WELCOME to the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP) website
The Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs is an international association, formed in 1988, which facilitates support to Antarctic operations amongst the governmental National Antarctic Programs. Our Membership is thirty-four country programs, representing almost 100% of the science and science support activity in Antarctica. The National Antarctic Programs, our Members, are responsible for delivering and supporting scientific research in the Antarctic Treaty Area on behalf of their respective governments and in the spirit of the Antarctic Treaty. They work collaboratively and individually to ensure data from Antarctica is available to the world.
Projects
COMNAP Projects support our Membership, engage the public, and ensure we are providing best practice advice to the Antarctic Treaty system.
Expert Groups
People within the COMNAP Membership have a depth and breadth of expertise found nowhere else. A fundamental aspect of our organisation is to support the free exchange of information between these experts.
Ambitions
Our Ambitions include caring for the environment, supporting our Members to succeed, and fostering strong community relationships while contributing towards a positive, enduring Antarctic future.
Documents and resources
Over the years, we have worked with our Membership and the wider Antarctic community to produce a range of informative brochures, booklets, books and even the Antarctic Station game. Some of our publications provide guidance to our Members on things like waste management, critical technologies, preventing the introduction of non-native species into the Antarctic environment and how to prevent and respond to oil spills. We are advisors to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings (ATCMs) and to the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) through our Permanent Observer status.
News & Events
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Happy Mid-Winter Day!
21/22 June 2026
Wishing everyone in Antarctica a happy mid-winter solstice.
Thanks for all the work you are doing in the Antarctic to ensure critical winter data is captured and delivered to databases around the world.
Thinking of you all.
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COMNAP AGM 38 and COMNAP SAR Workshop 6
20 June 2026
Registration closed on 1 June for the COMNAP Annual General Meeting (AGM) and the COMNAP Antarctic Search & Rescue Workshop.
Meeting information will soon be sent to all registered delegates.
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COMNAP Attended ATCM 48 - CEP 28
20 May 2026
COMNAP submitted three Working Papers and six Information Papers providing a range of advice, ranging from safety in operations (WP 2), to risks to Antarctic infrastructure from environmental change (WP 8), from the role of national Antarctic programme experts and their contributions to the delivery of internationally collaborative research in the Antarctic Treaty area. We also discussed Education and Outreach activities enhancing the communication of these activities to the rest of the world (IP 11, IP 90). COMNAP updated the Parties with a paper on preparedness and response to HPAI (IP 4), and on advancing energy management and efficiency, through the COMNAP Smart Energy Manual and the Alternative Fuels Taskforce (IP 46).