On June 6 2023, we published a post alerting on over tourism in Antarctica.
We estimated 111.000 visitors from the pre-season permits. Actually, the complete data showed 122.000 visitors (IAATO statistics) .
Worse, since 2022, the numbers of Antarctic cruise ships and visitors increase steadily.
Over tourism is a huge problem
Our initial concern has been widely relayed. For instance, try web searches: “Antarctica overtourism” and “antarctica tourism figures” .
Direct observation. Between 2022 and 2025 we saw more and more passenger ships. We observed:
- up to 3 passenger ships waiting to disembark in turn, 100 tourists at a time. - passenger ship dumping its black waters less than 1/2 mile from the coast. - passenger ship chasing 3 humpback whales for its tourists to take pictures. - several large passenger ships (over 2000 passengers) sailing very close to the shore. - luxury engine-powered super yachts. - we also recovered trash, like gloves, plastic pieces, etc. after passenger ships left. - fast boats at full speed close to the shore to disembark tourists ASAP. - etc.
The players
The Antarctic Treaty Authorities control the tourism through National Agencies. They are in charge of delivering permits to the touristic ships.
They rely on the Madrid Protocol that defines the rules for disembarking and sustainable navigation.
IAATO (International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators). IAATO is a privileged partner of the Antarctic Treaty Authorities. This private association claims to promote responsible tourism.
IAATO members compromise to respect the Madrid Protocol, therefore for them, the permits are easier to obtain from the Authorities.
The non-aligned
Non-aligned ships, mostly sailboats. They are not IAATO members, but they have legal permits and they must follow the Madrid Protocol.
Non-aligned associations like ASOC (Antarctic and Southern Oceans Coalition) that really worry about Antarctica.
.. including Sea Shepherd, which conducts an active Antarctica campaign.
Problems
The over tourism is boosted by a massive demand, amplified by the social media, and an increasing offer to match this demand.
Whereas the offer could be controlled by restricting the permits, IT IS NOT, for 2 reasons: inefficient control from the Antarctic Treaty and conflict of interest from IAATO and some of the countries.
1 – Some countries, members of the Antarctic Treaty, actively promote Antarctic Tourism.
For instance Chile is promoting Antarctic mass tourism, using Puerto Williams as starting base (new port for cruise ships, big hotel for passengers, charter flights …). In parallel, Chilean shipyards are constructing Antarctic cruise ships (source: direct observation, Chilean press).
2. The Antarctic Treaty Authorities are NOT empowered to forbid navigation in Antarctic (international waters)
This allows giant passenger ships to sail very close from the coast and the animals, provided that they don´t disembark.
3 – There is no global coordination between the countries of the Antarctic Treaty to limit the number of expeditions and/or visitors.
4 – IAATO is a clear example of conflict of interest.
One the one hand they promote a responsible tourism through a set of rules. These rules are necessary for cruise ships and mass disembarking, but they are sometimes pointless and even counter-productive.
On the other hand, most or the IAATO members are tour operators and cruise ship owners. See IAATO membership directory (2025).
This includes powerful companies like Ponant, Hurtigruten, Viking, Silver Lines… obviously willing to maintain or increase their touristic activity.
Note that IAATO Directory now includes 4 giant cruise ships above 3000 passengers. Obvious mismatch with their declared philosophy.
Conversely, many sailboats that were historical members of IAATO quit, leaving only 10 of them. In 2024, a majority of the sailboats were non-aligned (internal IAATO source).
Effect on Antarctica and its fauna
Currently it is difficult to dodge the cruising ships in the Antarctic Peninsula. Many places are even overcrowded, with several ships waiting to disembark.
Whatever the “commercial green washers” say, all the passenger ships have a huge carbon footprint, consume tons of combustible and their repeated visits create a local pollution. See ASOC technical publications.
Whatever the ” biologists for hire” say, the colonies of animals resent this constant invasion, see what happens in Galapagos Islands (source: former local Biologist).
… And now industrial fishing
The industrial fishing is another serious issue, see Sea Shepherd Antarctic Campaign.
Personal observation. In 12 days (January 2025) we detected 2 Chinese industrial fishing boats accompanied by a cargo boat, 3 Norwegian industrial fishing boats, all fishing krill.
The krill is mostly used for animal nutrition. For instance it became the main aliment for Salmon Farms in Chile (internal source , Chilean Salmon Farming Company).
Basically you steal the whales´ food to produce industrial fish.
Cruise ship: example of engine [2]
So we sailed towards the south during the night with a back wind. We monitored constantly the barometric pressure.
Picton Channel. Courtesy Jerry Swift
Cape Horn. Courtesy Jerry Swift
Caleta Martial, S/Y Vahiere in 40 knots. Courtesy Jerry Swift.
