Written question asked by Emma Hardy (Labour) on Thursday, 7 December 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 12 December 2023 (named day). It was answered by David Rutley (Conservative) on Tuesday, 12 December 2023 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands: Fisheries and Krill

Question: 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.

Answer: 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.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 5918
Session: 2023-24
Subjects: Climate change Fisheries Krill South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk