Antarctica

• Monday, March 31st 2014 - 16:29 UTC

  Japan abides International Court of Justice ruling to halt whaling program

  

  The UN's International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled that Japan must temporarily halt its whaling program in the Antarctic. It agreed with Australia, which brought the case in May 2010, that the program was not for scientific research as claimed by Tokyo.

• Tuesday, March 25th 2014 - 22:20 UTC

  South Georgia reindeer eradication project to recover natural environment almost completed

  

  After many years of planning, and two field seasons on the ground, the main part of the Government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, SGSSI, Reindeer Eradication Project is now all but done, according to the latest South Georgia newsletter. An estimated 3.140 animals have been sacrificed over a six-week period.

• Thursday, February 27th 2014 - 04:59 UTC

  Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica in 'Sea Spirit' 2015/16 expedition cruises

  

  Poseidon Expeditions has chartered the 114-passenger Sea Spirit for polar operations starting in May 2015. Built as Renaissance V in 1991, the 4,200 gt ship currently operates on charter to Quark Expeditions and is managed by FleetPro Ocean. For the 2015/16 season Poseidon will offer expeditions to Antarctica, Falklands and South Georgia.

• Wednesday, February 26th 2014 - 07:16 UTC

  “Argentine Antarctica Day” celebrations with special mention of South Georgia

  

  Argentina celebrated on Tuesday 25 February, the “Argentine Antarctica Day”, which recalls the 110 years of uninterrupted presence of the country in Antarctica and included among the many activities displayed the scientific research cruise of May 2013 in waters adjoining the South Georgia islands.

• Friday, February 21st 2014 - 07:49 UTC

  Successful second phase removal of reindeer in South Georgia

  

  The second phase of the government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) project to remove introduced reindeer from South Georgia got underway in early January, reports the latest edition of the South Georgia newsletter.

• Friday, February 14th 2014 - 07:24 UTC

  Live Antarctic Search and Rescue Exercise by IAATO in conjunction with Ushuaia

  

  The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) and two IAATO Member Operators, Aurora Expeditions and Oceanwide Expeditions, took part in a live Search and Rescue Communications Exercise in collaboration with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) Ushuaia, Argentina.

• Saturday, January 18th 2014 - 05:41 UTC

  HMS Protector surveying previously unchartered waters off Sandwich Islands

  

  Previously uncharted areas of the Southern Ocean have been surveyed by personnel on board Royal Navy ice patrol ship HMS Protector. Using its multi-beam echo sounder the ship gathered data off the Sandwich Islands along areas of the Douglas Straits between South Thule and Cook Island for the UK Hydrographic Office to fill in missing data in the Admiralty Charts.

• Tuesday, January 14th 2014 - 13:12 UTC

  South Georgia grey-headed albatross added to the 'endangered species' list

  

  Encouraging and bad news for albatrosses: while the black-browed has been down-listed from 'near threatened' the grey-headed albatross is in rapid decline and considered “endangered” mainly because of fishing activities, reports the latest edition of the South Georgia Newsletter.

• Monday, January 13th 2014 - 06:30 UTC

  Busy November in South Georgia with 11 cruises, yachts and HMS Protector

  

  November was a busy month for cruise vessels: eleven cruise ships visited South Georgia between the 9th and 29th, according to the South Georgia Newsletter. One cruise ship, Ortelius, reached the rarely visited South Sandwich Islands and was able to put scientist Tom Hart ashore on Saunders Island where he took soil samples and set up two camera-traps to monitor the penguin colonies.

• Monday, January 13th 2014 - 06:17 UTC

  South Georgia will issue two-year licenses for toothfish and icefish

  

  The government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands has announced it will issue two-year fishing licenses to companies who successfully apply to fish for toothfish and icefish in the SGSSI Maritime Zone, reports the South Georgia Newsletter latest edition.