Environment

• Tuesday, May 6th 2014 - 06:26 UTC

  NASA catches images of volcanic activity in South Sandwich Islands

  

  The South Sandwich Islands, in the far southern Atlantic Ocean, are often shrouded with thick cloud, making it difficult to view the region from space. Sometimes, however, the use of false-color imagery can be used to reveal events that would otherwise be obscured under cloud cover.

• Friday, May 2nd 2014 - 08:51 UTC

  South Georgia re-adjusts license conditions to reduce sea birds by-catches

  

  One of the most significant seabird by-catches in over a decade occurred in the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) Marine Zone last week, by the Chilean longliner Antarctic Bay.

• Wednesday, April 30th 2014 - 03:22 UTC

  Argentina's “Blue Pampa” project to research and develop South Atlantic resources

  

  The recently launched “Blue Pampa” project is a ten-year 'strategic initiative' with the purpose of researching South Atlantic resources in five different areas to ensure conservation and management, plus reinforce Argentine sovereignty with inter-disciplinary campaigns and inter-ministerial support, according to Argentina's Science, Technology and Productive Innovation ministry.

• Monday, April 28th 2014 - 23:29 UTC

  IAATO estimates 36.545 tourists will travel to Antarctica next season 2014/15

  

  New figures released on Monday by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), estimate that 36,545 tourists will travel with IAATO members to Antarctica next season, 2014-2015. The information was reported at the first day of the 37th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) in Brasilia, which IAATO attend as Invited Experts.

• Friday, April 25th 2014 - 23:19 UTC

  NASA and BAS tracking major Antarctic iceberg, B31, now in open waters

  

  NASA has lately spotted a gigantic iceberg in Antarctica, identified as B31 and together with UK's BAS (British Antarctic Survey), is busy tracking the monster island of ice, which has now escaped into open waters. Despite its sheer size and mass, --experts estimate that the giant iceberg is approximately 600 square kilometres in size--, monitoring is not going to be an easy task with the coming of the Antarctic winter and ensuing darkness.

• Friday, April 25th 2014 - 21:24 UTC

  UK £200 million new polar research vessel will ensure presence in Antarctica and he South Atlantic

  

  The British government will fund a new £200 million polar research ship to put UK scientists at the forefront of climate and ocean research in both Antarctica and the Arctic, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne announced on Friday in a speech.

• Wednesday, April 23rd 2014 - 11:40 UTC

  Falklands sea lion population recovering, but still a fraction of the 1930s estimate

  

  In the 1930s the Falkland Islands were reputed to hold the largest population of Southern sea lions, with a staggering 80,000 pups estimated to be born each year. However, a census in the 1960s and again in the 1990s revealed the population had declined by more than 90%.

• Wednesday, April 23rd 2014 - 05:18 UTC

  On Mother Earth Day, Ban Ki-moon calls for 'global transformation of attitude and practice'

  

  On International Mother Earth Day, the United Nations is urging greater efforts to promote sustainable development and use of renewable energy sources, with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealing for worldwide changes in attitude and practice to curb the negative impact of human activity on the planet.

• Wednesday, April 23rd 2014 - 05:06 UTC

  Cruise Lines association highlights efforts to promote environmental performance

  

  In commemoration of Earth Day, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) highlighted on Tuesday the extensive efforts of the cruise industry and CLIA member lines to preserve and protect the environment.

• Monday, April 21st 2014 - 07:47 UTC

  Peruvian fish meal and fish oil companies losing money, claims the industry

  

  Out of a total of 12 Peruvian companies in the fishmeal and fish oil industry, only two recorded profits during 2013, while the other ten accumulated a loss equivalent to 87.4 million dollars, according to the country's National Society of Fisheries, SNP.