by Ria Olivier | Apr 25, 2025 | Antarctica, Gough Island, International Days, Marine Protected Area, Marion Island, Mice Eradication, Ornithology, Research, SANAP
Every year on April 25th, we celebrate International Penguin Day—a global reminder of the unique role penguins plays in our planet’s ecosystems. These birds are not just symbols of the icy South—they are indicators of ocean health and climate change. From the sub-Antarctic islands to the Antarctic continent itself, penguins serve as sentinels of the sea, helping scientists track environmental shifts that affect us all.
South Africa plays a vital role in this mission through its National Antarctic Programme (SANAP), which supports long-term ecological research at key sites such as Gough Island, Marion Island, and Antarctica. These research stations are crucial hubs for studying penguin populations like the Northern Rockhopper on Gough Island and the Macaroni penguins on Marion Island. Scientists monitor breeding patterns, foraging behaviour, and survival rates—data that provide early warnings about oceanic changes. In Antarctica, SANAP researchers study Adélie and Emperor penguins, whose survival is intimately tied to the health of sea ice and krill populations.
By investing in these research efforts, South Africa not only contributes to global conservation science but also highlights the importance of protecting our shared polar heritage. This International Penguin Day let’s celebrate the science that keeps these beloved birds waddling into the future.
by Ria Olivier | Apr 22, 2025 | International Days, Research, SANAP, Science
On Earth Day 2025, we recognize the vital role of science in securing the future of our planet. South Africa’s commitment to environmental stewardship is powerfully reflected in its research presence at Antarctica, Marion Island, and Gough Island, under the South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP). These remote, pristine locations serve as natural laboratories for understanding global climate systems, ocean circulation, and the health of marine ecosystems. From monitoring atmospheric carbon levels in Antarctica to studying biodiversity on Marion Island, South African researchers are gathering critical data that informs climate models, shapes conservation strategies, and guides global efforts to mitigate climate change.
The work conducted through SANAP not only enhances our understanding of Earth’s most vulnerable environments but also strengthens global collaboration on environmental sustainability. Long-term monitoring of weather patterns, sea temperatures, and wildlife populations across these islands contributes directly to international climate assessments and helps predict future planetary changes. As we mark Earth Day, let us celebrate the dedication of researchers who brave the extremes to ensure a liveable Earth for generations to come. Their efforts remind us that the answers to many of our environmental challenges lie in the farthest corners of our world—and that the time to act on them is now.
by Fishgate@sanap | Apr 1, 2025 | Announcement, Meteorology, News, Oceanography, SANAP
ICSHMO 2025 – International Conference on Southern Hemisphere Meteorology and Oceanography (ICSHMO) 2025 – Participation from the SANAP research community. Below a few presentations by researchers as well as session chairs etc. Visit the ICSHMO website for the full and final program.
Wayne de Jager – Increased Rotational Coupling Between Antarctic Sea Ice and the Atmosphere Over the Last 30 Years- Sebastiaan Swart – The oceans imprint on air sea fluxes: Drivers of turbulent heat flux over the Agulhas Current
- Tarron Lamont – Monitoring Western Boundary Current System variability with satellite altimetry
- Riesna R. Audh – Rafting of Growing Antarctic Sea Ice Enhances In-Ice Biogeochemical Activity in Winter
- Robyn Verrinder – Antarctic MIZ observation platforms: Interdisciplinary approaches to resolve seasonal sea ice variability
- Tamaryn Morris – 1. Sustained ocean observations for the Agulhas Current: Realizing the Benefits of Ocean Knowledge through Co-Design. 2. Capturing a cyclonic eddy, and cross-shelf dynamics, in the Agulhas Bight during an early retroflection of the Agulhas Current.
- Magata Mangatane – Intercomparison of Antarctic sea-ice thickness estimates from satellite altimetry and assessment over the 2019 data-rich year.
- Sharon Nicholson – The seasonal cycle in Southern Hemisphere Africa
- Rutger Marquart – Coupled dynamics and thermodynamics modelling of heterogeneous sea ice and ocean waves
- Janine Schoombie – Mapping within-island-scale wind variation on Marion Island
- Christopher Reason – Multiyear La Niña events, the Mozambique Channel, and rainfall over eastern Africa
- Thulwaneng Mashifane – Trait–Based Adjustments: Key to Improving Bloom Seasonal Cycle in the Subantarctic Zone
- Sandy Thomalla – VeGAS-pCO2: Versatile glider, atmospheric and ship high precision pCO2 gas flux analyser
- Amber Sneddon – Atmospheric River climatology for the South Atlantic Basin based on modern image-processing-based tracking.
- Marcel Du Plessis – Storms regulate Southern Ocean summer warming
- Sandy Thomalla -Southern Ocean Observing System for sustained and coordinated observations in a changing world
- Thomas Ryan-Keogh – How can we effectively manage the impact of climate change on Antarctic ecosystems?
- Sandy Thomalla – Climate-driven change to phytoplankton blooms across the global ocean
- Nicolette Chang – Investigating Heat and Carbon Exchange in the Southern Ocean: Insights from a Mesoscale-Resolving
- Sarah Du Preez – Environmental influence on zooplankton variability around sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands
- Sarah-Anne Nicholson – The impact of storms on CO2 and heat exchange across the Southern Ocean
- Thato Mtshali – Wintertime distribution and mixed layer dissolved iron budget in the south Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean
- Miranda Sitofile – The seasonal iron supply in the Southern Ocean
- Chris Reason – Interannual and intraseasonal variability in the Southern Hemisphere
Session chairs, speakers and MC
- Plenary Session – MC: Warren Joubert
- Invited Speaker: Issufo Halo
- Session: Southern Hemisphere Boundary Currents. Chair: Tamaryn Morris
- Session: Polar. Chair: Wayne de Jager. Co-Chair: Magata Mangatane
- Session: Emerging Technologies in Ocean Observing. Chair: Dr Tamaryn Morris
- Session: Southern Ocean BGC. Chair: Thato Mtshali. Co-Chair: Sarah-Anne Nicholson
- Session: Southern Ocean – BGC. Chair: Sandy Thomalla. Co-Chair: Thato Mtshali
by Fishgate@sanap | Mar 31, 2025 | Announcement, Marion Island, News, SANAP
High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (H5n1) confirmed on Subantarctic Marion Island
Press Release by the Department of Forestry Fisheries and the Environment: 23 March 2025
The presence of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus on Marion Island has been confirmed. Samples collected between September and December 2024 were all shipped back to mainland South Africa, via the SA Agulhas II, in February 2025. In March, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing confirmed infection in six bird species, comprising Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans), King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus), Brown (Subantarctic) Skua (Stercorarius antarcticus), Southern Giant Petrel (Macronectes giganteus), Northern Giant Petrel (M. halli) and Sooty Albatross (Phoebetria fusca).
Following an initial suspected HPAI case in a Brown Skua at Marion Island (a bird showing clinical signs of HPAI infection including twitching and tremors) in mid-September 2024, more similar cases were reported in early November and mortalities in multiple species have continued into March 2025, though the overall death rate slowed significantly in January. The reduced mortality rate is promising, but 31 bird species breed on Marion Island and the bird species and age composition varies throughout the year, therefore it is difficult to predict how the outbreak will progress. The potential effects on marine mammals are also of concern but no increased mortality has been reported in any mammal species so far.
Among Wandering Albatrosses, chicks were mostly affected, with at least 150 of approximately 1900 chicks from the 2024 cohort having died. However, adults have been affected worst in other species: at least 80 adult Brown Skuas, and approximately 120 adult King Penguins. Much smaller numbers of affected giant petrels (at least 20 Southern and four Northern) and Sooty Albatrosses (five) have been observed. The deaths of adult seabirds are of greater concern than chicks, because most species only start to breed at 3 to 10 years of age, and most affected species raise at most one chick per year. There are also a multitude of other threats to seabirds, including fisheries bycatch, climate change, plastic pollution and predation by introduced house mice on Marion Island.
Marion Island, along with neighbouring Prince Edward Island, provides critical breeding and moulting grounds for millions of seabirds and marine mammals, including nearly half of the worlds Wandering Albatrosses, hundreds of thousands of penguins, and large numbers of Southern Elephant Seals and Subantarctic and Antarctic Fur Seals. The Archipelago is located in the south western Indian Ocean, about 2000km southeast of Cape Town and halfway between Africa and Antarctica.
Observations of and laboratory test results for HPAI (H5N1) on Marion Island can assist in inferring the potential risk to animals on Prince Edward Island, since they share various ecological characteristics. Visits to Prince Edward Island are limited to one visit every four years, to limit human impacts on the island and preserve its pristine state, and the last survey was undertaken in November 2023.
Having spread around the globe since 2021, HPAI (H5N1) was detected in seabirds and marine mammals in South Georgia, southeast of South America, in October 2023. It reached the Antarctic Peninsula in February 2024 and was detected at the French archipelagos of Crozet and Kerguelen (950 and 2300 km east of Marion respectively) in October and November 2024. The virus can be transported long distances by migrating birds, and the virus moved from South Georgia to the French islands.
The situation on Marion Island is being closely monitored by the field personnel overwintering on the island, who have been trained to recognise possible HPAI signs in birds and seals, and in the necessary monitoring and mitigation methods. They will continue to take all precautions to ensure they do not spread the virus. There are few other disease mitigation tools available in this type of situation.
The HPAI protocol [SANAP Protocol for the Management of Avian Influenza (20 April 2024) PDF – 960.4 KB] that has been implemented on Marion Island was developed by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, the management authority for the Prince Edward Islands, together with Western Cape Veterinary Services, marine ornithologists, marine mammal biologists, disease experts and colleagues overseas with similar experience. Efforts to monitor and hopefully limit the spread of the virus on the island will continue.
For media enquiries please contact:
Thobile Zulu-Molobi
Mobile: +27 82 513 7154
E-mail: tmolobi@dffe.gov.za
or
Peter Mbelengwa:
Mobile: +27 82 611 8197
E-mail: pmbelengwa@dffe.gov.za
by Ria Olivier | Feb 3, 2025 | Announcement, Geomorphology, Important Dates, Research, SANAP, SANAP Student, Science
The International Conference on Geomorphology (ICG) 2025 is set to take place in breathtaking New Zealand, a land renowned for its dynamic landscapes and geological wonders. This global gathering of geomorphologists will provide a platform for cutting-edge discussions on landform processes, climate interactions, and Earth surface dynamics. We invite researchers, early-career scientists, and professionals to contribute to this exciting event by submitting abstracts to the special session:
Geomorphological Insights from the Sub-Antarctic
Description: Sub-Antarctic islands, situated in the remote Southern Ocean, offer a unique geomorphological perspective due to their distinct geographical setting. These cold islands, characterized by both glacial and periglacial processes, provide crucial insights into the historical and ongoing changes in oceanic and atmospheric circulation patterns within the southern hemisphere mid-latitudes. Unlike their northern hemisphere counterparts, these islands experienced a different Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and complex deglaciation, leading to unique geomorphological features and processes. The landforms of these islands serve as invaluable proxies for understanding landscape responses to climate change. Palaeo-climatic shifts have profoundly influenced geomorphological and cryogenic dynamics, shaping landforms and influencing ecosystem processes. Contemporary climatic changes, such as rising temperatures, moisture fluctuations, and increased frequency of extreme events, pose significant threats to these delicate geomorphological systems. These changes have the potential to push landscape and ecosystem processes beyond their existing environmental thresholds, impacting landforms and biodiversity. This session aims to explore the geomorphological significance of Sub-Antarctic islands and their role as indicators of environmental change. We invite contributions that highlight the geomorphological processes and dynamics that shape the landscape of these Sub- Antarctic Islands. Research focusing on the region’s geomorphological responses to past and present climatic conditions and the possible implications for ecosystem processes are particularly welcome. Emerging researchers are encouraged to submit their work to advance our understanding of these critical sentinel landscapes.
Who Should Submit?
We strongly encourage early-career researchers, postgraduate students, and experienced scientists to contribute their work. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase your research to an international audience, gain valuable feedback, and network with leading experts in the field.
Abstract Submission Deadline: 31 May 2025!!
Don’t miss your chance to be part of ICG 2025 and contribute to this vital discussion on the evolving landscapes of the Sub-Antarctic.
Message from Prof Werner Nel:
“Dear Friends and Colleagues, We are putting a session together for the International Conference on Geomorphology that will be held in Christchurch in February 2026. As you can see the session description is very open, so we can really put a nice diverse session together. We would like to ask you to consider submitting an abstract to the session.
Hope to see you there. All the best.” Werner Nel
by Ria Olivier | Jan 17, 2025 | Announcement, Antarctica, Gough Island, Marion Island, Prince Edward Islands, SA Agulhas II, SANAE, SANAP, Southern Ocean
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is pleased to announce the upcoming voyage schedule for the S.A. Agulhas II for the 2025/2026 season. This state-of-the-art polar research and supply vessel will continue its vital role in supporting South Africa’s research stations in Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands. Below is the planned itinerary provided by the Department of Forestry Fisheries and the Environment:
DOWNLOAD PDF Voyage Schedule 2025-2026
DOWNLOAD PDF Voyage Schedule 2026 – 2027
Please note that these dates are subject to change based on operational requirements and weather conditions. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the official voyage schedule on the South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP) website.
SANAP
We look forward to another successful season of exploration and research, furthering our understanding of these remote and vital regions.
