Welcome to South Georgia

From South Georgia Website

Stunningly beautiful and rugged, this island wildlife sanctuary, once visited, is not easily forgotten. Its snow covered peaks, blue glacier ice and emerald green bays, are breathtaking sights.

It is a real "oasis" in the stormy southern oceans and is home to sea and land birds, seals and reindeer. This site aims to provide a window to this fragile environment - and offer the chance to discover more about what makes the island of South Georgia so special.

16/01/12: The December 'News and Events' can be viewed here. 11/01/12: In order to stimulate new research on SG and to develop new scientific collaborations, GSGSSI is offering a number of small grants to work at the research station at KEP. Details here. 12/12/11: The 2012 Toothfish and Icefish information and application forms can now be downloaded here. 09/12/11: The SGSSI Financial Statements for the year ending 31st December 2010 can be downloaded here [pdf, 0.1mb]. 06/12/11: Court dismisses judicial review action brought against the SG Director of Fisheries - more here. 25/11/11: Following a wide consultation, GSGSSI took the decision in early 2011 to responsibly and humanely eradicate reindeer from SG. An expert advisory group was established to inform the most appropriate way to achieve the eradication, with reference to best practice guidelines around the world. Report on the outputs of the Advisory Group on Reindeer Management Methodology here [pdf, 1.9mb]. 19/10/11: The SG Biodiversity Reports Intertidal and Subtidal Benthic Seaweed Diversity of South Georgia [pdf, 1.0mb] and Intertidal Assemblages of South Georgia [pdf, 3.6mb] for the SGHT can be downloaded. 19/09/11: Latest fishing data here. 14/09/11: The latest SGSSI Gazette can be downloaded here [pdf, 0.384mb]. 21/07/11: The 'Inspection of the Disused Shore-Based Whaling Stations' report and gazetteers for the five sites can be downloaded here. 27/06/11: Details of a new South Georgia stamp release, 'South Georgia Petrels' by the artist John Gale here. The stamps are due for release on the 10th August 2011. 03/06/11: Latest versions of the 'Information for Visitors to SG', 'SGSSI Visit Application Forms' and 'Permit Holder Landing Declaration' documents can be downloaded here. The visitors Code of Conduct and Tourism Management Policy have also been updated. 01/06/11: GSGSSI is pleased to announce the enactment of the Wildlife and Protected Areas Ordinance (2011). The Ordinance replaces legislation which is in some instances nearly 100 years old, and provides for the protection of wildlife and habitats on land and at sea. The full press release can be downloaded here [pdf, 0.6mb]. 24/05/11: The 'Invasive Species Monitoring of South Georgia' progress report for JNCC can be downloaded here: 20/01/11: GSGSSI has published their strategic objectives for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands for 2010 - 2015 - here.

The 'Island of South Georgia' iPhone/iPad App can be downloaded free from Apple's App Store. SGSSI legislation documents from 1985 to 2010 can now be downloaded here. Complete list of all documents that can be downloaded from this site here. The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) Plan summarises the current status of work at SGSSI, and provides guidelines for a prioritised programme of future work. Details here. Expedition Reports from 2004-2011 can now be downloaded here. The South Georgia Geographic Information System (SGGIS) enables researchers and the public to see the islands' environmental landscape in a completely new way and will help to manage and protect the wildlife. View the South Georgia Geographic Information System here. Details of how the South Georgia fishery is managed and other licensing information to download can be found - here. The South Georgia Patagonian toothfish fishery has been certified by the Marine Stewardship Council. You can read more - here and re-certified details here.