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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COMNAP EXCOM Meeting - December 2025
10 December 2025
COMNAP EXCOM met online on 10 December 2025 to further the strategic discussions started during the EXCOM in-person meeting (October 2025).
During the online meeting, EXCOM discussed the AGM 2026 and SAR Workshop 6, COMNAP papers to be submitted to ATCM 48 and CEP 28 meetings in Hiroshima, Japan.
EXCOM held focussed discussed on HPAI, and advanced work on COMNAP projects and outstanding action items from the AGM 2025.
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COMNAP participation at the Antarctic Parliamentarians Assembly
8 December 2025
Michelle Rogan-Finnemore was invited to present the work of COMNAP to the third Antarctic Parliamentarians Assembly, hosted in Wellington, New Zealand, and for the first time in the Southern Hemisphere. This event brings together international diplomats, MPs, and experts to share the importance of Antarctic. Michelle presented on international cooperation and the role of COMNAP. Michelle presentation and paper are available from here.
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HAPPY ANTARCTICA DAY
1 December 2025
The Council of Managers of National Programs (COMNAP) and the University of Canterbury (UC) are pleased to jointly announce that we have agreed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the hosting of the COMNAP Secretariat at UC. The new MoU is for the period through September 2033. Formal signing of the MoU by both parties will take place in the early new year…but we thought the news was too good to hold on to…especially given today is Antarctica Day.
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Welcome to fiona hopkins
24th November
The COMNAP Secretariat is delighted to welcome Fiona Hopkins as a new part-time Administrator and Project Coordinator.
Welcome Fiona!