Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands: Marine Protected Area

22 November 2023 · 6 other contributors · 9,779 words

Opened by Robert Buckland Con South Swindon

Responding minister: Anne-Marie Trevelyan

ClimateEnvironment

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Robert Buckland raised concerns about south georgia and the south sandwich islands: marine protected area in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • The MP is concerned about the need to strengthen marine protections around South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands due to threats from industrial fishing for krill.
  • The MP urges the Government to designate all 400,000 sq km of ocean around the South Sandwich Islands as a no-take zone during this year's MPA review.
  • The Minister highlighted the UK's existing MPA regulations in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, including prohibitions on bottom trawling and strict regulation of long-line fishing.

Key requests to Government

The MP urges the Government to take bold steps in this year's review of the Marine Protected Area (MPA) and designate all 400,000 sq km of ocean around the South Sandwich Islands as a no-take zone. He also calls for additional targeted extensions to protections around key areas in South Georgia's waters.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Robert Buckland Con South Swindon

The MP is concerned about the need to strengthen marine protections around South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, given their immense biodiversity including over 3 million penguins of four species and millions of other animals. The threat from industrial fishing for krill, which is a vital food source for these creatures, is growing significantly. With climate change affecting krill populations, there is an urgent need to protect more waters around the islands to ensure the survival of endangered species.

Other contributors (6)
  • Chris Skidmore Con Bromsgrove

    The UK Government counts SGSSI waters, over 1 million sq km, as a marine protected area but only 23% is currently off limits to commercial extraction. The speaker calls for increased protection due to climate change impacts and the recovery of great whales. There are insufficient krill in the Southern ocean to support historical baleen whale populations. CCAMLR faces major disputes about developing marine protected areas, leading to a perfect storm of uncertainty.

  • Douglas Chapman SNP Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East

    Douglas Chapman praised the recovery of South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands' marine ecosystem and highlighted local stewardship efforts in Scotland. He mentioned the Restoration Forth project and emphasised community-led initiatives as key to success.

  • James Gray Con North Wiltshire

    James Gray mentioned the severe impact of avian flu on wildlife in South Georgia and clarified that there has been no commercial fishing around the South Sandwich Islands for the past three decades, with only two ships visiting annually to collect a small amount of catch. Supported the establishment of marine protected areas in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, highlighting the importance of biodiversity preservation. He noted that banning fishing would not impact current activities due to minimal existing fishing activity. Raised concerns about geopolitical implications if British control over these waters were lost. James Gray clarified that fishing vessels mentioned by Douglas Chapman are outside the marine protected area, where they cannot fish.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Supporting the need for better marine protection, Jim Shannon emphasized the importance of protecting South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. He highlighted issues like the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza on Bird Island and its impact on wildlife populations. Shannon urged the Minister to provide updates on actions taken to address these challenges.

  • Stephen Doughty Lab Co-op Cardiff South and Penarth

    Stephen Doughty highlighted his interest in the South Atlantic, mentioning the Terra Nova expedition's departure from Cardiff Bay and Welsh involvement in the Falklands conflict. He discussed his commitment to the economic, physical, and environmental security of UK overseas territories, including South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Doughty noted the relevance of the region for global environmental diversity and the growing geopolitical interests, particularly from China and Russia. He raised concerns about sustainability, data-based decision-making, climate change impacts on marine environments, and governance structures in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

  • Therese Coffey Con Suffolk Coastal

    The MP highlighted the importance of marine protected areas in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, emphasizing the need for decisive action to protect biodiversity. She mentioned that 30% of the world's penguins are formally British and noted challenges such as climate change, overfishing, and habitat degradation.

Government Response

Anne-Marie Trevelyan

Acknowledging the debate topic, the Minister detailed the UK's marine protected area (MPA) in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. She outlined its conservation efforts, including prohibition of bottom trawling and regulation of long-line fishing to protect biodiversity. The MPA's stringent regulations were highlighted as necessary for preventing illegal practices that had threatened species like marbled rockcod. Fishing licences contribute funding for governance and enforcement through a patrol vessel while ensuring scientific data collection and surveillance against illegal activities. The Minister underscored the UK's role in international marine conservation efforts under the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, noting Russia's obstructionist stance on catch limits for South Georgia toothfish. She also addressed krill fisheries' management, stressing ongoing research to support sustainable practices. Regarding stakeholder engagement, an upcoming workshop was mentioned to evaluate the MPA's effectiveness and potential further measures.

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