Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to strengthen the marine protected area surrounding South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) is currently undertaking the second 5-year review of its Marine Protected Area (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, and whether effective monitoring and surveillance capacity is in place. The review will determine whether additional measures are required to achieve the stated MPA objectives. GSGSSI is committed to reporting on its review by early next year.
Asked by: Lord Cameron of Dillington (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to tackle the harmful impact of commercial fishing in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) Marine Protected Area (MPA), designated by the SGSSI Government in 2012 and strengthened in 2013 and 2019, aims to conserve the rich marine diversity and provide the framework for management and research. The zone covers 1.24 million km2. Fishing is highly regulated and carried out in a way that protects the marine ecosystem.
Bottom trawling is prohibited throughout. Longline fishing is limited to depths of between 700 and 2,250 metres, restricted to 6 per cent of the MPA. Toothfish and krill fishing is only permitted during four winter months to reduce the impact on seabirds, penguins, seals and whales. No take zones, where all fishing activity is prohibited, cover 283,000km2 and include the most biodiverse regions of the seabed.
Asked by: Emma Hardy (Labour - Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the impact of climate change on (a) fishing and (b) krill stocks in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Climate change is likely to result in lower oxygen and greater acidity in the waters around South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI), together with reduced sea ice and increasing iceberg scour. Over time, these will likely lead to changes in the distribution and range of many of SGSSI's marine species, with krill and krill-eating animals likely to move further south, as new species from lower latitudes will become established in the region. The Government of SGSSI's ongoing review of the Marine Protected Area (MPA) will consider any new information on the effects of climate change and whether the current MPA measures are sufficiently precautionary given the level of regional warming.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department plans to take steps to reduce cases of avian influenza In (a) South Georgia and (b) the South Sandwich Islands.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The FCDO is working to support the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) following confirmation of cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in brown skua populations on Bird Island (South Georgia) earlier this month, and suspected spread to other species and sites for which samples have been returned to the UK for analysis. GSGSSI has a tiered response plan in place to manage the outbreak and, alongside the British Antarctic Survey, is monitoring the situation closely for spread. GSGSSI has put enhanced biosecurity procedures and mitigation measures in place for different groups and activities depending on the HPAI risk at each visitor or landing site, and is regularly updating site response levels. Visitor landings are continuing at some sites, but will be restricted or cancelled if necessary. A limited number of high priority science projects are continuing with additional safeguards in place.
Asked by: Lord Cameron of Dillington (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether existing management measures in place for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are sufficient to protect that marine ecosystem.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) is currently undertaking the second 5-year review of its Marine Protected Area (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, and whether effective monitoring and surveillance capacity is in place. The review will determine whether additional measures are required to achieve the stated MPA objectives. GSGSSI is committed to reporting on its review by early next year.
Asked by: Emma Hardy (Labour - Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle)
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.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
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.
May. 30 2024
Source Page: Concern regarding Georgia's Transparency of Foreign Influence Law: Joint statement to the OSCEFound: We are close friends of Georgia. Our partnership is broad and deep.