Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 27
27
Accepted
Ensure comprehensive biosecurity facilities and protocols across UK Antarctic operations and supply chain.
Recommendation
Biosecurity must continue to be a central pillar of UK Antarctic operations. The Government should ensure biosecurity facilities and protocols are in place across the BAS supply chain, including at key gateway ports such as Punta Arenas and the Falkland Islands, as well as on all UK research stations. This is essential to ensure full compliance with the Antarctic Act 1994 and to reduce the risk of non-native species introductions. (Recommendation, Paragraph 144)
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation, agreeing that biosecurity is critical and detailing existing measures such as BAS Biosecurity Regulations, biosecurity information in UK permits, encouragement of the IMO Ballast Water Convention, and a BAS horizon scan for marine species.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government accepts this recommendation. 35. The Government agrees that biosecurity measures are critical to ensuring the protection of the Antarctic environment. Biosecurity is at the heart of UK Antarctic operations. The BAS Biosecurity Regulations are shared with all personnel working in Antarctica and set out practical measures to reduce the risk of introducing non-native species and what to do in a biosecurity emergency. 36. All Treaty Parties operating in Antarctica are strongly encouraged to follow biosecurity measures put forward by COMNAP and SCAR. The UK’s permits for activities in Antarctica also contain information on biosecurity measures to ensure applications follow all measures during their expeditions. 37. The marine environment around the British Antarctic Territory (BAT) is currently free of known non-native species. However, over 100 ships travel to Antarctica each year, with numbers rising, and ship traffic is global. Increased ship traffic to BAT makes marine species introductions more likely. The UK will continue to encourage full implementation of the International Maritime Organisation’s Ballast Water Convention to reduce the risk of non-native species introductions during ballast water exchange. In 2024, BAS conducted a horizon scan exercise to identify marine species most likely to invade BAT in the next 10 years, and ballast water management has been under consideration within the Antarctic Treaty system.