**7. Conclusions**

The most important area from gas hydrate point of view in Antarctica is the South Shetland Margin where a huge hydrate reservoir is present; it is very well documented in literature thanks to several geophysical acquisition legs performed. The analyses of geophysical data allows concluding that the accumulation of fluids within sediments is strictly related with tectonics features, such as faults and folds, revealing a close relationship between gas hydrate accumulation and geological features. Moreover, the hydrocarbons trapped and detected in the sediment cores may indicate the existence of deeper reserves, confirming that the BSR should be considered as an indicator of conventional deep reservoir. Finally, due to the warming measured in this part of Antarctica, a monitoring of the evolution of the gas hydrate reservoirs offshore Antarctic Peninsula is required for an environmental in-depth analysis.

The main seismic indicator of the gas hydrate presence, the BSR, was recorded in few parts of Antarctica (Pacific and Atlantic margin of Antarctic Peninsula, Wilkes Land margin), but it was associated to opal A/CT transition. The other potential areas for gas hydrate presence (Ross Sea, Weddell Sea and Wilkes Land Margin) needs further measurements in order to confirm or refuse the hypothesis of their presence.
