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Online SGA Talk – 18 November 2021 – Saving Ocean Wanderers

30 July 2021

The South Georgia Association is pleased to present another online talk on Thursday 18 November 2021.

Who and What:

Saving Ocean Wanderers – why Japan is important in the fight to save South Georgia albatross, with Steph Prince and Yasuko Suzuki.

Steph Prince is the High Seas Programme Manager for the BirdLife Marine Programme, leading projects to reduce seabird bycatch in global tuna fisheries around the world. She was previously a Zoological Field Assistant for the British Antarctic Survey, wintering at both Bird Island and King Edward Point.

Yasuko Suzuki is the Japan Marine Programme Office for BirdLife International, leading engagement work with the Japanese fishing industry, government, the tuna supply chain and the Japanese public to reduce seabird bycatch in distant water High Seas fleets.

Despite protections being put in place to stop albatrosses and other seabirds being accidentally killed in South Georgia waters in the early 2000’s, albatross populations continue to decline to this day. Since 2004 BirdLife International have been working to reduce albatross bycatch on the High Seas, where less protection for seabirds has been in place. Tracking studies have shown where conservation efforts need to be concentrated, and which fleets pose the greatest risk. Japan is one of the countries that has the potential to make the biggest difference to albatross conservation and so Yasuko is working to engage the fishing industry and public to make the oceans safer for South Georgia albatross.

Where: The Comfort of your own Home, via Zoom

When: 1930 GMT on Thursday 18 November 2021

Cost: Free

Registration Details will be distributed nearer the time by email to members and then on this website and on Facebook for the wider audience..

Pathway to Protection – GSGSSI Announces Terrestrial Protected Area Management.

28 June 2021

The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands has released details of its strategy for managing the territory under the banner ‘Pathway to Protection’.

This will be a two-phased approach, involving the declaration of Terrestrial Protected Areas, and will treat two areas differently.

South Georgia and its surrounding islands will be managed so as to balance access with protection, very much along the lines of what already happens. The South Sandwich Islands will be closed to visitors, although there are already very few anyway, to preserve its even more unspoilt nature.

The Pathway to protection will be implemented in two phases. In phase I, the South Sandwich Islands will be closed to most visitors, and South Georgia will carry on much in the way it already does. Phase II will consist of information gathering and consultation, to gather the information needed to determine the need for, and the methods of implementing, more localised management plans.

An advisory group will be convened to help with this, including, we hope, representatives of the South Georgia Association.

Click Here to see More Information on the GSGSSI Website

Online SGA Talk – 12 August 2021 – The Shackleton Crossing by a Repeat Offender

28 June 2021

The South Georgia Association is pleased to present another online talk on Thursday 12 August 2021.

Who and What:

The Shackleton Crossing by a Repeat Offender: Since taking part in the IMAX film ‘Shackleton’s Antarctic Adventure’ in 2000, Stephen Venables has followed Shackleton’s route from King Haakon Bay to Stromness no less than four times, with a fifth crossing scheduled for 2022. He will describe the route and some of the peaks he has climbed along the way. His pictures will also highlight drastic changes to the landscape since 1916.

The Crossing in its setting: Following Stephen’s graphic description of following in Shackleton’s footsteps, Bob Burton will describe the hazardous arrival of the crew of the James Caird at South Georgia and their landing in Cave Cove. He will then take up the story again as Shackleton, Worsley and Crean arrive at Stromness and recover from their ordeal.

Where: The Comfort of your own Home, via Zoom

When: 1930 BST (1830 GMT/UTC) on Thursday 12 August 2021

Cost: Free

Registration Details will be distributed nearer the time by email to members and then on this website and on Facebook for the wider audience..

Morag Husband Campbell Medal 2021 – Awarded to Bob Headland

22 May 2021
MHC Medal
The Morag Husband Campbell Medal

The South Georgia Association is delighted to announce the award for the Morag Husband Campbell Medal for 2021 to Bob Headland, “For outstanding and sustained contributions to the history and knowledge of South Georgia and to extending the wider appreciation of the island“. The medal will be presented to Bob at the next live event, but a virtual presentation was made at the online AGM on 7 May 2021.

The South Georgia Gazetteer

29 June 2021

[UPDATED 28 June 2021] Ever wondered how a place on South Georgia got its name? The Antarctic Place Names Committee (APC) maintains the gazetteer for the South Georgia Government. You can see it on the APC website HERE that is managed by the British Antarctic Survey. For convenience Pat Lurcock has put together a document derived from the APC data that you can download with some of the details:

Download the document here:

SGSSI Gazetteer (619 KB)

April 2021 Newsletter Published

18 April 2021

The South Georgia Association’s April 2021 Newsletter has been published. Attached are the 2021 audited accounts summary and a cut-out-and-make model of the RRS James Clark Ross, which features in the Newsletter.

Members’ copies will be in the post soon and we will send you an email link for the digital version.

Older issues are free for anybody to download from the newsletters page of this website. (Now including last April’s Newsletter)
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