
A powerful 7.8-magnitude aftershock hit Chile's far-northern coast on Wednwsday, shaking the same area where a magnitude-8.2 earthquake hit just a day before causing some damage and six deaths.

A strong 8.2-magnitude earthquake has struck off the northwestern coast of Chile, killing at least five people and setting off a small tsunami that prompted evacuations along the country's Pacific coast. Chilean Interior minister Rodrigo Peñalillo confirmed that five people had died, “four are men and a woman in Iquique and Alto Hospicio, caused by heart attack and crushing”.

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.

Delegates from the European Union (EU) are to visit Argentina between September and December later this year to inspect the facilities that comprise the whole fishing production circuit: docks, boats, processing plants authorized to export to EU and offices of the National Service of Agri-food health and quality, (Senasa).

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.

Scientists have identified four new man-made gases that are contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer. Two of the gases are accumulating at a rate that is causing concern among researchers. Worries over the growing ozone hole have seen the production of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gases restricted since the mid 1980s

Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification has been granted to the Falklands Islands Toothfish longline fishery, announced on Thursday Consolidated Fisheries Ltd. (CFL). The fishery is the first in the Falkland Islands to be certified and reflects the high standards of fisheries management and environmental measures practised within the Islands on the Patagonian toothfish fishery.

The Falkland Islands Government PR & Media Office is running a photo competition to source quality images of 'our beautiful home'. The winning photos will be printed and displayed at a central London gallery later this year to promote the stunning views, wildlife, history and community that make the Falkland Islands a truly unique place.

The proposal to create an international body within the UN governing the seas was the focus this week at the beginning of the Ocean Summit. In this international meeting, world leaders emphasized its fast degradation and increasing pressure to further exploit its resources.

Several research vessels coincided in South Georgia Island during the month of January plus HMS Protector involved in extensive surveying of South Sandwich Island for the UK Hydrographic Office, reports the latest edition of the South Georgia newsletter.