Antarctica

Wednesday, June 5th 2019 - 09:07 UTC
Antarctica Tour Operators pledge to turn tide on plastics with new waste reduction guidelines

The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) has pledged to turn the tide on plastics with new guidelines set to reduce single-use plastic use among visitors to the white continent.
Tuesday, June 4th 2019 - 09:51 UTC
New wharf for South Georgia: extra berth for polar vessel RRS Sir David Attenborough

An £8.15 million contract to build a new wharf at the remote Sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia is awarded to BAM Nuttall this week. The contract is part of a major investment programme to modernize the UK’s Antarctic infrastructure.
Friday, May 17th 2019 - 09:39 UTC
IAATO Operators redevelop Ship Scheduler process to prepare for tourism growth

The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) is redeveloping its ship scheduling process, as part of its commitment to ‘leave only footprints’ through the effective self-management of guest activities.
Friday, May 10th 2019 - 09:50 UTC
Vital role of penguins and seals poo for Antarctica bio-diversity

For more than half a century, biologists studying Antarctica focused their research on understanding how organisms cope with the continent's severe drought and the coldest conditions on the planet. One thing they didn't really factor in, however, was the role played by the nitrogen-rich droppings from colonies of cute penguins and seals - until now.
Saturday, May 4th 2019 - 09:52 UTC
Antarctic Tour Operators introduce mandatory measures to prevent whale strikes

Members of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) have unanimously voted in mandatory measures to prevent whale strikes in cetacean-rich Antarctic waters during their annual meeting this year held in Cape Town, South Africa.
Friday, May 3rd 2019 - 21:19 UTC
IAATO: New Measures to Manage Growth

The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) closed its annual meeting in Cape Town with multiple new measures in support of its mission for safe, environmentally responsible Antarctic travel, according to a statement.
Saturday, April 27th 2019 - 09:43 UTC
Oceans teeming with viruses, from North to South Pole and down to 4000 meters deep

The oceans contain almost 200,000 different viral populations, according to the latest count. Marine viruses were found from the surface down to 4,000m deep and from the North to the South Pole. Though most are harmless to humans, they can infect marine life, including whales and crustaceans.
Friday, April 26th 2019 - 06:32 UTC
HMS Protector returns to Plymouth for first time in four years

The ship has spent time in Antarctica supporting scientists and surveying the channels and waterways. HMS Protector has returned to Plymouth for the first time in four years. The ship spent a lot of her time in Antarctica supporting scientists and surveying the channels and waterways around the frozen continent.
Thursday, April 25th 2019 - 10:38 UTC
World Penguin Day: raise awareness with the hashtag #WorldPenguinDay

World Penguin Day is observed annually on April 25 recognizing the aquatic birds. In the world, there are 17 species of penguins with Southern hemisphere as their natural habitat. April 25 was chosen as World Penguin Day as it marks the date when Adelie penguins begin their migration northward toward Antartica.
Thursday, April 25th 2019 - 09:30 UTC
Thousands of emperor penguin chicks died in 2016 destroyed by severe weather, reports a BAS team

Thousands of emperor penguin chicks drowned when the sea-ice on which they were being raised was destroyed in severe weather. The catastrophe occurred in 2016 in Antarctica's Weddell Sea. Scientists say the colony at the edge of the Brunt Ice Shelf has collapsed with adult birds showing no sign of trying to re-establish the population.