2023 GSGSSI - General RAP application

Regulated Activity Permit Application

Category 2
The Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) has a tiered system of Regulated Activity Permits. These help ensure that environmental assessments are scalable and commensurate with the potential impacts of activities.To make sure you are completing the correct category of application form for your project, please follow the flowchart here

Please complete the form as accurately as you can. Missing information may delay the processing of your application. Fields marked * with are compulsory.

Applications should be submitted 90 days prior to the intended start date.

In addition to the necessary permissions issued by GSGSSI, any application involving Marine Scientific Research which is to be undertaken on non-UK flagged vessels must also apply for approval through the FCDO Article 246 approvals process. The necessary guidance is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/marine-science-research-msr-guidance/marine-science-research-msr-guidance

If you have any difficulties completing the form please e-mail permits@gov.gs
Part 1 - Applicant Details
1. a) Name*

First NameLast Name
1. b) Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityCountry

Postal / Zip Code
1. c) Organisation*
1. c - i) Is some or all of your work being carried out under an exemption to the Specially Protected Area Regulations 2023?

YesNo
1. c - ii) If so, give details of contract, MoU or Government direction which covers the exempt activity
1. d) Email
example@example.com
1. e) If you have conducted a project on South Georgia in the last 5 years, please list the Regulated Activity Permit numbers
This included projects where you were the permit holder or a named participant. NOTE: all previous RAP conditions must be completed before a new RAP will be issued
Part 2 - Project Details
2. a) Project title*
2. b) Please enter up to five key words to describe your project*
2. c) Type of Activity (select one)*

ScienceMonitoringConservationMediaCitizen ScienceOther
2. d) List all personnel who will be present in the Territory and taking part in the project *
2. e) Start date*

DayMonthYear
2. f) End date*

DayMonthYear
2. g) What vessel will you be traveling to and from South Georgia and / or the South Sandwich Islands on?*
2. h) Is your project based on a cruise ship or yacht*

YesNo
2. h - i) Are you the logistic provider, vessel owner/operator or applying on their behalf?*

YesNo
2. h - ii) If not, please upload a letter from your logistic provider confirming they are willing and able to support your project

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2. i) Do you work for or is your project supported by the British Antarctic Survey*

YesNo
2. i - i) Confirm the methods and mitigation measures have been approved by the BAS Environment Office?*

YesNo
2. i - ii) Please upload your Approved BAS EIA*

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Part 3 - Area of Operation
3. a) Does your project involve going ashore on South Georgia?*

YesNo
3. a - i) Where will your project be taking place? (tick all that apply including possible backup sites)

Bird IslandKing Edward PointElsehulRight Whale BayRositaSalisbury PlainPrion IslandPrince Olav HarbourPossession BayFortuna BayHercules BayLeith HarbourStromnessHusvikJason HarbourMiavikenGrytvikenSorlingRookeryCobblers CoveGodhulOcean HarbourSt Andrews BayRoyal BayGold HarbourCooper BayKing Haakon BayAll visitor landing sites (as allowed on visit permit)Other
3. b) Does your project involve landing on South Georgia at a non-visitor landing site or site with no established scientific study areas*

YesNo
3. b - i) Please give a detailed description of the sites and areas you wish to visit
3. b - ii) Please justify why you require to work there
3. b - iii) Outline habitat types and expected wildlife at the site at the time of the visit, identify any site specific impacts may your work have at this site and how will you mitigate them
HINT: This may include disturbance of wildlife, damage to fragile vegetation types, wilderness impacts caused by working at otherwise unvisited sites etc
3. b - iv) Describe how your work at these sites/areas will contribute to the objectives of the South Georgia Terrestrial Protected Area
3. b - v) Detail what the expected outputs from your work at these sites be
NOTE - for media/outreach identify target audience and reach, for scientific activities outline plans for publication and data dissemination
3. c) Does your project involve going ashore on any of the South Sandwich Islands?

YesNo
3. c - i) Where will your project be taking place? (tick all that apply including possible backup sites)

Zavodovski IslandSaunders IslandMontague IslandCook IslandBristol IslandThule IslandViskoi IslandCandlemass IslandBellingshausen IslandLeskov IslandOther
3. c - ii) Please provide justification for why your project needs to happen on the South Sandwich Islands*
3. c - iii) Outline habitat types and expected wildlife at the site at the time of the visit, any site specific impacts may your work have at this site and how will you mitigate them*
3. c - iv) Describe how your work meets the requirements of the South Sandwich Islands access policy*
NOTE: Permission to land on the South Sandwich Islands is only given in special circumstances. See: https://www.gov.gs/docsarchive/GSGSSI/Policies/Issue%20of%20Permits%20to%20Enter%20the%20South%20Sandwich%20Islands%2003-22.pdf
3. c - v) Detail the expected outputs of your work on the South Sandwich Islands*
NOTE - for media/outreach identify target audience and reach, for scientific activities outline plans for publication and data dissemination
3. c -vi) Please up load a detailed risk assessment for all elements of work on the South Sandwich Islands

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NOTE - this should include risks associated with shore landings, volcanic activity, extreme weather as well as project specific risks Cancelof
3. d) Does your project involve working more than 2km from a recognised visitor landing site/research station or transit across glaciers?

YesNoBAS led project based at KEP or Bird Island within BAS travel area
3. d - i) What experience and qualifications do members of the group have working in sub-Antarctic, Antarctic or areas with similar terrain / climate
Number of people ashore overnight should be the minimum to ensure project objectives. At least one member of the party should have relevant South Georgia experience and appropriate first aid qualifications
3. d - ii) Please give details of safety equipment which will be ashore with the party
This should include details of first aid equipment, emergency shelters, spares, communication devices etc
3. d - iii) Please give details of how you will manage human waste
HINT: If working at inland sites, a wag bag should be used
3. d - iv) If you have a project risk assessment, please upload this here

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3. e) Does your project involve any overnight stays ashore in a field hut?

YesNoBAS led project based at KEP or Bird Island
3. e - i) Please give details of the hut you wish to stay in including approximate dates
3. f) Does your project involve any overnight stays ashore in a tent?

YesNo
3. f - i) Please give details of proposed camping locations, number of nights, number of tents / personnel, footprint of tent and criteria which will be used for site selection in order to minimise environmental impact
This should include consideration of distance from wildlife, water, vegetation
3. g) Does your project involve work at sea other than transiting to and from the Territory*

YesNo
3 g -i) Where will your project be taking place? (tick all that apply including possible back up sites)

CCAMLR area 48.3CCAMLR area 48.4CCAMLR area 48.2West Shag BCAWest Gully BCANorthern BCAEastern BCASouthern Seamounts BCAsNorth Georgia Rise BCANorth East Georgia Rise BCAProtector Shoals BCAKemp Seamount & Calderas BCASouth Sandwich TrenchWithin 30 km of the Island of South GeorgiaWithin 50 km of the South Sandwich IslandsSouth of 60 degrees SouthOther
3 h) Does your project involve benthic sampling in a Benthic Closed Area, within 30km of SG, within 50km of the SSI or in the South Sandwich Trench

YesNo
3. h - i) Please provide a justification for why you need to conduct benthic sampling in these areas
3. i) If you have a map of your sampling sites, please upload this here

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3. j) Would your project be adversely affected if other groups were operating at a site(s) at the same time?*

YesNo
3. j - i) Please provide details of what types of activity would have an adverse effect and what these would be
NOTE: If projects would be adversely affected by others at the site GSGSSI may delay processing applications until 90 days prior to start date. If competing applications are received for the same site, and applicants are not able to deconflict, a competitive selection process will take place.
3. j- ii) Are you happy to share detail of your project with other groups to help deconflict activities / aid collaboration

YesNo
Part 4 - Methodology
4. a) Briefly summarise the main aims of your project*
Please format as a bullet pointed list
4. b) Details of methodology*
Please include details of any specialist equipment, sample collection techniques etc
4. c) If you have standard operating protocols for any of the methods you will use please upload them here

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Part 5 - Environmental Protection Regulations

The Wildlife and Protected Areas Ordinance 2011, offers wide ranging protection to the environment of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI). Various activities are prohibited and anyone undertaking them requires a permit before undertaking them. In 2022 this protection was strengthened when two Specially Protected Areas were declared that covered the whole landmass of SGSSI. In support of these, Specially Protected Area Management Plan and Prohibited Activity Regulations were enacted in 2023. The following questions will determine if your activity will breach, and therefore require a permit, under either of these pieces of legislation and will ensure appropriate mitigation is in place
Disturbance of wildlife
5. Does your project of use any active acoustics outside of those used as part of normal navigation or in licensed fisheries?*

YesNo
5. a - i) Please give details of the equipment to be used (including operating frequency), location and duration of use
5. a - ii) What, if any, mitigation measures will you have in place to limit impacts on marine mammals
5. b) Does your project involve working in close proximity to wildlife - this includes when working at or transiting to your field site (i.e proximity that may result in disturbance see 'Guidance on when to apply for a RAP')?

YesNo
5. b - i) Identify possible impacts of disturbance of wildlife caused by working in close proximity*
HINT: Consider direct, residual and/or cumulative impacts
5. b - ii) Give details of steps you will take to minimise disturbance of wildlife*
HINT: this should include maximum approach distances for each species/life staff, awareness of behavioural cues, selection of appropriate time of year
5. c) Does your project involve killing, capturing or handling any live wild bird, mammal e.g taking blood, feather samples, diet samples, attaching tracking devices?*

YesNo
5. c - i) Please upload a 'animal handling' spreadsheet

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5. c - ii) All projects that involve handling wildlife must have been approved through an ethical review panel. Please submit evidence this has been completed

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The ethical review must have been within the last 12 months and it must be clear it relates to the project you are applying to undertake on SGSSI Cancelof
5. c - iii) If you are unable to provide a letter from an ethical review panel at this time, please provide details of when you expect to be able to do so
5. c - vi) Identify possible impacts caused by handling wildlife*
HINT: consider direct, residual and/or cumulative
5. c - v) Give details of steps you will take to mitigate impacts caused by handling wildlife*
HINT: consider experience of field workers, handling time, reducing 'double handling'
5. c - vi) What will you do with samples after they have been collected?*
HINT: Samples may be exported from the territory. For samples that are not to be exported they should be rendered biologically inert before being returned to the environment
Introduction of non-native species / disease
5. d) Please confirm, all participants will read and comply with the procedures outlined in the most recent version of the GSGSSI Biosecurity Handbook*

YesNo
5. d -i) Do any items of equipment or activities pose a particular high biosecurity risk? i.e camping equipment, equipment used for moving earth/soil, vehicles etc*

YesNo
5. d - ii) Please describe how you will clean high risk items of equipment both before arriving on South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and between sites.
HINT: You should detail the products you will use, who in your group will be responsible for overseeing it and how you will document that it has been done
Sampling and removal of material
5. e) Will you collect biological samples e.g. trawl samples, vegetation, benthos, samples from animals that are already dead AND/OR remove soil, peat or mineral materials?*

YesNo
5. e - i) Please upload a 'sample collection' spreadsheet.*

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https://www.gov.gs/docsarchive/Visitors/Regulated_Activity/008_sample%20collection.xlsx Cancelof
5. e - ii) What will you do with samples after they have been collected?*
HINT: Samples may be exported from the territory. For samples that are not to be exported they should be rendered biologically inert before being returned to the environment
5. e-iii) Will the area of habitat impacted be greater than 1m2 or take longer than 1 year to recover?*

YesNo
5. e - vi) If so, please describe the area of impact and indicate how long you would anticipate this would take to recover.
5. e - v) Please describe the steps you will take to minimise impacts on habitats.
Equipment and structures
5. f) Will you erect a structure or installation e.g. mast/antenna, marker post, solar panels, settlement plates, mooring buoys, monitoring devices, tents, temporary shelters etc?*

YesNo
5. f - i) If you have photographs or diagrams of the equipment please upload these here

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5. f - ii) Please give details of where the structure of installation will be erected, how long you intend to leave it on site and plans for removal.
5. f - iii) If the structure or installation is to be in place for longer than 1 year, please give details about how you will minimise the aesthetic impacts and degradation of wilderness value.
5. f - vi) Identify any parts of the structure or device which can not/will not be removed from the environment
5. g) Will you use any mechanically-propelled vehicle on land?*

YesNo
5. g - i) Please give details of the vehicle including type, intended use and driver? *
5. g- ii) Will this vehicle be used on a surface other than roadways at King Edward Point or Grytviken or Bird Island, or beach areas in King Edward Cove or Bird Island ?*

YesNo
5. g - iii) If so, please provide details of how you will mitigate impacts on affected habitats
5. h) Does your project involve the use of a UAV over land or within 12nm of land?*

YesNo
A permit is required to opperate a drone at an altitude of less than 200m above ground level.

Operation of UAV's requires a permission under the Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) Order 2013. If your project involves the use if a UAV, as part of this application you must also contact Air Safety Support International at enquiries@airsafety.aero to obtain this permission.

General infomation for drone opperators on SGSSI can be found here. This includes infomation of pilot training and safety, weather conditions and practicalities of flight planning in relation to wildife, vessels and structures.

UAV operations in South Georgia must conform to a set of 'Standing conditions for drone operations on SGSSI' which can be veiwed here.
5. h - i) Pilot name(s)*
5. h - ii) Will your project involve flights over wildlife*

YesNo
5. h - ii) If so, please provide details and rationale
NOTE - permission for flights over aggregations of wildlife will ordinary only be given for validated scientific research
5. h - iii) Does your aircraft have any active sensors (e.g. LIDAR) or ability to carry/drop a payload*

YesNo
5. h - iv) if, so please give details of active sensors and/or payload and provide details of additional safety precautions and monitoring you will have in place
5. h - v) Will you adhere fully to the 'standing conditions for drone operations on SGSSI'*

YesNo
5. h - vi) If as part of your project you are unable to comply with any of the 'standing conditions for drone operations on SGSSI', please provide a justification and details of what additional safety precautions and monitoring you will have in place to ensure there is no harm to by-standers or the environment
Waste management and hazardous materials
5. i) Will all waste associated with the project be removed from the Territory by the projects logistic support organisation?*

YesNo
5. i - i) Detail the type and amount of waste and how it will be disposed of *
HINT: This includes domestic waste, hazardous materials, chemicals, that may be disposed by landfill, incineration etc
5. i - ii) Please provide details of how you will mitigate the impacts of disposal of waste on the environment*
HINT: This includes reducing amounts of waste generated, limiting the area impacted by in-territory disposal and restricting this to certain areas / times of day / year
5. i - iii) If you have waste management plan this can be uploaded here

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5 j) Is there a risk of hazardous materials being discharged into the environment? This includes: oil, fuel, dyes, paints, chemical agents?*

YesNo
5. j - i) Please provide details of the type and amount, how it will be stored and used safely
5. j - ii) If you have supporting documents detailing on how you would manage hazardous materials including substance specific risk assessments and/or spill response plans these can be uploaded here

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5. k - i) Please describe how you will manage human waste
NOTE - if you intend to burn toilet paper, or burry solid waste you must provide details of how you will mitigate the environmental risk
Part 6 - Entry Control Order
From 1 August 2025 all persons (unless otherwise exempted) entering South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands for work or visitor purposes will require an Entry Permit. There will be separate permits for work and visitor purposes. Those persons exempted from the need for a permit are listed in ‘Persons Who Have Deemed Permission.’

Applications for a Permit will need to be made through a dedicated web-based application portal which will go live on 1 August 2025 at 09:00 (UK Time). Details are available here
I understand that under the Entry Control Order, a work permit may be required to conduct the activities outlined in this Regulated Activity Permit application, and all participants will apply for a work permit if required to do so*

Agree
Part 7 - Submit your application

When you have completed all sections of the form submit using the button below. You will be e-mailed a copy of your application automatically
If you wish to upload any additional supporting documents, you may do so here.

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This may include details of commissions, expected out puts, grant applications etc Cancelof
Should be Empty:

Regulated Activity Permit Application

Part 1 - Applicant Details

Part 2 - Project Details

Part 3 - Area of Operation

Part 4 - Methodology

Part 5 - Environmental Protection Regulations

Disturbance of wildlife

Introduction of non-native species / disease

Sampling and removal of material

Equipment and structures

Waste management and hazardous materials

Part 6 - Entry Control Order

Part 7 - Submit your application