Übereinkommen zur Erhaltung der Antarktischen Robben

When Captain Cook discovered South Georgia in the late 18th century he reported of innumerable fur seals on its shores and thus signalled the onset of a merciless hunt on the seals of Antarctica, which brought many species to the brink of extinction. Since 1972 animals have been protected under the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (CCAS).

From time to time one hears the question to whom the Antarctic actually belongs to. The answer is simple: since there is no indigenous population in the Antarctic, it is a world heritage and belongs to everyone and to nobody in particular! The Antarctic Treaty System regulates both of these aspects.