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South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands Take Lead in Regulatory Compliance Auditing for Wildlife Conservation

Located in the southernmost part of the Atlantic Ocean, South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands is a haven for wildlife, with five million seals and 65 million breeding birds calling it home. The UK Overseas Territory has made significant strides in regulatory compliance auditing to protect its pristine environment.

Conservation Efforts

The government has taken concrete measures to ensure conservation of the territory’s natural resources. In 2012, they designated one of the world’s largest sustainable use Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), covering an area of over 1m km2. The MPA protects biodiversity through no-take zones and temporal and spatial protection measures that protect 92% of the sea floor.

Fisheries Management

The fisheries are managed under the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, with the government going beyond international standards to operate some of the best-managed fisheries in the world. The South Georgia toothfish fishery has received one of the highest Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certifications and is a model for sustainable fishing and environmental conservation.

Scientific Research

The government invests approximately £1m annually in fisheries management and scientific research, which helps protect biodiversity. This investment is made possible through revenue from its sustainable fishery. A unique collaboration between fishermen, NGOs, scientists, and the government has resulted in no albatross being caught in the South Georgia fishery, a leadership that has helped other nations improve their sustainability.

Waste Management

Strict waste management protocols have been developed for all vessels visiting the territory, including fishing boats, cruise ships, military vessels, and yachts, to prevent the introduction of pollutants into the seas. Long-term monitoring of marine debris and research into the impact of plastics are also being undertaken in collaboration with the British Antarctic Survey.

National Biodiversity Action Plan

The Convention on Biological Diversity was extended to South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands in 2014, followed by the publication of a National Biodiversity Action Plan that sets out an ambitious vision for conservation. The designation of a system of Terrestrial Protected Areas will form a key part of this plan.

Albatross Conservation

An ambitious conservation effort has been launched to protect the albatross, with the government working with stakeholders to better understand the threats to these remarkable birds and protect them for future generations. A £7.5m rodent eradication project, funded by the South Georgia Heritage Trust and supported by the government, concluded in 2015 and has already delivered significant results.

Biosecurity

The government is committed to stringent biosecurity requirements to help protect the territory from non-native invasive species, conducting hundreds of biosecurity checks on cargo each year. With a focus on regulatory compliance auditing, South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands is setting an example for other territories to follow in protecting its unique and fragile environment.

By prioritizing conservation and sustainability, South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands is showing the way forward for responsible governance and environmental stewardship.