Antarctica

• Saturday, June 6th 2015 - 07:41 UTC

  South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands coat of arms anniversary featured on new Crown coin

  

  The Treasury of South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands have launched a crown coin which marks the 30th anniversary of the territory’s granting of a Coat of Arms by Royal Ascent. The Coat of Arms of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands was granted in 1985, upon the formal creation of the territory.

• Saturday, May 16th 2015 - 08:13 UTC

  Polar Code does not adequately protect Antarctic environment from shipping, says ASOC

  

  The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition voiced its disappointment over the lack of any significant new provisions in Part II of the Polar Code that would adequately protect the Antarctic environment from shipping. The London-based UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) on Friday adopted Part II of the Polar Code concerning pollution prevention.

• Friday, May 8th 2015 - 08:21 UTC

  IAATO agrees to ban recreational use of UAVs in Antarctica’s coastal areas

  

  International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) members have agreed that, for the 2015-16 season, they will not allow the recreational use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in the unique, and often wildlife rich, coastal areas of Antarctica.

• Wednesday, May 6th 2015 - 06:18 UTC

  Cutting down killer whale toothfish snacking in South Georgia

  

  Studies of killer whales (Orca) in South Georgia waters may help fishermen avoid the whales stealing the fish off the fishing long-lines (termed depredation), according to the latest edition of South Georgia Newsletter.

• Friday, May 1st 2015 - 05:45 UTC

  Antarctica Blood Falls could be connected to subsurface lakes system

  

  The McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica are some of the most extreme desert regions on the planet. But new research indicates that the region may actually be full of salty, extremely cold groundwater. The water may even connect surrounding lakes into a massive network, and it probably hosts extreme microbial life.

• Friday, May 1st 2015 - 05:29 UTC

  Argentina and Chile coordinate joint scientific research in South Atlantic

  

  Outstanding researchers and scientists from Argentina and Chile in the fields of marine sciences, fisheries Antarctica and technology innovation met this week in Buenos Aires for a day's work coordinating the scientific efforts of both countries.

• Thursday, April 30th 2015 - 07:29 UTC

  Beware: China announces plan to seven-fold increase Antarctic krill catches

  

  Conservation groups and scientists worry that China’s push to boost its harvest of krill -- a shrimp-like creature used for aquaculture feed and human supplements -- may leave Antarctica’s whales, seals and penguins struggling to survive. China’s leaders say they want a seven-fold increase in krill production, according to a recent report in the state-owned China Daily newspaper.

• Thursday, April 30th 2015 - 07:21 UTC

  Number of tourists visiting Antarctica was down, according to IAATO

  

  The number of adventurous tourists visiting Antarctica dipped in the 2014-15 austral season but is expected to bounce back this year, according to visitor totals released by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO).

• Tuesday, April 28th 2015 - 08:05 UTC

  IAATO 2015 convention starts today in Rotterdam - Falkland Islands Tourist Board Management in Attendance

  

  Tony Mason, Director, International Communications and Stephanie Middleton, Interim CEO of the Falkland Islands Tourist Board are in Rotterdam, Netherlands this week attending the IAATO conference where key issues affecting the region will be discussed.

• Wednesday, April 8th 2015 - 16:12 UTC

  Falklands, South Atlantic islands, Antarctica included in new Tierra del Fuego official map

  

  Argentina's most southern province identified as Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and South Atlantic islands is redesigning its internal political limits with the purpose of “contributing to the territorial sovereignty of the Nation”, according to a bill sent to the provincial legislative by governor Fabiana Ríos and drafted with help from the Malvinas Question Advisory Observatory.