
The Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands has announced the opening of the consultation period for the Specially Protected Area Management Plan and Regulations.

Argentine and Chilean relations have not been traditionally smooth given the several borderline disputes both in land and in the sea, but there is a chance that this rivalry turns into a biodiversity milestone, with the joint proposal to create a Marine Protected Area in waters next to west Antarctica Peninsula and south of the Scotia arc, a project in which the Chilean Antarctic Institute and Argentina's Antarctic Institute have been working on since 2012.

Scientists have recorded markedly increased levels of ‘fluorinated forever chemicals’ in Antarctic snow which are thought to have originated from the use of CFC-replacements.

SilverSea Cruises has announced an improved package for passengers travelling in any of its three ice-class expedition ships, Silver Cloud, Silver Wind and Silver Explorer. To start with, the Antarctica cruises they will embark and disembark in Puerto Williams for the 2022-2023 season.

Leopard seals remain mostly a mystery given the limited information and research on the species and its range of action. However, an international study shared by several Antarctic institutes and universities identifies leopard seal births and pups in the first database of its kind and reveals evidence that these sightings are not limited to the Antarctic.

The second of six winter krill surveys in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is underway. The first winter krill survey was completed successfully on board the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands fishery patrol vessel MV Pharos SG in May this year.

Five domestic and international construction companies are among the short list chosen by Chile's Public Works Ministry to participate in the bid to build the International Antarctic Center, CAI, in Punta Arenas, for which there is a budget of some 70 million dollars.

By BAS Atmosphere, Ice and Climate Change team, Floor van Heuvel, Ella Gilbert, Thomas Caton-Harrison, Ryan Williams, Tom Bracegirdle

The Argentine government in a protest note addressed to the United Kingdom pointed out its complete rejection of UK's intended designation of the entire landmass of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) as Specially Protected Areas.

The Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) announced on Tuesday the designation of the entire landmass of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) as Specially Protected Areas, fulfilling the commitment it made in the “Pathway to Protection”