Tourism limits set for Antarctica

Countries with interests in Antarctica have agreed to impose mandatory limits on tourism to the continent in a bid to protect its fragile environment.

Officials at a two-week conference on the 50-year-old Antarctic Treaty said the 28 countries that have signed the pact endorsed a US proposal to limit the size of cruise ships that land passengers on Antarctica. The pact also restricts the number of people they can bring ashore at any one time.

The rules, which are now voluntary, will become enforceable once each of the countries formally ratifies them. Officials said there was no opposition to the changes.

AP