The South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area (SGSSI MPA) is one of the largest and most ecologically significant marine conservation zones in the world. Established in 2012 by the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI), the MPA now encompasses the entire Maritime Zone of the Territory – an area exceeding 1.24 million square kilometres, roughly five times the size of the United Kingdom. Located in the remote South Atlantic, this vast expanse of ocean is home to some of the planet’s most biologically rich marine ecosystems. The SGSSI MPA, classified as a Very Large Marine Protected Area (VLMPA), was created to safeguard these ecosystems, ensuring the long-term conservation of biodiversity while enabling the sustainable use of marine resources and tourism under strict regulation. This Management Plan outlines the processes and measures implemented by the Government to ensure the SGSSI MPA achieves its conservation objectives. It explains the rationale behind the MPA’s establishment, provides background on the key elements of the regional ecosystem it aims to protect, and details the monitoring and patrolling activities that uphold its effectiveness. The plan also sets out the resourcing and review mechanisms necessary to secure the MPA’s long-term success.
Gregory et al. (Fri,) studied this question.