The waters surrounding the South Orkney Islands have emerged as an important hotspot for recovering whale populations, prompting Antarctic tour operators to introduce a new vessel-speed restriction aimed at reducing the risk of ship strikes.
The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) has announced that its members will voluntarily observe a 10-knot speed limit within a newly designated whale-protection zone around the South Orkneys. The measure will apply from 1 November to 30 May each year, beginning in the 2026-27 austral summer season, and will initially remain in place for two years.
The decision follows a growing body of observations suggesting the region is being used extensively by whales. IAATO's Vessel-based Cetacean and Pinniped Sightings (V-CaPS) programme recorded 203 whale sightings in the area over four seasons. More strikingly, a dedicated research expedition led by marine wildlife photographer and researcher Ted Cheeseman in February and March 2026 reported 1,468 individual whales representing six species during an 18-day survey.
The new zone reflects a broader trend in marine conservation: reducing vessel speeds can significantly lower the likelihood and severity of collisions with large whales. In the Southern Ocean, where populations of humpback, fin and other baleen whales continue to recover from historic commercial whaling, such measures may become increasingly important as tourism expands.
Yet key questions remain. IAATO has outlined the boundaries of the geofenced area, but the methodology used to define those limits has not been widely discussed. Equally important will be transparency around compliance. Independent publication of AIS-based vessel-speed data could help demonstrate whether operators are consistently adhering to the voluntary limit.
The two-year trial may also provide an opportunity to measure outcomes. Researchers will be watching for evidence that slower speeds reduce strike risk and disturbance to whales. If the programme proves effective, attention may turn to whether similar requirements should apply beyond IAATO members, including fishing vessels, government-operated ships and other commercial traffic that transit Antarctic waters.
For now, the South Orkneys will serve as a closely watched test case for balancing wildlife protection with growing human activity in one of the world's most biologically significant marine regions.