The first experience of specific species of wild fauna protection in the Antarctic Treaty System

The article analyzes the provisions of the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Seals of 1972, chronologically the first international treaty adopted with respect to the Antarctic region after the conclusion of the Antarctic Treaty in 1959. The definition of the Antarctic Treaty System is given and the main constituent elements of this System are specified. The seals species, which are under protection of the 1972 Convention are characterized, established by the 1972 Convention areas where hunting on seals is prohibited, allowed seasons for hunting and six allowed zones for hunting are considered. The level of seals protection under the 1972 Convention is compared with the level of conservation status of seals enshrined in the 1990 Agreement on the Conservation of Seals in the Wadden Sea and the Memorandum of Understanding concerning Conservation Measures for Eastern Atlantic Populations of the Mediterranean Monk Seal of 2007.

Antarctica, Antarctic Treaty System, the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Seals, Agreement on the Conservation of Seals in the Wadden Sea of 1990, the Memorandum of Understanding concerning Conservation Measures for Eastern Atlantic Populations of the Mediterranean Monk Seal of 2007, seal reservation, Bonn Convention of 1979, ATCM, conservation status