News Archive

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[...]

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[...]