News Archive

The COVID-19 pandemic presents a range of obstacles to navigate in order for the 2020/21 tourism season to take place, however GSGSSI is committed to meet the challenge and facilitate visits where possible, without compromising on our commitment to safe and environmentally sensitive tourism. South Georgia remains free from COVID-19 and we will be taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of staff and visitors. We have been working on a detailed plan to help deliver a tourism season and develop measures to provide the safeguards needed to protect South Georgia.South Georgia Stands Ready To Welcome Visitors[...]

Deadline now extended to the 14th of June: We are writing a plan to help protect South Georgia and its wildlife and we need your help! South Georgia is a special place. Right at the bottom of the Atlantic, near Antarctica, it is home to more seabirds and seals than anywhere else on earth. Our plan will describe how we will make sure that South Georgia remains safe and protected, and a place that can be enjoyed for years to come, and we’d like your ideas.‘Future South Georgia’ competition[...]

The completion marks the latest milestone for the £140m UK Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme commissioned by UKRI-NERC and undertaken by the BAS. The new wharf and mooring dolphin provide the extra capability required to berth the new UK polar research vessel, the RRS Sir David Attenborough. The MV Pharos SG, fishery patrol and logistics support vessel, will also use the new wharf.Sub-Antarctic Island Celebrates Shackleton Day With New Wharf For The RRS Sir David Attenborough[...]

The February – March Newsletter can now be read: GSGSSI – COVID-19 Update; Blue Whale Comeback At South Georgia!; King Edward Point – Project Blog; SGSSI In The News; Latest Videos And Photos.South Georgia Newsletter[...]

South Georgia remains free from Covid-19. GSGSSI have implemented strict procedures to minimise the risk of exposure to staff at South Georgia, and work continues in as normal a fashion as possible on the island. The tourist season is now complete and Grytviken will remain closed to visitors until at least August 2020. The wharf development continues with works entering the final phase, and preparations for the upcoming fishing season are continuing.GSGSSI COVID-19 Update[...]

In response to the fast evolving global pandemic of COVID-19 the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands has decided to suspend visits to King Edward Point and Grytviken until the end of this tourist season. This means that the Museum and Post Office operations at Grytviken are closed.Precautionary Measures at Grytviken[...]

The December – January Newsletter can now be read: Joint Statement On Search For Missing C-130; South Georgia Celebrates Possession Day; GSGSSI Biosecurity Dog Programme; King Edward Point Wharf Development: Grytviken Whaling Station and more.South Georgia Newsletter[...]

245 years ago on 17th January, James Cook, after 3 years at sea, took possession of South Georgia and claimed the land for His Britannic Majesty, King George the Third. On what must have been a routine summer’s day in the South West Atlantic, the explorer described what he had discovered as a ‘land doomed by nature to perpetual frigidness’.South Georgia Celebrates Possession Day 2020[...]

British Forces South Atlantic Islands wishes to extend its condolences to the family of all those tragically lost on Monday 9th December. The Commander of BFSAI thanks all who contributed to supporting the UK’s search effort for the missing Chilean C-130 aircraft. The search made full use of assets and personnel available including military resources and those of the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands and the Falkland Islands Government.Joint Statement On Search For Missing C-130[...]

The October – November Newsletter can now be read: Biosecurity Dog Programme Commences; Science Morning; New Wharf At King Edward Point; Site-Specific Commission: Grytviken Whaling Station, South Georgia and more.South Georgia Newsletter[...]

The Government is pleased to announce the launch the next mackerel icefish licensing round. The documentation published today provides information for anyone applying for a two-year licence to fish for mackerel icefish in the South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands Maritime Zone for the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasonsLaunch of 2-Year Mackerel Icefish Licensing Round[...]

In September of this year, The Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands welcomed over 40 scientists to Kew Gardens to share with others, mainly scientists who have recently worked on SGSSI, why South Georgia is so important to their work.2019 Science Morning[...]

The Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands is pleased to announce the release of its latest stamp issue, which marks the centenary of the Scott Polar Research Institute. Founded in 1920, as part of the University of Cambridge, the Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI) is the oldest international centre for polar research within a university.Centenary of the Scott Polar Research Institute - Stamp Release[...]

Heavy Fuel Oil Prohibition brought into force across the South Sandwich Islands following GSGSSI announcements in December 2018. No vessels have been permitted to use Heavy fuel Oil in the area identified in the Heavy Fuel Oil (Prohibition of Carriage and Use) Ordinance 2019 (No 5 of 2019) since last December. This will be extended to cover the whole of our Marine Protected Area (MPA) by 31 December 2020.Heavy Fuel Oil Prohibition Brought Into Force Across The South Sandwich Islands[...]

GSGSSI has made amendments to the 2019 Customs Order to remove the distinction between yachts and other vessels. This will see an increase in the Customs Fees payable by yachts.Customs Order Amendments To Remove Distinction Between Yachts And Other Vessels[...]

GSGSSI is delighted to announce the start of a new Biosecurity Dog Programme. This long-term programme follows intensive pilot studies and trials using specially trained rodent detection dogs to ‘sniff out’ rodents hiding on vessels or in cargo bound for South Georgia, and therefore to prevent them reaching South Georgia.Biosecurity Dog Programme Commences[...]

The Habitats Restored stamp issue, which celebrates the recovery of the South Georgia environment following the removal of invasive species, is now available to buy online and in post office shops in South Georgia and the Falkland Islands.Habitats Restored Stamps[...]

The Aug – Sept Newsletter can now be read: Annual Report; Financial Statements; Biosecurity Review And Release Of Handbook; Science and Stakeholder Event; Pauline Carr – RIP; New South Georgia Museum Curator Appointed and moreSouth Georgia Newsletter[...]

The Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands today publishes its Annual Report 2018 and Financial Statements to 31 December 2018. The report gives an overview of the governments principal activities in 2018 across the key areas of its strategy. The Financial Statements show a surplus of £1.8 for 2018, taking our General Revenue Fund to over £10m.Latest GSGSSI Annual Report and GSGSSI Financial Statements[...]

The Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands today releases the 2019-2020 Biosecurity Handbook. 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 a review of biosecurity within the Territory.Annual Biosecurity Review & Release of the 2019-2020 Biosecurity Handbook[...]

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[...]