Wednesday, December 7th 2011 - 18:57 UTC

UK plans a huge South Atlantic marine protection zone in South Georgia

The UK is planning a huge marine protection zone near the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, in an area that is also claimed by Argentina, a British official said on Wednesday.

Grytviken, the old whaling station and where British polar explorer Shackleton is buried

The Times newspaper reported that the zone measuring one million square kilometres will be around the island of South Georgia, where the Falklands war began nearly 30 years ago, and the South Sandwich Islands.

A British official speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed the details in The Times and said a formal announcement was due in the coming days by the government of South Georgia.

“We are planning a marine protection area. There's no real secret about it, we have talked to the stakeholders and discussed it with the fishing industry” the official said. “These are UK waters that are under discussion.”

The marine zone would allow authorities to ban the slaughter of whales and other wildlife, while fishing would only be permitted in designated areas, the Times said. It is a habitat for penguins, walruses and Patagonian toothfish, it added.

The Foreign Office in London said any announcement on the subject would be made by the government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, but said it would back such a marine zone.

“We would support moves which preserve the rich biodiversity of the Islands, which is a habitat for seven species of globally threatened seabirds,” a Foreign Office spokesman said in an emailed statement.

”The UK has no doubt about the sovereignty over the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (and the Falklands)”.

A Whitehall source explained that “Argentina, like the United Kingdom, is a signatory of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Living Resources so we would like to think that common interest in conservation will carry more weight than the dispute over sovereignty.”

The move has already triggered a backlash from Argentina as Ruperto Godoy, member of the Lower House's Argentine Foreign Relations committee, came on stage and told The Times reporters that “South Georgia Island is an integral part of our national territory”, and added, “The UK must obey international law and return them to Argentina peacefully.”

Plans for the zone come after Argentina intensified its claims of sovereignty over the South Atlantic Islands, particularly the Falkland Islands by challenging Spanish fishing vessels with Falklands’ government licences for “illegally fishing in Argentine waters” and on suspicion of breaking Argentina’s “blockade” of the seas around the Islands.

South Georgia was occupied by invading Argentine forces in April 1982 when the South Atlantic conflict, but the British Task Force recaptured them on 25 April. In 1985South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ceased to be administered as a Falkland Islands Dependency and became a separate British Overseas Territory.

The King Edward Point base, which had become a small military garrison after the Falklands’ conflict was returned to civilian use in 2001 and is now operated by the British Antarctic Survey.

Plans to make the South Georgia area a huge marine protection zone were already mentioned at the time but were kept in the freezer to avoid further disputes with the UK.
 

64 comments Feed

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1 Islas Malvinas (#) Dec 07th, 2011 - 07:37 pm Report abuse
Green Pirats
2 xbarilox (#) Dec 07th, 2011 - 07:57 pm Report abuse
yepe, and yet they say those are not British colonies :)
3 Islas Malvinas (#) Dec 07th, 2011 - 07:59 pm Report abuse
Oh no! For God sake! British colonies?
4 xbarilox (#) Dec 07th, 2011 - 08:03 pm Report abuse
what happened? where's the fire? call the police!
5 Kiwisarg (#) Dec 07th, 2011 - 08:29 pm Report abuse
1 Islas Malvinas (#)
yess!! Green Pirates!! just have a look this!!
www.youtube.com/​watch?v=b04LxdCUZbk&feature​=channel_video_title
6 xbarilox (#) Dec 07th, 2011 - 08:37 pm Report abuse
@ 5 Taking care of the environment is a good idea. Why do you oppose it? It think this will be benefitial for all of us.
7 Viscount Falkland (#) Dec 07th, 2011 - 09:18 pm Report abuse
Argentina just want it so they can fish the arse out of it like they have done to thier own stocks.They are a backward and simple race who only understand take, take, take and not balance and give and take . On a lighter note they are welcome to take as many walruses as they can find !
8 Marcos Alejandro (#) Dec 07th, 2011 - 09:47 pm Report abuse
First they killed the wildlife by the millions, like the penguins, and now they are trying to “protect the wildlife”. What a joke and desperate these Brits are.
They did the same thing in Chagos Islands trying to keep their expelled citizens out.

“Chagos Islanders attack plan to turn archipelago into protected area

”UK government proposals a ploy to block displaced Chagossians from returning to their homeland”

www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/mar/29/chagos-island-marine-reserve-plans
9 stick up your junta (#) Dec 07th, 2011 - 09:55 pm Report abuse
like the penguins

like the argies give a shit

Patagonian anchovy fishery could threaten penguins

www.nature.com/news/2007/070101/full/news070101-4.html
www.care2.com/news/member/525884267/264315
10 Papamoa (#) Dec 07th, 2011 - 10:36 pm Report abuse
Good the UK taking care of the enviroment and there territory! Britain leading the way and showing the stiff upper lip in the face of argentine lies.
11 O gara (#) Dec 07th, 2011 - 10:48 pm Report abuse
Its a classic England saving the World with its green agenda after Sheffield,Manchester and Blackburn destroying the ozone layer for centuries.The English should be forced to clean up the World environment all on their own they caused such damage.
But you have to admire their cheek.Argentina aprende there is only one way to treat perfidious albion
12 Troneas (#) Dec 07th, 2011 - 11:04 pm Report abuse
@8

Eh. Chagos islanders not elegible for “self-determination” my brit friends?

how come?
13 Redhoyt (#) Dec 07th, 2011 - 11:27 pm Report abuse
The owners can do what they like with their private property.

Anyone like to explain Argenina's hilarious claim to South Georgia :-)

Anyone ?
14 Marcos Alejandro (#) Dec 08th, 2011 - 12:54 am Report abuse
Redhoyt, You are wrong as always, of course you learned all your lies in England...

Thursday 08 December 2011

“Exam boards: how examiners tip off teachers to help students pass”

www.telegraph.co.uk/education/secondaryeducation/8940781/Exam-boards-how-examiners-tip-off-teachers-to-help-students-pass.html
15 Redhoyt (#) Dec 08th, 2011 - 01:26 am Report abuse
No answer then MoreCrap ?

Argentina's claim to South Georgia is one of the biggest jokes in its diplomatic history !
16 livin' in argentina (#) Dec 08th, 2011 - 02:09 am Report abuse
11 O gara (#) Dec 07th, 2011 -
“Its a classic England saving the World with its green agenda after Sheffield,Manchester and Blackburn destroying the ozone layer for centuries”.

You need to understand that the statement above says “UK plans a huge South Atlantic marine protection zone in South Georgia”. England is part of the UK. The other countries are Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The persistent use of England to refer to the UK is understandable if you have not been educated on this matter.

“The English should be forced to clean up the World environment all on their own they caused such damage”.
Again, i refer you to the above with regards to the “English”. So the “English” have caused 100% of all the pollution in the world? What an interesting fact. Where did you discover this? please forward the literature to me.

“But you have to admire their cheek.Argentina aprende there is only one way to treat perfidious albion”
Actually there is more than one way. With respect is one good example. With intelligent dialogue another. This is not a new concept to the modern developed countrys of the world but a common mistake in the third worlds nations.
17 fantazum2011 (#) Dec 08th, 2011 - 04:30 am Report abuse
The penguins must have started migrating to chile and argentina again so this is a ploy to entice them back....typical english trickery
18 JustinKuntz (#) Dec 08th, 2011 - 08:45 am Report abuse
Ah the usual standards from our Argentine contributors. Think of the image of your country that you portray, its like you were all 12. Actually strike that, my 7 year old is capable of more intelligent commentary.
19 Rhaurie-Craughwell (#) Dec 08th, 2011 - 09:45 am Report abuse
“The UK must obey international law and return them to Argentina peacefully.”

HAHAHAHA now which international law said that? There's the devil in the detail about why negotiations never happen.....

But hang on a second what can Argentina do about it.....not very much...apart from whinge and whine, a bit like our infantile Daygo friends on here :) I see alot of pirates this and EEEEEENGLISH that, and Morecraps usual incessant rabbings about penguins ......but nothing constructive....ah bliss, if the worst Argentina will ever do is intimidate about 12 trawlers (out of a fleet of 200) and whine on the world stage......Falklanders can sleep safe at night :)
20 lsolde (#) Dec 08th, 2011 - 10:05 am Report abuse
They interpret laws as they see fit, to suit themselves.
Go on boys, answer the question, explain Argentina's “claims” to South Georgia, the South Sandwich lslands & Antarctica.
l am all ears & eagerly awaiting your reply.
We've heard from Think(pathetic answer) & MalArg(a more honest answer)on this.
Nows your chance, amigos.
Talk & tell all.
21 ed (#) Dec 08th, 2011 - 10:10 am Report abuse
(#) 16 Amigo
England,Scotland,N.Ireland,Wales are represented separetely in
UEFA,FIFA organizations , but not represented seperately in EU,,UN,.
What an interesting fact !,What a double standart ! isn't it ?
22 stick up your junta (#) Dec 08th, 2011 - 10:28 am Report abuse
@ Ga ga
The English should be forced to clean up the World environment all on their own they caused such damage.

Argentina’s forests are among those that are disappearing. Today only 30% of the country’s original forests remain.

ENVIRONMENT-ARGENTINA:
More Soy, Less Forest - and No Water
ipsnews.net/africa/interna.asp?idnews=27911

DESERTIFICATION IN CENTRAL ARGENTINA
Many arid and semiarid (dryland) regions are subject to desertification from
intensive land-use pressures such as cattle ranching.
23 Yuleno (#) Dec 08th, 2011 - 01:05 pm Report abuse
Why didn't the British protect their own cod stock instead of extending it's territorial waters to 250 miles.why did they use Christmas island to test the bomb.Why have they lost manufacturing industry?Green issues follow the uk's ability to implement them rather than the other way around.The idea behind this protection is the robber talking nice while he robs you.He is still a criminal
24 bigron (#) Dec 08th, 2011 - 01:37 pm Report abuse
First things first and here's a bit of a tip-off - the Argie Bargies are investing in submersibles capable of firing torpedoes at British shipping - why? I wonder. They have acquired technology from Northern Europe via North Korea, I am reliably informed. This project is secret and therefore, it's being run by the marine police force, you know, the one's with that very nice polyester beige uniform. Does anyone really care what the Argentines say? Remember, their government robbing them blind again, whilst they stand by and watch, they always just stand by and watch, then blame everyone else for their stupidity. Their currencies under pressure and in a week or two they will not be able to pay their bills again, so they will ‘rape’ their people – starting with the rich of course, because the current government is a socialist crew (well maybe not this week, 'market friendly ahora' becuase the 'muddle' or is that the 'model' needs tinkering with, and they have some morals you know – hahahaha) and the rich, the black marketeers, well they are just trying to get their money out the country – forget the Argentines, it's really easy to do, they will be too busy eating in soup kitchens again in a few months time and blaming the world for their woes.
25 stick up your junta (#) Dec 08th, 2011 - 01:40 pm Report abuse
Argentine Hake On the Brink of Collapse
By Marcela Valente*
ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=51741
26 tipstonga (#) Dec 08th, 2011 - 03:44 pm Report abuse
Argentine and British politicians use these things to hide their local problems. Weapons dealers also benefit from these.
It is time for United Nations to take international control of South Atlantic Sea and its islands and protect that environment to continue with full internationalization of Antarctic Continent.
Falklands Islands -only with population in the zone - deserves to be an independent country like any other.
Only doing so will peace be brought.
27 Islander1 (#) Dec 08th, 2011 - 03:59 pm Report abuse
26- quite a lot of sense in what you say indeed!But I fear the non British side on here would vehemently object - but as an Falkland Islander I would go with you. Falklands and S. Georgia etc already work with UN on fisheries conservation where we can.
28 Juanweather (#) Dec 08th, 2011 - 04:05 pm Report abuse
It seems to me that the Uk is clutching at straws, this is a palliative measure for what's to come.
29 Artillero601 (#) Dec 08th, 2011 - 04:19 pm Report abuse
@22 Stick , on: “Argentina’s forests are among those that are disappearing. Today only 30% of the country’s original forests remain.....”

Please refer to Red @ 13 : ” The owners can do what they like with their private property...... :-)) right?
30 Juanweather (#) Dec 08th, 2011 - 04:31 pm Report abuse
@22

We could fill up the entire Uk of Argentine forest, and by the way, would love to know how much of the original forest have left in let's say england.
31 xbarilox (#) Dec 08th, 2011 - 04:46 pm Report abuse
@ 30 is it not necessary to take care of our forests? That's just being short-sighted.
32 stick up your junta (#) Dec 08th, 2011 - 05:10 pm Report abuse
We could fill up the entire Uk of Argentine forest, and by the way, would love to know how much of the original forest have left in let's say england.

No shit sherlock,argentina being the 8th largest country on the planet,just pointing out to ga ga, that the argies aint the ones to be dishing out advice on the enviroment
33 xbarilox (#) Dec 08th, 2011 - 05:43 pm Report abuse
@ 32 well, you people are well known for not being really interested in things like climate change or forests unless there is something to win. Why are you complaining about this? Isn't that hypocricy?
34 Juanweather (#) Dec 08th, 2011 - 06:04 pm Report abuse
@32

What gives you the idea that Uk has a clue on green environment policies? You'd better learn from the “Granero del Mundo” and the country with the best landscapes in the world.

;-)
35 ed (#) Dec 08th, 2011 - 06:20 pm Report abuse
Poor British,they still think that they are still a empire.
36 GeoffWard2 (#) Dec 08th, 2011 - 07:55 pm Report abuse
This isn't a war;
it shouldn't even be a war of words.

This is the UK doing what it promised to do under the Cancun Agreement on world biodiversity.

Is Argentina fulfilling its Cancun obligations?
37 lsolde (#) Dec 08th, 2011 - 08:11 pm Report abuse
Geoff, you must know better than that!
They don't think “obligations” apply to them.
Only other people.
38 xbarilox (#) Dec 08th, 2011 - 08:17 pm Report abuse
@ 36 we are, well, aparently we are :) it's more a Cocoon than Cancun in our case.

@ 37 Isolde, you drown yourself in a spoonful of water! Take it easy, life feels much better this way :)
39 tipstonga (#) Dec 08th, 2011 - 09:22 pm Report abuse
happy that you agree #27, politicians will fight back in both RA and UK against Falklands freedom. I have already met other wise islanders in the Facebook community page Falkland Islands.
I hope people from Falkland Islands stand up claiming the world for independence as soon as possible.
The best luck for you
40 stick up your junta (#) Dec 08th, 2011 - 09:34 pm Report abuse
Granero del Mundo ?

In ”Tucuman (province), 87 percent of the children have intestinal parasites,” Néstor Gutiérrez, head of parasitology for the Provincial Health Services, told La Nacion newspaper.
Dying from hunger in food-exporting Argentina
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-12973543
At least 10 indigenous children have died from malnutrition in north-west Argentina this year.

Three of the six dead children in Tucuman developed a polyparasitic ailment, only possible through the ingestion of contaminated water or food.
41 Pirat-Hunter (#) Dec 08th, 2011 - 09:52 pm Report abuse
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$pend $$$$$$ome $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ the no fishing zone just got bigger, they all better have their papers in check and ready to show them when the Argentine patrol comes to inforce international sea laws supported by UK marine protection plan, in this issue as an Argentine I support UK, but I still demand they return Islas Malvinas to Argentina. LONG LIVE DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM TO IMPEACH.
42 livin' in argentina (#) Dec 09th, 2011 - 12:46 am Report abuse
21 ed (#) Dec 08th, 2011 -
(#) 16 Amigo
England,Scotland,N.Ireland,Wales are represented separetely in
UEFA,FIFA organizations , but not represented seperately in EU,,UN,.
What an interesting fact !,What a double standart ! isn't it ?

True they are seperate entities in sport. But no one country can unilaterally act on its own in International affairs. There is no mechanism to do so. The constituent parts of the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) do not have legislatures with their own areas of exclusive jurisdiction, and England has no legislature at all..
Why? because to have a federation you need a constitution, and the UK does not have one.
Sport is one thing. In Rugby Northern Ireland combines with Ireland but England, Scotland and Wales compete separate. In others (e.g. football) there are separate teams for Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It is only in the Olympic Games, where participation is strictly on the basis of nationality, and in sports focused on the Olympics, such as track and field athletics, that a UK or “British” team is likely to feature. As a final curiosity, our leading cricket team, although always called “England”, actually represents England and Wales. Scotland and Ireland have their own teams. So no. no double standards. Politics and sport....keep it separate.
43 xbarilox (#) Dec 09th, 2011 - 12:48 am Report abuse
@ 40 stick up your junta you're so boring talking about the same things time after time, there are starving people in the UK too, what's new about that? Get out of the islands you pr*cks!
44 Redhoyt (#) Dec 09th, 2011 - 02:12 am Report abuse
Yeah - people starve to death all the time in Britain !

Dead bodies lying in the streets ... you'd think the councils would clean up faster, so that the fat people don't have to look.

Terrible.

Now tell me, ExBrain where do you get your news - Charles Dickens ??
45 Valle Ricardo (#) Dec 09th, 2011 - 03:43 am Report abuse
news come from the free argentine press agency. fair. Inteligent. Balanced. Neutral. Who else can you trust with the truth?

Sorry, what am i saying. i just caught a dose of Agentine bullshit. I'm ok now though. It's easy to get rid off. Just swat it away with a Milanesa.
46 lsolde (#) Dec 09th, 2011 - 06:45 am Report abuse
@38Xbox,
Well, Argentines carry on like a storm in a tea cup.
47 Yuleno (#) Dec 09th, 2011 - 11:59 am Report abuse
Politics and sport....keep it separate. #42 like the Moscow olympics?
48 livin' in argentina (#) Dec 09th, 2011 - 01:02 pm Report abuse
that's right. Argentina boycott the games. Great Britain did not.
49 Yuleno (#) Dec 09th, 2011 - 08:50 pm Report abuse
What about S Africa.you did boycott that and I know why.Don't need it explaining.just what you thought about that
50 livin' in argentina (#) Dec 09th, 2011 - 09:36 pm Report abuse
South Africa have never held the Olympics as far as I know.
51 xbarilox (#) Dec 10th, 2011 - 02:02 am Report abuse
can someone helpe me imagine what will the Olympic games be like in London 2012? I can't do it myself! =P
52 livin' in argentina (#) Dec 10th, 2011 - 03:20 am Report abuse
find an adult to help you.
53 Valle Ricardo (#) Dec 10th, 2011 - 03:31 am Report abuse
Si. Imagine Buenos Aires in the year 2880. They have completed the new national stadium and are hosting the Olympics soon. They are proud as it has taken many hundreds of peso's to complete. But to thier credit that completed the task in record time. Only delaying the event for 300 years. It will be spectacular. They will have Pizza there and everything!
54 lsolde (#) Dec 10th, 2011 - 09:09 am Report abuse
By 2880 Buenos Aires will be a Brazilian city.
All of northern Argentina will be Brazilian states & southern Argentina will be part of Chile.
55 Philippe (#) Dec 10th, 2011 - 09:10 pm Report abuse
A huge South Atlantic marine protection zone in South Georgia is indeed great news for all mankind. No country is better equipped to organise and manage such a project than the United Kingdom, its legitimate sovereign power.
On one of my trips to the Falklands, I had the pleasure of meeting Robert K. Headland, who is a leading expert on South Georgia and also the author of the outstanding book, “The Island of South Georgia” (Cambridge University Press, 1984.) SG has a surface area of approximately 3,755km2. It is about 170km long and from 2 to 30km wide. Around South Georgia there are several small islands, islets, and rocks. South Georgia is then far from being “tiny,” as two ”The Times authors called it in a recent article.

Philippe
56 tipstonga (#) Dec 11th, 2011 - 04:18 am Report abuse
Philippe, of course South Atlantic protection is important. But you can not seriously say that UK is better equipped for the task(have you heard about USA or France?) and that UK or any country can have sovereignty over a territory so far from “home”. So the only rational and fair thing to do is that international control of the zone -together with all the South Atlantic and the Antarctic Continent- is taken joining the best technical and human power from all nations. The only exception -as it is an already populated area- should be Falkland Islands that should be freed becoming a new independent country.
57 Redhoyt (#) Dec 11th, 2011 - 06:36 am Report abuse
Tipsy!

USA ? France? Nah, never heard of them :-)

But I've heard of geography - and I know that it's irrelevant in international law.

Fair ?? You'll be making me cry next ! Who said life was going to be fair?

The Falklanders are FREE. Already. FREE to make up their own minds.

Don't you wish that you were ??
58 Malvinero1 (#) Dec 12th, 2011 - 11:50 pm Report abuse
By 2880 Buenos Aires will be a Brazilian city.
All of northern Argentina will be Brazilian states & southern Argentina will be part of Chile.
AAHAHAHAHAH! isolde: pelotuda!!
AMlvinas will be Argentinian...
59 lsolde (#) Dec 13th, 2011 - 10:22 am Report abuse
@58Malvinero1,
Don't cry malvin. You can always go back to ltalia(if they'll have you!).
btw- where are/is AMlvinas? lf you find out, please let me know. Fool.
60 Yuleno (#) Dec 13th, 2011 - 09:00 pm Report abuse
#59 Not in south Africa that the British boycotted during the apartheid days.Is my spelling ok.I need to dry the dishes,forgive me if I rush.
61 JuanStanic (#) Dec 14th, 2011 - 08:01 am Report abuse
A curious fact that most people seem to forget is that in general about 15% of the genes of the population are from Native Americans. Most of it is from Mestizo heritage. Being descendants of Mestizo means we also are descendants of Natives. It means that we can say that about 15% of the country are the real owners and can decide what to do with the other 85%. Obviously, they will choose us to stay.
And this way, the British counter-claims saying that we are also not the Natives to the our land are beaten.
62 lsolde (#) Dec 14th, 2011 - 09:07 am Report abuse
l don't care what your heritage is, Juan. l'm glad for you.
This is our land & we're not going to give it to you or anyone else.
There will be no deals & no negotiations.
Anyway, apart from all that. Merry Christmas.
63 Rosarino (#) Dec 14th, 2011 - 03:18 pm Report abuse
There will be no deals no negocitation-
You give me my a funny day!
That´s is our best argument for get, peacefully and, support after support, country by country, will after will, our island back-

Regardssssss
64 lsolde (#) Dec 14th, 2011 - 09:57 pm Report abuse
@63Rosarino,
l'm glad that you agree, there will be NO NEGOTIATIONS.
Thank you for that.
You also, make me smile.
Pray tell, what countries support you so much that they are willing to “peacefully” give OUR lslands to you.
And how exactly do you think that you are going to“peacefully”conquer OUR lslands?
l would be interested to know.
(besides l would get a bonus when my report is received at MI6).
Oh, damn, l've let the cat out of the bag, now.

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