Osprey used by Sea Shepherd
The conservation group Sea Shepherd has been told by the Australian Antarctic Division that its UAS must undergo an urgent environmental impact assessment (EIA) if they are to be used in waters covered by the Antarctic Treaty.
The aircraft were used by the group last month to find the factory ship Nisshin Maru before it reached Antarctic waters. The Federal Government requires anyone going to the far south from an Australian port to fill in an EIA and seek approval under the Antarctic Treaty.
The group completed EIAs before departing from Hobart and Fremantle last month but an AAD manager, Gillian Slocum, emailed the group after the drones’ existence became public.
”I do not recall drones being included in your EIA,” Ms Slocum said. ”If you do intend to use them in the Antarctic Treaty area then this activity must be subject to the same assessment as the rest of your season activities have been.”
Sea Shepherd’s leader, Paul Watson, said the demand was at odds with the treatment of the whalers in the Antarctic. ”I think Tokyo has made another complaint to Australia,” he said.
The group’s ships Brigitte Bardot and Steve Irwin are damaged but a drone is believed to be in use on a third ship, Bob Barker. The aircraft used is an Osprey built by Hangar18.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald