Antarctic Environmental Protection Act (S.C. 2003, c. 20)

Marginal note:Specified substances and products

14. No Canadian or Canadian vessel shall introduce into the Antarctic any substance or product specified in the regulations.

Marginal note:Specially protected areas

15. No Canadian or Canadian vessel shall be in an Antarctic specially protected area designated by the regulations except in accordance with a permit or under the written authorization of another Party to the Protocol.

Marginal note:Historic sites and monuments

16. No Canadian or Canadian vessel shall damage, destroy or remove any part of an historic site or monument in the Antarctic designated by the regulations.

Marginal note:Waste disposal

• 17. (1) No Canadian shall dispose of waste in the Antarctic except in accordance with a permit or under the written authorization of another Party to the Protocol.

• Marginal note:Absolute prohibition

  (2) Despite subsection (1), no Canadian shall, in the Antarctic, burn waste in the open air or dispose of waste in any ice-free area or in any fresh water system.

Marginal note:Discharge into sea

• 18. (1) No Canadian vessel shall, while in the Antarctic, discharge into the sea any oil or oily mixture or any food waste except in accordance with a permit or under the written authorization of another Party to the Protocol.

• Marginal note:Absolute prohibition — garbage

  (2) Despite subsection (1), no Canadian vessel shall, while in the Antarctic, discharge into the sea any garbage, plastic or other product or substance that is harmful to the marine environment.

• Marginal note:Sewage

  (3) Despite subsection (1), no Canadian vessel that is certified to carry more than 10 persons on board shall, while in the Antarctic,

  • (a) discharge into the sea any untreated sewage within 12 nautical miles of any land or any iceshelf; or

  • (b) instantaneously discharge into the sea any sewage stored in a holding tank.

• Meaning of “garbage”

  (4) In subsection (2), “garbage”, in respect of a vessel, means all kinds of victual, domestic and operational waste, other than fresh fish and parts of fresh fish.

Marginal note:Emergencies

19. Sections 7 to 18 do not apply in respect of emergencies involving the safety of a person, the protection of the environment or the safety of any vessel, aircraft, equipment or facility that has a significant value.

Marginal note:Things obtained in contravention of Act

20. No person or vessel in Canada, and no Canadian or Canadian vessel while in the Antarctic, shall possess, sell, offer for sale, trade, give, transport, transfer or send anything that has been obtained in contravention of this Act or the regulations.