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St Helena Government (SHG) wishes to advise the public that a wide-ranging review of the fishing sector has been initiated.
It will include an evaluation of the following:
- Policy and strategic management
- Licensing and regulatory framework
- Food security and domestic affordability
- Current fleet (including fleet safety), infrastructure, and cold chain
- Processing and quality assurance
- Market access and distribution, including export
- Governance and institutional roles
- Sustainable resource stewardship
A fisheries review task group will be appointed along with clear terms of reference to help guide its work.
For further information please contact SHG Portfolio Directors, Darren Duncan or Damian Burns via email darren.duncan@sainthelena.gov.sh or damian.burns@sainthelena.gov.sh.
#StHelena #FishingSector #Review
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St Helena Government (SHG) was pleased to celebrate Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Day yesterday, 19 November 2025. GIS Day is an annual global event that highlights the importance of geographic literacy and demonstrates how GIS technology helps solve real-world challenges.
GIS: A Key Tool for St Helena’s Development
GIS is a powerful system for creating, managing, analysing, and mapping all types of data. By connecting data to maps, GIS provides valuable insights into geographic data patterns and relationships, supporting informed decision-making across multiple sectors.
In the lead-up to GIS Day, the SHG GIS team engaged with the local community at the Agriculture Show at Francis Plain on Saturday, 15 November 2025. The team showcased how this technology is already being used to support and enhance St Helena’s agricultural sector.
GIS Manager, Devlin Yon, commented:
“Our presence at the Agriculture Show was a great success. It gave us the chance to show farmers and residents firsthand how GIS can be used to monitor crop health, analyse soil types, and improve irrigation efficiency. Integrating geographic data into agriculture is crucial for sustainable development and resource management on the island.”
Celebrate GIS Day
GIS Day serves as a call to action, encouraging everyone, from students to professionals, to understand and use geographic science and technology. SHG remains committed to expanding GIS use to support evidence-based planning and operations across government departments, including infrastructure, environment, emergency services, and land management.
For more information about what was showcased on GIS Day, please scan the QR code or click the link: https://arcg.is/1GXnfK0
If you would like to participate in our Crop Calendar survey please follow the link and QR code below: https://arcg.is/58SLC
QR Code to Story Map QR Code to Survey
#StHelena #GIS #GISDay
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SHG
20 November 2025
Personnel from across the St Helena Government (SHG) and key stakeholders have successfully completed International Maritime Organization (IMO) Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC) Levels 1, 2 and 3 training, delivered by Ambipar Response Ltd between 21–30 October 2025.
The programme, funded by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) through the FCDO’s OT Civil Resilience programme, included both refresher and new training to maintain St Helena’s capability to prepare for and respond to marine oil spill incidents. Participants represented agencies including Port Control, Sea Rescue, Customs, Environmental Management, Police, and Solomons & Company Plc.
A certificate presentation was held at Plantation House on 30 October 2025, attended by His Excellency the Governor, SHG officials, and the Ambipar training team.
Senior Response Consultant and Trainer at Ambipar, Harry Jolly, said:
“Ambipar are extremely proud to have once again supported SHG and its partners in building resilience and developing their skills in marine oil spill response. It is clear that the island continues to take proactive steps in line with international best practice.”
Portfolio Director, Alex Mitham, added:
“This training ensures St Helena remains ready and capable to respond effectively to pollution incidents, protecting our marine environment and community.”
The training forms part of SHG’s ongoing work to strengthen environmental resilience and uphold international maritime standards.
Photos
Governor Phillips delivers his opening speech at the Certificate Presentation Reception at Plantation House
Ambipar Trainer, Harry Jolly
Certificate recipients
NOTES TO EDITOR:
- The OPRC Levels 1, 2, and 3 training is part of the International Maritime Organization’s Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation framework.
- Ambipar Response Ltd are internationally recognised specialists in environmental emergency response and training.
- Funding for this initiative was secured through the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA.
#StHelena #Maritime #OilSpillResponseTraining
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Looking Ahead – Protecting St Helena
The St Helena Government (SHG), in partnership with Connect Saint Helena Ltd and JBA Consulting, invites all residents to take part in the public consultation for the island’s new Water Resource Management Plan (WRMP).
This important plan will guide how St Helena can secure reliable and sustainable water supplies for our homes, agriculture, businesses, and natural environment over the coming decades. It will explore:
•How water is currently supplied and used across the island;
•Options for improving storage, sourcing, and efficiency;
•Ways to strengthen our resilience to climate change and drought;
•Opportunities to protect our environment while meeting community needs.
Why Your Voice Matters
Water affects everyone on St Helena. Your local knowledge, ideas, and feedback are vital to shaping a plan that reflects our island’s priorities and requirements. By getting involved, you’ll help guide how water is managed and invested in to meet our current needs and the needs of future generations. Please hit the QR code below to complete our questionnaire and be part of securing water for St Helena.
How to Take Part
Join one of our community consultation events:
St Pauls: Kingshurst Community Centre– Tuesday 18th November 7pm -8pm
Longwood: Harford Community Centre – Wednesday 19th November 7pm – 8pm
Jamestown: Saint Helena Community College Hall – Thursday 20th November 7pm – 8pm
Consultation materials will also be available online and at key public venues, with opportunities to submit feedback in writing. Your input will help refine and evaluate the resourcing options being proposed before the plan is finalised later this year.
This project forms part of the £30 million Economic Development Investment Programme (EDIP), funded by the UK Government, supporting a sustainable future for St Helena.
11 November 2025
Chief Minister, Dr Rebecca Cairns-Wicks MBE, is due to depart St Helena on Saturday 15 November 2025, to travel to the UK to attend the annual Overseas Territories (OTs) Joint Ministerial Council (JMC).
The JMC takes place every year in London and is hosted by the UK Government. It brings together elected leaders and representatives from all the OTs, as well as UK Ministers, and provides the principal forum for political dialogue and consultation between the UK and the OTs.
The JMC is due to begin on 24 November 2025, with the main formal discussion meetings taking place between 26 and 27 November. The Chief Minister will also have a number of official engagements before and after the event itself. These engagements will include a bilateral meeting with Stephen Doughty, Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories and meetings with other UK Government Ministers, OT leaders and other representatives.
The Chief Minister will be joined by His Excellency the Governor Nigel Philips CBE and SHG UK Representative, Kedell Worboys MBE.
The Governor and the Chief Minister are due to arrive back on St Helena on Saturday 6 December. Whilst they are off-island, Tasha Harris, Head of the Governor’s Office, will be sworn in as Acting Governor and Minister Martin Henry will be appointed Deputy Chief Minister.
In speaking about her attendance at the JMC, the Chief Minister said:
“I am honoured to represent St Helena at my first UK Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council. This is the most important annual political event in the calendar for St Helena and all UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs). Bringing together UK Ministers and elected leaders from each Territory to discuss key issues, agree priorities, progress action and strengthen the partnership between the Territories and the UK Government. This is an important opportunity for our new Government to raise St Helena’s voice directly in the UK, to showcase St Helena’s progress and achievements over the last year, highlight our challenges, set out our plans for development and advocate for the support needed to build a more sustainable and resilient future for our island.”
11 November 2025
Recently, St Helena was nominated for ‘Most Desirable Island (World)’ at the 24th annual Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards. The results were announced yesterday at a special event held during the World Travel Market (WTM) in London.
While St Helena did not win this year, the nomination itself signifies St Helena’s growing reputation and positioning on the international tourism map.
The awards are voted for by thousands of well-travelled readers of the UK’s leading travel magazine, Wanderlust and St Helena Government would like to thank everyone locally and internationally who voted for St Helena.
Minister for Economic Development and Environment, Natural Resources and Planning, Karl Thrower, commented:
“Our nomination at the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards confirms that the unique beauty, history, and genuine warmth of the St Helenian people resonate deeply with discerning travellers. It signals a growing appetite for unique, off-the-beaten-path destinations offering authentic, immersive experiences, which St Helena has in spades. We thank everyone for taking the time to vote for St Helena and hope we can call on your support for similar opportunities in future.”
Photos
Tourism Manager, Dianne Venning and Economic Development Officer, Marcella Mittens at awards ceremony.
#StHelena #WanderlustTravelAwards #ABreathOfFreshAir
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SHG
10 November 2025
The Safety Security and Home Affairs Portfolio is pleased to report that the skills and knowledge gained from training delivered by our Border Force colleagues in the UK earlier this year continue to enhance the capabilities of our Customs and Immigration Team.
Building on this training, and through close collaboration between Customs & Immigration, and the Royal St Helena Police, several items were successfully detained last weekend by Customs.
This achievement reflects the effectiveness of joint working and the commitment of all agencies involved.
In a small community island such as ours, working together is essential to ensure that we can manage our borders effectively and safeguard the interests of our people. These efforts demonstrate our shared responsibility to protect and serve our community.
The Environment, Natural Resources and Planning Portfolio (ENRP) has announced key management decisions regarding the fishing of Grouper, Deepwater Bullseye, and Moray Eel (Conger) for the remainder of the 2025 fishing year. These decisions, effective from Friday 31 October 2025, follow an Advisory Board meeting held on 24 October 2025 with the Minister for Economic Development and ENRP, Karl Thrower, present virtually.
Precautionary Increase for Grouper
The updated management measures for Grouper reflect positive results from continued data collection and targeted monitoring. This work was conducted by the Marine and Fisheries Conservation Section (MFCS), in collaboration with the UK’s Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS).
A significant decline in abundance of Grouper required a reduction in the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) from 25 tonnes (equating to 20 tonnes commercial and 5 tonnes recreational) to 1.65 metric tonnes in 2024. This 1.65 tonnes was distributed equally between recreational fishers, with each licensee being able to catch 30 fish.
Further data collection over the past 2 years supports a precautionary increase of the TAC from 1.65 tonnes to 2.0 metric tonnes. ENRP has implemented a new, licence-neutral allocation system. Under this system, all previous Grouper landings are void, and each fishing vessel licence holder will receive an equal share of the remaining TAC, equivalent to 22 Grouper per licence.
Licence holders have the flexibility to land these fish under either their commercial or recreational licence. Furthermore, transfers of Grouper allocations between licence holders will be permitted, subject to mutual consent and pending approval from the Chief Fisheries Officer. The Marine Compliance and Enforcement Section (MCES) will process all transfer applications within 48 hours during regular office hours.
This adjustment applies only for the remainder of 2025. A comprehensive review of Grouper management options is scheduled for December 2025, with potential revisions to be implemented in 2026.
Deepwater Bullseye and Moray Eel
Effective 31 October 2025, the Chief Fisheries Officer has revoked the Fisheries Control Notice for Deepwater Bullseye, allowing commercial fishing for the species to immediately resume. Whilst no formal Total Allowable Catches will apply for Deepwater Bullseye or Moray Eel (Conger) for the remainder of 2025, ENRP strongly encourage all fishers to maintain sustainable fishing practices.
This interim approach reflects an improved understanding of recent fishing data and actual landings. Revised, evidence-based TACs for both species are expected to be introduced in 2026, following updated scientific advice from the CEFAS.
Next Steps and Acknowledgements
All fishing vessel licence holders have received formal documentation concerning these changes, including a variation to their fishing licences and a Grouper transfer form for allocation exchanges. The MCES has confirmed updated entitlements and conditions via correspondence to each licence holder.
ENRP expresses its appreciation to the fishing associations and individual licence holders for their continued co-operation, patience, and engagement throughout this review process. The constructive dialogue and feedback received has been invaluable in ensuring that these management measures support both environmental sustainability and the livelihoods and interests of local fishers.
#StHelena #Marine
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St Helena Government (SHG) and Airlink are pleased to announce the release of an 18-month forward flight schedule to St Helena.
Airlink will continue to operate its regular weekly Saturday service between Johannesburg (JNB) and St Helena (HLE), and monthly inter-island service between St Helena and Ascension, maintaining consistent connectivity. In addition, from mid-December 2026 through to the mid-March 2027, Airlink will introduce a seasonal Tuesday return service between Cape Town and St Helena, catering to increased travel demand during the southern summer months.
While the published schedule extends 18 months into the future, it is important to note that flights can only be booked up to 360 days in advance, in line with Airlink’s booking system. Travellers and tourism operators can therefore plan ahead with confidence, knowing flight timings and service frequencies beyond the current booking window.
The schedule provides visitors and residents with enhanced visibility of planned flight operations, offering greater confidence and flexibility when planning travel to one of the world’s most unique and remote destinations. This will also allow the island’s businesses, tour operators, and hospitality partners to better prepare for upcoming travel seasons.
On the announcement, Minister of Economic Development, Karl Thrower, said:
“This 18-month schedule demonstrates our continued collaboration with Airlink, and our shared commitment to making St Helena more accessible for everyone. This predictability is vital, especially for our community. We hope this extended view will be helpful for the local population, diaspora and visitors in their forward planning.”
Chief Commercial Officer of Airlink, Katherine Whelan, added:
“We are proud to continue connecting St Helena to the world through our Johannesburg and seasonal Cape Town services. The release of this extended schedule gives travellers the confidence to plan well in advance and supports the island’s ongoing tourism and economic development. St Helena is a remarkable destination, and Airlink is delighted to play a role in opening it up to more visitors.”
The full flight schedule for the period November 2025 to March 2027 can be seen on the SHG website or found on the Airlink website 362 days prior to departure.
Tickets for travel between South Africa and St Helena are available online, via the Airlink website and through all IATA travel agents.
Ticket bookings for residents of St Helena can be made through your local travel agent.
Tickets for travel on the inter-island service between St Helena and Ascension are available through the AIG Travel Office. Passengers can contact the Travel Office via email at flight.bookings@ascension.gov.ac or by telephone on +247 67000 ext 1111.
#StHelena #VisitStHelena #Airlink #FlyAirlink
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The St Helena Open Oceans Fund, a collaborative initiative between the St Helena Government (SHG) and ocean adventure company Wavysail, is pleased to announce the selection of its latest grant recipients for the upcoming Cape Town to St Helena to Cape Town voyage cycle. This ongoing partnership aims to promote inclusive yachting and grant members of the St Helena community an invaluable open-ocean sailing experience.
The two successful recipients for this third voyage cycle are:
- Cerys Joshua: Selected for the first leg, will travel from Cape Town to Jamestown. She is scheduled to depart Cape Town today, Friday, 31 October 2025.
- Isabella Scott: Chosen for the outbound journey, will sail from Jamestown back to Cape Town.
The voyages, which typically cost several thousand pounds, are entirely funded for the recipients through the St Helena Open Oceans Fund, removing cost as a barrier for islanders seeking this unique experience.
Cerys Joshua commented:
“Despite the bad weather and flight delays, I’m really looking forward to such an amazing adventure with the Wavysail crew. One thing that I’m really excited about, is the potential to see some really cool wildlife, and epic sunrises and sunsets!
I’d like to thank the Open Oceans Fund and St Helena Government, for such an amazing opportunity.”
Isabella Scott added:
“I would like to thank Wavysail and SHG. I am very grateful to be chosen for this sponsorship and look forward to learning and gaining experience in sailing from this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
About the Fund
Launched in 2023, the St Helena Open Oceans Fund leverages the longstanding relationship between SHG and Wavysail, a frequent visitor to the island. The grant provides a full placement on the yacht, including the option for recipients to stay for up to three nights in accommodation booked by Wavysail in Cape Town.
Eligibility and Future Applications
The grant is open to persons currently living on the island, as well as those who are part of St Helena’s diaspora, and applicants must be at least 18 years old by the time of departure.
Applications for future voyages can be made via self-nomination or by nominating someone else who would benefit from the experience.
To find out more about the St Helena Open Oceans Fund and to apply, please visit: https://bit.ly/3N83r66.
Photos
Cerys Joshua
Isabella Scott
Notes To Editors
Important Travel Conditions: As with any Wavysail experience, the grant recipient is responsible for covering and arranging their own travel to and from the arrival and departure points (e.g. flight back to St Helena from South Africa), as well as any hotels, meals, and expenses incurred off the boat.
Further Information: Full terms and conditions for the Open Oceans Fund are available online at www.wavysail.com/OpenOceans. Alternatively, contact Wavysail directly by email at info@wavysail.com.
#StHelena #OpenOceansFund #Wavysail