Prion Island

Prion Island is an island 2.4 km (1.5 mi) north-northeast of Luck Point, lying in the Bay of Isles, South Georgia. It was charted in 1912-13 by Robert Cushman Murphy, American naturalist aboard the brig Daisy, and so named because he observed prions on the island.

The island has been designated as a Specially Protected Area by the South Georgia Government, due to its rat-free status and breeding wandering albatrosses. Access is by permit, in that the island must be specifically named on the visit application and permit. A boardwalk with two viewing platforms was built in February/March 2008 to prevent erosion of the access gully and trampling of prion burrows. Wandering Albatross population counts are conducted annually. Because it is rat-free it is a breeding area for South Georgia pipits and burrowing petrels.

Prion Island panorama

Access

Visits are restricted as described in the GSGSSI Information For Visitors document as follows:

  • Closed between 20 November and 7 January (Inclusive), to prevent disturbance of breeding fur seals at the landing beach.
  • A maximum of two visits per day
  • Landing at the designated beach only and all visitors to stay on the boardwalk
  • Commercial visits to maintain a 1:10 staff to passenger ratio
  • Maximum 50 people ashore at any time
  • A visit is not to exceed 5 hours
  • Thorough biosecurity checks to be made before landing

See also
  • List of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands

References

     This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Geological Survey document: "Prion Island". (content from the Geographic Names Information System) 


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