" The number of tourist visiting Antarctica has more than tripled in the past five years , " said Bruce Manheim , a Washington activist with the Environmental Defense Fund who calls existing efforts to protect Antarctic wildlife inadequate . Manheim 's appeal demands strict controls on helicopter landings near wildlife sites , guidelines on tourist tours of wildlife , and coordination of cruise ship visits to breeding grounds . Because most tourists to Antarctica are Americans , conservations believe the U.S. should take the lead in adopting a model regulatory policy . The federal government responds that effective regulations are already in place . ``A year after Antarctica's most significant environmental disaster, we still don't have regulations to prevent similar catastrophes,'' said Manheim. The National Science Foundation regulates U.S. activities in Antarctica .
" The number of tourist visiting Antarctica has more than tripled in the past five years , " said Bruce Manheim , a Washington activist with the Environmental Defense Fund who calls existing efforts to protect Antarctic wildlife inadequate . Manheim 's appeal demands strict controls on helicopter landings near wildlife sites , guidelines on tourist tours of wildlife , and coordination of cruise ship visits to breeding grounds . Because most tourists to Antarctica are Americans , conservations believe the U.S. should take the lead in adopting a model regulatory policy . The federal government responds that effective regulations are already in place . The National Science Foundation regulates U.S. activities in Antarctica .