The Antarctic Treaty Parties recently discussed designating an ASPA at their meeting and plan to make a formal application in 2025.
“It’s going to be unique. There’s never been an ASPA like this before,” said Camilla Nicole.
“And of course, there are other shipwrecks in Antarctica that are much more accessible than Endurance, so that could set a precedent.”
When Shackleton's ship was finally found on the seabed, it appeared to be in surprisingly good condition. The timbers were clean and the basic structure was still intact.
The shipwreck was home to a variety of filter-feeding animals, including sponges, sea anemones, sea lilies, and starfish.
Marine biologists will be calling for more study of this ecosystem, which is essentially an artificial reef.
