South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands green fuel energy solutions

Should the South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands have a no-take marine area?

Scientists and governments are calling for large no-take marine areas, free from industrial exploitation. The South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area is undergoing its second five-yearly review. Recovery of baleen whales coupled with climate change, means managers must be alert to alternative future ecosystem states.

Who owns South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands?

The United Kingdom claimed sovereignty over South Georgia in 1775 and the South Sandwich Islands in 1908. The UK Overseas Territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) was formed in 1985, whereas previously it had been governed as part of the Falkland Islands Dependencies.

What is the future of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands?

The future management of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands For more than two centuries, exploitation of the wildlife of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands has provided revenue, albeit interrupted as serial overharvesting has destroyed stocks, in some instances taking species to the verge of extinction (see Introduction).

What are the priority recommendations to the South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands MPa review?

Priority recommendations to the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands MPA Review (see main paper for more details) include: 1. Implement the revised CCAMLR management framework for the krill fishery, with initial priority emphasis on the winter period at South Georgia.

Does South Georgia have a krill fishery?

At South Georgia, all published acoustic surveys for krill have been undertaken in summer, whereas the krill fishery is only permitted to operate within the SGSSI MPA during winter. Hence, knowledge about the true state of the krill stock within the MPA at the time harvesting takes place is limited.

How should fisheries be managed in South Georgia?

Fisheries management needs to be responsive to ongoing change, including where ecological data or management data are sparse (see section above, Exploitation by industrial fisheries). Pelagic off-shore closed areas to protect baleen whale trophic linkages should now be implemented around South Georgia.