The Southern Ocean is a unique body of water which surrounds Antarctica. Unlike its polar counterpart the Arctic Ocean, the Southern Ocean is not ice bound for much of the year. Because the Southern Ocean is relatively open to the effects of ocean currents and prevailing winds, both pack ice and icebergs have a large area within which they can disperse. In total, 85 per cent of Antarctic pack ice melts each summer. Accordingly through a combination of these factors and the improvement in technology, there has been increasing commercial interests in Southern Ocean living and non-living resource exploitation.