The search for extremophiles antarctic biological prospecting

Abstract

Biological prospecting is taking place in the Antarctic Treaty area. It is an activity that involves searching for, extracting and testing components of Antarctic biodiversity for particular chemical properties that may then be developed for use in commercial products. So far, the activity appears to be relatively benign to the Antarctic environment, except that, any increase in human activity leads to an increase in cumulative impacts on the environment and increases the risk of introducing non-native species. Antarctic Treaty parties are very aware that biological prospecting is taking place in the Antarctic Treaty area, but some parties have been somewhat reluctant to discuss the legal implications of the activity at their annual Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings. Biological prospecting is not something that takes place only in the Antarctic region; it is an activity that countries carry out within their own national territories, and most countries have domestic legislation that governs the activity within their domestic territory. National perspectives on biological prospecting vary and this variation is often reflected in a country’s view of Antarctic biological prospecting. Biological prospecting is a ‘quasi-scientific’ or a ‘quasi-commercial’ activity, meaning that the end goal for any good bioprospector is not just an academic exercise. The end goal is to develop a commercial product or process, which in some cases will earn the investors a significant amount of money. By its very nature, therefore, it is an activity that has raised concern from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and non-signatory states, that is, those countries that have not signed up to the Antarctic Treaty.