Antarctica is No Longer a Drone-free Zone

Sea Shepherd has received approval from Australia to deploy drones in the Southern Ocean.

From: Policy Coordination Branch. Australian Antarctic Division. Territories, Environment and Treaties Section Australian Antarctic Division. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities

Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980 (“the Act”)

Notice of Variation to determination under paragraph 12N(2) 

I refer to the additional Preliminary Assessment of Environmental Impacts submitted in relation to the proposed activity to be conducted, namely the conduct of Operation Divine Wind by Sea Shepherd Australia Pty Ltd including the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

In accordance with section 12N(2) of the Act, the delegate has considered the additional information and has determined that the activity is likely to have no more than a negligible impact on the environment. Accordingly, the authorization issued under section 12F of the Act, subject to your compliance with the conditions set out in the attached Determination and Authorization, has been varied to include the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles as proposed.

If it is proposed to further change the activity, or the activity changes, sub-section 12D(2) of the Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980 requires that the activity again be reassessed. Note that a change refers to any variations to the program’s duration, location, frequency, equipment used, physical consequences, environmental impacts and their risk, or ability to remediate or monitor impacts etc.

Subject to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975, a person or persons whose interests are affected by this decision may, within 28 days, make an application in writing to the Antarctic Division of the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities for the reasons for the decision. An application for independent review of the decision may be made to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, on payment of the relevant fee, by or on behalf of the person or persons whose interests are affected, either within 28 days of receipt of the reasons for the decision, or within 28 days of this declaration if reasons for the decision are not sought.

Visit our  Operation Divine Wind site for information about our 2011-12 Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign