Annual Review 2000-01: Antarctica and Islands

Antarctica may once have looked like Africa. Millions of years ago, it may even have had similar animals. But they perished long ago in the cold as the continent drifted south. Yet the icy continent and the sub-Antarctic islands support a rich variety of life.

In three years' time the South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP) could become a statutory body of DEAT, further contributing towards Government's overall approach towards service delivery that puts people first.

Following a favourable review of SANAP's work by an independent, international panel, draft legislation has been compiled and will be tabled for consideration to Parliament later in 2001. This process is the first step towards agentisation.

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

The sun ball on Marion Island records sunlight hours by acting like a giant magnifying glass. When the sun shines, it imprints special paper with burn marks
Picture: Prof. Rudi van Aarde

This interim period has meant that the new scientific research cycle, which usually lasts five years, will end in three. The special SANAP

Review Panel, which met in November 2000, gave particular attention to expanding research activities.

Three new engineering science projects have been introduced, giving practical value, such as one looking at reducing the impact of diesel engines on the Antarctic environment. A total of R3,5 million is being spent on 20 projects, with an additional five projects being supported logistically, with no funding. For the first time there are also two new female project leaders.

SPECIAL AIR BRIDGE

In January 2001, a special inspection flight, subsidised by the European Polar Board, was undertaken by representatives of six countries (SA, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Australia and Japan).

The objective was to investigate the possibility of establishing a permanent "air bridge" between Cape Town and Antarctica.

The group chartered an Ilyushin 67 cargo plane belonging to a private adventure company. After a five-and-a-half-hour flight, it landed at Blue One, a private air strip on blue ice, which is very hard and deep. After splitting up into two smaller planes, the groups were able to visit seven stations within 48 hours.

It's thought these flights could prove useful for emergencies, for carrying cargo, and to transport senior scientists who cannot be away from their work for the three month stretches necessary for a sea voyage.

South Africa could benefit by using spare seats from time to time, and from the use of Cape Town as a departure point.

TOURISM TO MARION

During the past year, an Environmental Impact Assessment was completed on the possible repercussions of opening up Marion Island to occasional tourists. There has been no final decision yet, but making these trips viable will be difficult.

Costs are very high, interest is comparatively low, and the ecosystem is prohibitively sensitive. Scientists are struggling with invader species already - the house mouse, two kinds of grass, a moth that attacks the unique Kerguelen Cabbage, and a slug.

It took decades to eradicate the cats that had been brought to Marion to get rid of the mice. In view of the success achieved, other nations, including Australia, have asked South Africa's advice in dealing with their cat problems. Feral cats can be immensely destructive. Just to give an idea, 2 000 cats on Marion Island (from an original colony of eight) killed half a million birds in 1975 alone, leading to the extermination of the Common Diving Petrel and the virtual extinction of at least three other species.

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION

The Indian Antarctic Programme launched, for the second time, its annual Antarctic expedition from Cape Town on 30 December 2000. Their one-week port stay, including ship repairs, created a fair amount of revenue for South Africa.

Once again, in February-March 2001, South Africa provided logistical support to Germany, in accordance with a letter of intent signed between the two parties in September 1999. The mv SA Agulhas transported German cargo and personnel to their base, Neumeyer, in the Antarctic.

PATAGONIAN TOOTHFISH

Foreign vessels fishing illegally in the waters around the Prince Edward Islands have robbed South Africa of a fish resource worth at least R220 million.

Over the past few years the Patagonian Toothfish has been almost wiped out. This rape of a South African fish stock had further repercussions. The long-line methods used killed a great number of Greyheaded and Yellownosed Albatrosses, as well as Whitechinned Petrels.

The Patagonian Toothfish is a particularly palatable, long-lived, deep-water fish, usually sold in restaurants under the name Sea Bass. France and Australia have experienced the same problem with Patagonian Toothfish stocks off their Southern Ocean islands.

All three countries have indicated a willingness to work together on solving the problem.

HELPING THE WEATHER BUREAU

SANAP continued to support the Weather Bureau in maintaining stations on Marion and Gough Island and, from last year, at the Antarctic base SANAE IV as well. It also assists in weather buoy deployments and the servicing of automatic weather stations at Southern Thule and Zavadovski Islands.

These contribute to a broader information base from which the Weather Bureau can make its predictions.

TOUCHING BASE

Gough Island is densely covered in moss, grass and ferns, and is practically unspoilt by human activity
Picture: Christine Hane

The Marion Island relief voyage was successfully undertaken in April-May 2000. The buildings are suffering structural fatigue. They are relatively old and subject to harsh weather conditions, and it will be necessary to replace the whole base or at least parts of it in a few years' time.

In September-October 2000, the Gough Island relief voyage was carried out. The biological diversity research programme established last year, and financially supported by the British, is continuing with logistical support from the South Africans.

During the Antarctic relief voyage from December 2000 to February 2001, South Africa assisted the Norwegian, German and Finnish Antarctic expeditions by transporting their personnel and cargo on the mv SA Agulhas.

RAINBOW NATION

DEAT has once again made a concerted effort to put together more representative over wintering teams, rendering a continual annual improvement. The following representivity percentages can be reported: Marion Island - 60%; Gough Island - 60%, and SANAE IV (Antarctica) - 40%.

DID YOU KNOW?