Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had discussions with the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) on the potential merits of including the precautionary principle as part of the marine protected area review underway in SGSSI.

The South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) Marine Protected Area (MPA) provides comprehensive protection across the entire maritime zone, which also allows small scale, highly regulated fishing, in a way that protects the unique marine ecosystem. The fishery is highly precautionary and has been rated as one of the most sustainable in the world by the Marine Stewardship Council. The Government of SGSSI is currently undertaking the second 5-year review of its MPA. The review is considering the effectiveness of the current MPA measures, including whether the underpinning scientific research and monitoring is sufficient, particularly in light of climate change. The review will determine whether additional measures are required to achieve the stated MPA objectives. The Government of SGSSI is committed to reporting on its review by early next year.