Why is "Saying the Antarctic Treaty is 'enforceable'" a common mistake in Threats to the Antarctic Ecosystem and Sustainable Management Part 2?

Why it happens: Treaties feel binding. How to avoid it: Compliance is VOLUNTARY (no enforcement body). System works because signatories WANT to maintain it. Mark scheme rewards awareness of this limitation.

Changing EcosystemsCambridge IGCSE Geography (0460)

Threats to the Antarctic Ecosystem and Sustainable Management Part 2

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Antarctic Sustainable Management Part 2 Study Notes — Cambridge IGCSE Geography 0460 (2024-2026 syllabus)

Antarctic Treaty System. CCAMLR fishing rules. Marine Protected Areas. IAATO tourism rules. Why international cooperation works — and where it falls short.

What you’ll learn

Mapped to the Cambridge IGCSE 0460 syllabus (2024-2026).

3.4.1 — Describe Antarctic Treaty System.
3.4.2 — Describe CCAMLR fishing management.
3.4.3 — Identify Antarctic tourism rules.

Antarctic Treaty System

Demilitarised, science-prioritised, environmentally protected.

Antarctic Treaty (signed 1959, in force 1961). ~55 signatories now.

Three key principles.

Peace. No military activity, weapons testing, or nuclear waste disposal. Antarctica = natural reserve.
Science. Any signatory can conduct research; data must be shared.
No mineral exploitation (added by 1991 Madrid Protocol — bans mining for 50 years).

Madrid Protocol 1991 strengthens environmental protection:

Requires Environmental Impact Assessments.
Protects native species.
Manages waste.

Limitation. Compliance is largely VOLUNTARY — no enforcement body.

Cambridge tip. Mark scheme rewards naming Treaty + Protocol with dates.

Treaty 1959/61 + Madrid Protocol 1991.
Demilitarised, science, no mining.
Voluntary compliance.

See the full worked example for threats to the antarctic ecosystem and sustainable management part 2 →

CCAMLR — fisheries management

Sets quotas, designates MPAs, monitors fishing.

CCAMLR (1982). Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. Manages fishing in the Southern Ocean.

Key tools.

Catch quotas. Annual limits for krill and fish — set BELOW maximum sustainable yield.
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Ross Sea MPA (2016) — world's largest at 1.55 million km².
Onboard observers. Required on krill vessels.
Satellite monitoring. Tracks fleet movements globally.

Successes. Krill fishery managed sustainably to date. Fish stocks generally stable.

Limitations. Some species (toothfish) have been over-fished historically. Climate change challenges current management plans.

Cambridge tip. Mark scheme rewards naming CCAMLR + Ross Sea MPA + specific quota mechanism.

CCAMLR 1982.
Quotas + MPAs + observers + satellites.
Ross Sea MPA = world's largest.

See the full worked example for threats to the antarctic ecosystem and sustainable management part 2 →

IAATO tourism rules

Voluntary self-regulation by tour operators.

IAATO. International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators. Founded 1991. Membership voluntary but effectively required to operate.

Key rules.

Max 100 visitors ashore at any one time at most sites.
Approved operators only.
Wildlife distance — 5m+ from penguins, seals; no disturbing colonies.
Biosecurity — clothing decontaminated before landing.
No waste left behind.

Strengths. Largely effective. Visitor numbers controlled. Wildlife mostly protected.

Weaknesses. Voluntary; no enforcement against non-members. Cruise ship pollution. Mass tourism growth challenges.

Cambridge tip. Mark scheme rewards naming IAATO + specific rules.

IAATO voluntary regulation.
Five key rules: numbers, operators, distance, biosecurity, no waste.
Effective but voluntary.

See the full worked example for threats to the antarctic ecosystem and sustainable management part 2 →

How it’s examined

Antarctic management appears on most Paper 1s. Most-tested: Antarctic Treaty (6 marks), CCAMLR (5 marks), tourism rules (5 marks).

Sources: Cambridge IGCSE Geography 0460 syllabus (2024-2026); 0460 Examiner Reports 2022-2024; 0460/22 Oct/Nov 2024 question paper and mark scheme. Last reviewed 2026-05-09.

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Step-by-step worked examples — Threats to the Antarctic Ecosystem and Sustainable Management Part 2

Step-by-step solutions to past-paper-style questions on threats to the antarctic ecosystem and sustainable management part 2, written exactly the way a tutor would explain them at the board.

1Antarctic Treaty System (6 marks)
Extended• Adapted from 0460/22 Oct/Nov 2024• antarctic-treaty
Question
Describe the Antarctic Treaty System. State THREE things it does. (6 marks)
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Treaty (2 marks). Signed 1959, in force since 1961. Now ~55 signatories. Designates Antarctica as a 'natural reserve, devoted to peace and science'.
2. Step 2
  No military activity (1 mark). Antarctica is demilitarised; no military bases, weapons testing, or nuclear waste disposal.
3. Step 3
  Freedom of scientific research (1 mark). Any signatory can conduct research. Data must be shared.
4. Step 4
  Environmental protection (2 marks). 1991 Madrid Protocol bans mining for 50 years; requires Environmental Impact Assessments; protects native species; manages waste.
Answer
Antarctic Treaty + Madrid Protocol: demilitarise, prioritise science, ban mining, protect environment.
2CCAMLR and krill fishing (5 marks)
Extended• ccamlr
Question
What is CCAMLR? State THREE ways it manages Antarctic fishing. (5 marks)
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  CCAMLR (2 marks). Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. Established 1982 under the Antarctic Treaty. Specifically manages fishing in the Southern Ocean.
2. Step 2
  Catch limits (1 mark). Sets annual quotas for krill and fish — much LOWER than maximum sustainable yield, leaving margin for ecosystem.
3. Step 3
  Marine Protected Areas (1 mark). Designates large no-fishing zones (Ross Sea MPA — world's largest, 2016).
4. Step 4
  Monitoring (1 mark). Required onboard observers on krill vessels. Satellite monitoring of fleet movements.
Answer
CCAMLR sets quotas, designates MPAs (Ross Sea), monitors fishing.
3Managing Antarctic tourism (5 marks)
Extended• tourism
Question
Describe FIVE rules for managing Antarctic tourism. (5 marks)
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Limit visitors per site (1 mark). Max 100 visitors ashore at any one time at most landing sites.
2. Step 2
  Approved tour operators only (1 mark). Must be IAATO (International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators) members; follow strict guidelines.
3. Step 3
  Wildlife distance (1 mark). Minimum 5m from penguins, seals; cannot disturb breeding colonies.
4. Step 4
  Biosecurity (1 mark). Clothing decontaminated before landing to prevent non-native species introduction.
5. Step 5
  No waste left behind (1 mark). All waste (incl. wastewater) returned to ship.
Answer
Limit numbers, IAATO operators, wildlife distance, biosecurity, no waste. Compliance is voluntary but largely effective.

Key Definitions and Keywords — Threats to the Antarctic Ecosystem and Sustainable Management Part 2

Definitions to memorise and the exact keywords mark schemes credit for threats to the antarctic ecosystem and sustainable management part 2 answers — sharpened from recent examiner reports for the 2026 0460 sitting.

Antarctic Treaty System
Examiner keyword
International agreement (1959/1961) that demilitarises Antarctica and prioritises peaceful scientific research. Madrid Protocol (1991) added environmental protection and banned mining.
CCAMLR
Examiner keyword
Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. Sets fishing quotas, designates Marine Protected Areas, monitors compliance.
Marine Protected Area (MPA)
Examiner keyword
Ocean region with restrictions on human activity (fishing, mining, shipping). Ross Sea MPA (2016) is world's largest at 1.55 million km².
IAATO
International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators. Self-regulatory body for cruise operators. Members must follow strict rules.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions — Threats to the Antarctic Ecosystem and Sustainable Management Part 2

The traps other students keep falling into on threats to the antarctic ecosystem and sustainable management part 2 questions — taken from recent Cambridge IGCSE 0460 examiner reports and mark schemes — and how to avoid them.

✕Saying the Antarctic Treaty is 'enforceable'
Why it happens
Treaties feel binding.
How to avoid it
Compliance is VOLUNTARY (no enforcement body). System works because signatories WANT to maintain it. Mark scheme rewards awareness of this limitation.

Practice questions

Exam-style questions with step-by-step worked solutions. Try one before checking the method.

Past paper style quiz

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Threats to the Antarctic Ecosystem and Sustainable Management Part 2

Short Study Notes in the form of Slides

Detailed Study Notes

What you’ll learn

How it’s examined

1Antarctic Treaty System (6 marks)

2CCAMLR and krill fishing (5 marks)

3Managing Antarctic tourism (5 marks)

Antarctic Treaty System

CCAMLR

Marine Protected Area (MPA)

IAATO

✕Saying the Antarctic Treaty is 'enforceable'

Practice questions

Past paper style quiz

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