Darwin Plus Funding Schemes, 2024

The Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) is proud to promote and encourage science that contributes to developing and upholding best-practice environmental management and that supports the active management and good governance of the Territory. We are therefore delighted by the announcement of the latest round of Darwin Initiative funding for Local, Main and Strategic proposals, and welcome applications that will contribute to the broader aims of the Government.

Invitation To Submit Proposals To Act As Mint For Commemorative Coins

An invitation from the Commissioner of the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands is to submit proposals to act as the Government’s Mint for the production of commemorative coins. The Commissioner is seeking to appoint a suitably competent and experienced Mint that can provide high quality commemorative coins in accordance with designs and specifications provided by the Government.

HPAI Confirmed In Penguin Populations On South Georgia

HPAI has now been confirmed from 23 sites across South Georgia. Species which have historically tested positive for HPAI H5N1 include: brown skua, kelp gul, wandering albatross, elephant seal and Antarctic fur seal. The most recent results from samples taken in early February have confirmed the presence of the disease in one colony of gentoo penguins and one colony of king penguins on South Georgia.

Plans To Introduce Significant Enhancements To Marine Protection In The Southern Ocean

Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands announces plans to introduce significant enhancements to marine protection in the Southern Ocean. The announcement of an additional 166,000km2 of ‘No Take Zones’, covering an area 8 times the size of Wales, will result in 449,000km2 of highly biodiverse marine habitat being closed to all fishing activity.

Toothfish Fishery Licence Application 2024

GSGSSI are pleased to announce the opening of the licence application round for the 2024 South Georgia toothfish fishery.

Avian Flu Now Detected In Albatrosses On South Georgia

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has been confirmed in Wadnering Albatross populations on South Georgia.

GSGSSI Welcomes Mairi Macleod As The New Director of Operations.

After a thorough recruitment and selection process, are pleased to announce that Mairi will be joining the GSGSSI team in Stanley in March, following a handover with our departing Director of Operations Steve Winn.

Expressions Of Interest Invited – Specialist HR Services

The GSGSSI is seeking expressions of interest from those able to provide specialist HR services.

Avian Influenza Detected In Mammals In Sub-Antarctica For The First Time

The presence of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) has today (Thursday 11 January) been confirmed for the first time in mammals in sub-Antarctica. The disease was detected in elephant and fur seals on the island of South Georgia by experts from the UK’s world-leading Animal Plant Health Agency (APHA).

Opening of the toothfish licence application round

GSGSSI are pleased to announce the opening of the licence application round for the 2024/25 South Sandwich Islands toothfish fishery (CCAMLR Subarea 48.4).

United Front for UK Overseas Territories in the South Atlantic

In a significant step towards supporting marine conservation efforts in the South Atlantic, the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is pleased to announce the successful transition of ownership of Pharos Marine Limited (part of the Falklands based Byron group) to Workboat Services Limited, ensuring the continued operational presence of the vessel MV Pharos SG in the South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands Maritime Zone.

Enhanced Measures for Terrestrial Protected Area Introduced For South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands

Enhanced Measures for Terrestrial Protected Area Introduced For South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (30th October 2023) Today the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) has introduced a comprehensive Management Plan and new regulations to further protect terrestrial habitats and the remarkable animals and plants found there. In 2022, the entire…

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed in brown skua populations on Bird Island, South Georgia

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed in brown skua populations on Bird Island, South Georgia (23rd October 2023) Following reports of several potentially symptomatic birds and unexplained mortality by British Antarctic Survey (BAS) staff, testing at the Animal and Plant Health Agency laboratories in Weybridge has been confirmed the presence of Highly Pathogenic…

Biosecurity Handbook Update Released

The latest version of the Government of South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands Biosecurity Handbook is now available online.

The Handbook details the procedures which are in place to help reduce the risk of harmful non-native species and disease entering the Territory, along with the steps in place to detect them and limit their spread should they arrive.

Marine Protected Area 5-Year Review Science Symposium: 13th – 14th June 2023

Search Generic filters Marine Protected Area 5-Year Review Science Symposium: 13th – 14th June 2023  June 1, 2023 We are pleased to announce that we will be holding a 2-day Science Symposium on the 13th and 14th June 2023 as part of the 5-year review of our Marine Protected Area. The symposium will be available…

Historic Former Whaling Building Has Opened For The First Time

Following sympathetic restoration, South Georgia’s ‘Main Store’ depicts what life on the subantarctic island was like during the mid-20th century. The original Main Store on the subantarctic island of South Georgia has opened to visitors for the very first time, after almost five years of sympathetic restoration and curation by GSGSSI and SGHT.

Invitation To Tender – Scientific Fisheries Observer Provision

The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands manages sustainable fisheries for toothfish, icefish and krill in the SGSSI Maritime Zone. The Government takes an ecosystem-based precautionary approach to fisheries management, underpinned by scientific research and robust monitoring and enforcement, and demands high standards across all aspects of fisheries management.

Steve Brown Awarded The Polar Medal

His Majesty King Charles III has been graciously pleased to approve the awarding of the Polar Medal to Mr Steven Brown, who until March 2022 was the GSGSSI Director of Operations. The medal is awarded for outstanding achievement and service to the United Kingdom in the field of polar research.

South Sandwich Islands Stamp Release

Following a thorough tendering process, the Government of South Georgia has announced that the vessel Vinson of Antarctica has been selected to support a wandering albatross survey planned for 2024.

GSGSSI Policy Updates

Following a thorough tendering process, the Government of South Georgia has announced that the vessel Vinson of Antarctica has been selected to support a wandering albatross survey planned for 2024.

GSGSSI Biosecurity Handbook

Following a thorough tendering process, the Government of South Georgia has announced that the vessel Vinson of Antarctica has been selected to support a wandering albatross survey planned for 2024.

South Georgia Museum Stamp Release

This week, the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) was delighted to release a stamp set to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of The South Georgia Museum. The South Georgia Museum at Grytviken is owned by GSGSSI, and operated by the South Georgia Heritage Trust, a charity registered in Scotland. The Museum plays a vital role in safeguarding the cultural and historical heritage of the UK Overseas Territory of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands.

Pathway to Protection for South Georgia & the South Sandwich Island

GSGSSI announces its intention today to designate Terrestrial Protected Areas that will cover the entire landmass of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands. This announcement is an important step to support the aspirational vision of ‘environmental recovery and resilience through world-leading evidence-based sustainable management’ as detailed in Protect Sustain Inspire, the new stewardship framework for the Islands published in January 2021.