What are some human activities that affect Antarctica?

- Rapidly increasing in recent years and has the potential to cause significant environmental impacts to both marine and terrestrial ecosystems .

Scientific research:

- Human presence necessary for research activities, waste disposal can contaminate fragile ecosystems; research stations can introduce non-native species

Shipping:

- Oil spills pose high-risk for marine contamination;

- introduction of non-native marine species via ballast water

- disturbance for wildlife species.

Fishing:

- Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, particularly for toothfish species is major

- Over-fishing disrupts delicate marine food webs

Climate change and stratospheric ozone depletion:

- Resulting from human greenhouse gas emissions; rising air and water temperatures - changing sea ice extent, ice sheet retreat

- Melting permafrost