates and descriptions that improve management and conservation.
Arguments For
Environmental Protection: The updates to protected areas and historic sites enhance conservation efforts in Antarctica, safeguarding vulnerable ecosystems and significant historical locations.
International Cooperation: The amendments demonstrate the UK's commitment to the Antarctic Treaty System and international collaboration in Antarctic governance. They reflect decisions made at multiple Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings.
Improved Management: Revised descriptions of protected areas and historic sites likely provide clearer boundaries and management guidelines, improving effectiveness of conservation.
Legal Compliance: These regulations ensure the UK's domestic law aligns with international obligations under the Antarctic Treaty System.
Arguments Against
Implementation Challenges: Enforcing regulations in a remote and vast region like Antarctica presents logistical and financial challenges. Monitoring and tackling violations might be difficult.
Potential Impacts on Research: Changes to designated protected areas could potentially limit or redirect research activities in certain locations. Careful planning and consultation are necessary.
Unintended Consequences: Modifying the boundaries or designations of protected areas may have unforeseen environmental or cultural impacts.
Resource Constraints: Effective management requires ongoing funding and resources, which might experience competing priorities within government budgets.
- Citation, commencement and interpretation (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Antarctic (Amendment) Regulations 2025 and come into force on 16th July 2025. (2) In these Regulations, “the principal Regulations” means the Antarctic Regulations 1995[2].
This section establishes the title and effective date of the regulations (July 16, 2025).
It also defines "the principal Regulations" as the Antarctic Regulations of 1995, which these amendments modify.
- Amendments to the principal Regulations (1) The principal Regulations are amended as set out in paragraphs (2)-(5). (2) The following areas listed in Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations are deleted— (a) Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 103: Ardery Island and Odbert Island, Budd Coast, Wilkes Land; (b) Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 106: Cape Hallett, Northern Victoria Land, Ross Sea; (c) Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 116: New College Valley, Caughley Beach, Cape Bird, Ross Island; (d) Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 133: Harmony Point, Nelson Island, South Shetland Islands; (e) Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 137: Northwest White Island, McMurdo Sound; (f) Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 145: Port Foster, Deception Island, South Shetland Islands; (g) Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 151: Lions Rump, King George Island, South Shetland Islands; (h) Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 154: Botany Bay, Cape Geology, Victoria Land; (i) Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 156: Lewis Bay, Mount Erebus, Ross Island; (j) Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 157: Backdoor Bay, Cape Royds, Ross Island; (k) Antarctic Specially Protected Areas No. 158: Hut Point, Ross Island. (3) The areas listed and described in Schedule 1 to these Regulations are added to Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations. (4) The following sites and monuments listed in Schedule 2 to the principal Regulations are deleted— (a) Site No. 24; (b) Site No. 26; (c) Site No. 29; (d) Site No. 36; (e) Site No. 38; (f) Site No. 39; (g) Site No. 40; (h) Site No. 41; (i) Site No. 42; (j) Site No. 43; (k) Site No. 63; (l) Site No. 75; (m) Site No. 93. (5) The Antarctic Historic Sites and Monuments listed in Schedule 2 to these Regulations are added to Schedule 2 to the principal Regulations.
This section details the amendments to the 1995 regulations.
Specific Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs) and Antarctic Historic Sites and Monuments (AHSMs) are removed.
Then, new ASPAs and AHSMs, detailed in Schedules 1 and 2 of this document, are added to the principal regulations.
Schedule 1 Restricted Areas Regulation 2(3) Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 103 Ardery Island and Odbert Island, Budd Coast, Wilkes Land, East Antarctica Lat: 66°22'S; Long: 110°27'E (Ardery Island); Lat: 66°22'S; Long: 110°32'E (Odbert Island) ... Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 182 Western Bransfield Strait and Eastern Dallmann Bay Lat: 63°20'S; Long: 63°35'S (Western Bransfield Strait); Lat: 63°53'S; Long: 62°48'W (Eastern Dallmann Bay)
Schedule 1 provides detailed descriptions and coordinates for the new Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs) that are added to the principal regulations.
Each ASPA entry includes geographical coordinates and a description of its location, key features, and significance for conservation.
The full text is substantially long, providing detailed information for each ASPA.
Schedule 2 Antarctic Historic Sites and Monuments Regulation 2(5) ... Site No. 96 Commemorative plaque commemorating the first visit to the Lake Untersee area. A brass plaque measuring 220 mm x 120 mm, 4 mm thick, with the names of five members of the 14th Soviet Antarctic Expedition who visited the area in 1969, mounted on an aluminium pipe set on a rocky surface.
Schedule 2 details the new and revised Antarctic Historic Sites and Monuments.
Information includes site numbers and details of their locations and historical significance.
Similar to Schedule 1, detailed descriptions are provided for each site. The full text is substantially long, providing detailed information for each AHSM.
Explanatory Note (This note is not part of the Regulations) These Regulations update the Antarctic Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995/490) to reflect measures adopted at the Forty-third Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, held at Paris in June 2021; the Forty-fourth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, held at Berlin in May-June 2022; the Forty-fifth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, held at Helsinki in May-June 2023; and the Forty-sixth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, held at Kochi in May 2024. They amend Schedule 1 to those Regulations by: replacing the descriptions of Antarctic Specially Protected Areas Nos. 103, 106, 116, 133, 137, 145, 151, 154, 156, 157 and 158 with revised versions, and adding descriptions of new Antarctic Specially Protected Areas Nos. 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181 and 182. They also amend Schedule 2 to those Regulations by: replacing the descriptions of Antarctic Historic Sites and Monuments Nos. 24, 26, 29, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 63, 75 and 93 with revised versions, and adding Antarctic Historic Site and Monument No. 96. Command Paper CP 726 (2022), “The Antarctic Treaty: Measures adopted at the Forty-Third Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting”, is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-antarctic-treaty-measures-adopted-at-the-43rd-consultative-meeting-2021. Command Paper CP 841 (2023), “The Antarctic Treaty: Measures adopted at the Forty-fourth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting”, is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-antarctic-treaty-measures-adopted-at-the-44th-consultative-meeting-2022. Command Paper CP 1048 (2024), “The Antarctic Treaty: Measures adopted at the Forty-fifth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting”, is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-antarctic-treaty-measures-adopted-at-the-45th-consultative-meeting-2023. Command Paper CP 1287 (2025), “The Antarctic Treaty: Measures adopted at the Forty-sixth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting”, is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-antarctic-treaty-measures-adopted-at-the-46th-consultative-meeting-2024. An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private or voluntary sector is foreseen.
This explanatory note summarizes the purpose and key changes introduced by the regulations.
It clarifies that the amendments reflect decisions made at four Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings and details the specific changes to Schedules 1 and 2, providing a high-level overview of the modifications to ASPAs and AHSMs. It also includes links to relevant command papers and notes the absence of a private sector impact assessment.