News Archive

The June - July Newsletter can now be read: Happy Midwinter From South Georgia!; Environmental Impact Assessment; GSGSSI Releases Visitor Documentation; Marine Biologist; Discovery of Rare Lava Lake and moreSouth Georgia Newsletter[...]

The February - June Newsletter can now be read. GSGSSI Enshrines Into Law MPA Announcements; Greenlight For South Georgia Wharf; SGSSI Financial Statements; Stakeholder Visit To South Georgia.South Georgia Newsletter Copy[...]

GSGSSI is pleased to update stakeholders on a new Permit Holder Briefing & Assessment. The new briefing applies to all Visit Permit Holders and, after successful completion, grants dispensation to make first landing outside of Grytviken (replacing the traditional briefings which took place at King Edward Point every 3 years).New Permit Holder Briefing & Assessment[...]

The Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands is delighted to announce the release of its latest issue of stamps which celebrate the contribution food has made to the story of South Georgia.‘Food’ Stamps Released Today[...]

As part of the forthcoming development of a new wharf at King Edward Point, the British Antarctic Survey have developed an Environmental Impact Assessment to identify the potential environmental risks of the project and propose appropriate mitigation and monitoring measures.Environmental Impact Assessment[...]

Ahead of the 2019/20 visitor season the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands is pleased to publish the new visit permit application forms and accompanying guidance document ‘Visiting South Georgia 2019/20’.GSGSSI Releases Visitor Documentation in Preparation for the 2019/20[...]

It is great to see that those with licenses to fish in our Maritime Zone are proud to share the best practise of their operations whilst working within one of the most highly regulated fisheries in the world. The recent article by Guy Baker in The Marine Biologist, a magazine published by the Marine Biological Association, discusses the South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area and gets the perspective of one of our licensed fishing vessel operators, Peter Thompson of Argos Froyanes Ltd.Marine Biologist,[...]

An £8.15 million contract to build a new wharf at the remote Sub-Antarctic Island of South Georgia is awarded to BAM Nuttall this week. The contract is part of a major investment programme to modernise the UK’s Antarctic infrastructure.Greenlight For South Georgia Wharf[...]

The Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands is proud to support science that contributes to upholding best-practice environmental management and good governance of the Territory. We are therefore delighted by the announcement of the recent Darwin Initiative funding and welcome applications that will support the broader aims of the Government.Darwin Initiative[...]

The Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands is announcing the recruitment of a Finance, Administration and Logistics officer. This role will primarily support the financial and administrative functions of the Government, working with the Chief Executive to deliver a balanced budget and also working with the Operations Director on logistics relating principally to our fisheries patrol vessel.Recruitment: Finance, Administration and Logistics Officer[...]

A new stamp issue which gives audiences a new perspective on Grytviken was released on 10th May. Although nothing can stop the advance of time and the ravages of the South Georgia weather, new technologies mean that the whaling stations and some of the stories associated with them can be captured in detail like never before.Stamp Release: 3D Grytviken[...]

Her Majesty’s Commissioner, Nigel Phillips CBE, introduced the GSGSSI presentation at this year’s IAATO AGM held in Cape Town between the 1st and 3rd May 2019. The Commissioner spoke about GSGSSI’s mantra of evidence-based decision making, preparations for growing number of visitors, and the importance of collaboration and development of strategic relationships with IAATO as a way to achieve our aims.2019 IAATO Annual General Meeting – Cape Town[...]

With such a large and unpopulated island like South Georgia, it is the visitors who play a crucial role in alerting authorities to potential non-native species, and GSGSSI is interested in maximising this potential for visitors to play an intrinsic part of our monitoring and management of the island. A couple of examples this season have highlighted how visitors (now surpassing 10k per annum in number) can be our eyes on the ground.Citizen Science - Ten Thousand Eyes on South Georgia[...]

GSGSSI is pleased to publish its audited 31 December 2017 financial accounts. They show an operating surplus of over £1.3m which can be used to support us to meet our stretching strategic objectives as identified in our 2015 strategy and help ensure compliance with our rigorous conservation measures.SGSSI Financial Statements[...]

The December – January Newsletter can now be read. MPA Enhancements; Grytviken Conservation Management Plan; Biosecurity Detector Dog Programme; New Funding Uses Seabirds As Sentinels Of South Atlantic and more.South Georgia Newsletter[...]

The Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands are pleased to release the final version of the Grytviken Conservation Management Plan. This document has been prepared by heritage consultants Purcell following recommendations from the SGSSI Heritage Framework Strategy.Grytviken Conservation Management Plan[...]

GSGSSI is pleased to announce an extended biosecurity detector dog programme. This follows a successful pilot programme, where specially trained dogs were deployed on vessels bound for South Georgia tasked with detecting rats and mice.Biosecurity Detector Dog Programme for the South Atlantic[...]

The Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands is pleased to announce a range of additional measures for its Marine Protected Area which will greatly enhance the protection and conservation of the Territory’s rich marine biodiversity. Drawing on the recommendations arising from the recent 5-yearly review of the SGSSI Marine Protected Area, GSGSSI will extend the current MPA legislation across its entire 1.24m km2 Maritime Zone. No-take zones (NTZ), which will be closed to all commercial fishing activity, will be expanded to cover 23% (284,000km2) of the MPA; an area which greatly exceeds the size of the UK.South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands MPA Enhancements[...]

The October – November Newsletter can now be read. MPA Review Advisory Group Report Published; Horizon Scanning Workshop Deliver ‘Most Unwanted’ List Of Invasive Species; Elephant Seal Bite; BAS Acoustic Buoy Recovery and more.South Georgia Newsletter[...]

A British gentleman visiting Salisbury Plain on board an expedition cruise ship, received serious but non-life threatening injuries when he was bitten by a bull elephant seal on Monday 12th November.Elephant Seal Bite[...]

The first 5-year review of the SGSSI sustainable use Marine Protected Area is reaching its conclusion and the Government is pleased to share the report of the MPA Advisory Group. The report was compiled by Dr Colin Clubbe, the Independent Chair of the MPA Advisory Group, to synthesis the outcomes and advice provided by the Group through the MPA Review Process.Report of the MPA Review Advisory Group Published[...]

The Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands is delighted to announce the release of it’s latest set of stamps which commemorates the centenary of the end of World War I and the role Shackleton’s men played in the conflict. This set is part of a complementary issue of stamps with the British Antarctic Territory to mark this milestone anniversary.New Stamp Release ‘Centenary of the end of World War I – Shackleton’s Men’[...]

GSGSSI launch the latest issue of stamps celebrating Migratory Species. This issue is the first of a series of complimentary suite of stamps being issued in 2018 by British Overseas Territories including Ascension Island, British Antarctic Territory, Falkland Islands and Tristan da Cunha.South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands Migratory Species Stamps[...]

The August – September Newsletter can now be read. 'Terrestrial Protected Areas Consultation', 'Record Of The June 2018 MPA Review Workshop', '2018 Stakeholder Meeting', 'Norway Trip', 'New Map Of South Georgia Wins Award' and more.South Georgia Newsletter[...]

This week, the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands released a commemorative stamp issue to celebrate the Royal Wedding between the Duke and Dutchess of Sussex. The Prince of Wales announced the engagement of his youngest son Prince Harry to Ms. Meghan Markle on 27 November 2017.Stamps Released To Celebrate The Royal Wedding - The Duke and Duchess of Sussex[...]

GSGSSI is pleased to announce the release of the second Terrestrial Protected Areas consultation and presentation of UNEP-WCMC’s final proposals. This final consultation document provides a synthesis of the feedback received from the first consultation which was held in May, and demonstrates how the feedback received from stakeholders has informed an updated portfolio of recommendations.Terrestrial Protected Areas Consultation[...]

The June – July Newsletter can now be viewed - 'Happy Midwinter From South Georgia!, 'MPA Advisory Group Considers Further Evidence', 'Biosecurity Review', 'Heritage Survey Works At Grytviken' and more.South Georgia Newsletter[...]

GSGSSI today releases the results of its annual biosecurity review. Ensuring South Georgia’s biodiversity is protected from invasive species is every visitor’s responsibility, from Government employee to tourist; and remains a strategic priority for GSGSSI. We remain constantly alert to new biosecurity threats and ensure our policies remain up to date and reflect best practice standards. In order to achieve this, each year we undertake an annual review of biosecurity.Annual Biosecurity Review and Release of the 2018-19 Biosecurity Handbook[...]

The Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands is delighted to share the final report of a recent biosecurity audit. The visit was undertaken by biosecurity specialist Dr Gillian Key from the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat (GBNNSS).Biosecurity Specialist Provides Technical Support To GSGSSI[...]