ASOC’s initial objectives were to convince governments to conclude negotiation of the world’s first “ecosystem as a whole” treaty on fishing; prevent oil, gas, and minerals development in the Antarctic by blocking the ratification of the proposed Minerals Convention; and to open up the Antarctic Treaty System to include participation by NGOs and specialist international bodies.
The initial goals of ASOC were to negotiate with governments for an international agreement covering the entire "ecosystem" related to fishing; halt the exploitation of Antarctica's natural resources by preventing the ratification of the proposed Minerals Convention; and expand the scope of the Antarctic Treaty to include participation from NGOs and specialized organizations.