SGSSI Gazette No 2 dated 22 April 2025

This Gazette, publish on April 22, 2025, contains official notices and new legislation, notably the Marine Protected Areas Order 2025. This order establishes the comprehensive South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area covering all territorial waters, replacing the 2019 order. It implements extensive conservation measures including no-take zones, benthic closed areas, research areas, and seasonal restrictions. Key protections include a complete ban on bottom trawling, prohibition of Antarctic krill fishing from October to April, and various spatial closures to protect marine biodiversity and ensure sustainable fisheries. The document also lists 16 newly appointed Fisheries Protection Officers and updates customs fees for vessel declarations.

SGSSI Gazette No 1 dated 30 January 2025

This Gazette, publish on 30 January 2025, includes a notice declaring the official public holidays for 2025 and the Appropriation Ordinance 2025 (No. 1 of 2025). The ordinance authorizes the withdrawal of £8,077,263 from SGSSI funds for the financial year ending 31 December 2025, covering £8,037,263 for operating expenditure and £40,000 for special expenditure. The ordinance, enacted by Commissioner Alison Mary Blake C.M.G. on 9 January 2025, retrospectively legalizes any pre-commencement withdrawals under its provisions.

SGSSI Gazette No 5 dated 22 November 2024

This Gazette, published on November 22 2024, details the Supplementary Appropriation Ordinance 2024 (No. 5 of 2024), which authorizes additional expenditure of £1,104,000 from government funds for the 2024 financial year. The ordinance, enacted by Commissioner Alison Mary Blake C.M.G. on November 13, 2024, supplements the previously authorized expenditure of £8,201,446, bringing the total 2024 expenditure to £9,305,446, split between operating expenditure (£8,485,446) and special expenditure (£820,000).

SGSSI Gazette No 4 dated 31 October 2024

This Gazette, published on 31 October 2024, contains three main items. First, Commissioner Alison Mary Blake C.M.G. appointed three officers (Tracey Cooper, Bernice Hewitt, and Nadine Orme) to serve multiple roles including Fisheries Protection, Customs, Immigration, Reserve Police, and Registrar positions. Second, Laura Ling and Sarah Devlin were authorized as postal officers. Third, and most substantially, the Gazette introduces the Currency Ordinance 2024, which establishes the pound sterling as the territory’s currency, allows for the minting of commemorative coins, defines legal tender, and sets regulations for government dealing in commemorative coins, with violations punishable by up to 7 years imprisonment and a £25,000 fine.

SGSSI Gazette No 3 dated 18 June 2024

This Gazette, published on June 18, 2024, contains several official notices and legislative updates. It announces the designation of David Paul Morgan as Acting Commissioner and introduces amendments to the Postal Services Ordinance 2024 and the Harbours (Fees) Regulations 2024. The Postal Services amendment sets new postal rates effective July 1, 2024, and allows for future rate changes to be made by notice in the Gazette. It also increases the maximum compensation limits for lost registered postal packets. The Harbours (Fees) amendment increases various fees, including those for yachts and other vessels based on their net tonnage. These legislative changes reflect updates to the territory’s administrative and financial regulations.

SGSSI Gazette No 2 dated 12 April 2024

This Gazette, published on April 12, 2024, contains three official notices issued by Commissioner A. M. Blake C.M.G. Notice 4 details customs fees for vessel declarations and clearances, including entry and exit fees of £36 each and additional hourly rates for customs officer engagement. Notice 5 sets a fee of £416 for issuing a Commissioner’s Special Licence for marriage. Notice 6 outlines updated passenger landing fees for visitors to South Georgia, starting at £146 for up to 3 days and increasing for longer stays, with a maximum of £250 for 30 days. The gazette provides essential information on fees and regulations for vessels, marriages, and visitors to the islands, effective from the publication date.

SGSSI Gazette No 1 dated 27 February 2024

This Gazette, published on February 27, 2024, contains three notices and two ordinances. Notice 1 declares public holidays for 2024. Notice 2 appoints Davina Jo-Anne Fiore as Acting Attorney General and Acting Coroner. Notice 3 appoints Fisheries Protection Officers for the period April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025. The Marriage (Amendment) Ordinance 2024 amends the Marriage Ordinance, setting the minimum marriage age at 18 and removing parental consent requirements. The Matrimonial Causes (Repeal) Ordinance 2024 repeals the Matrimonial Causes Ordinance 1979. All changes are enacted by Commissioner A. M. Blake C.M.G. and come into force upon publication in the Gazette.