1 Operational Plan for the eradication of rodents from South Georgia: Phase 1 South Georgia Heritage Trust 21 December 2010 Rodent eradication on South Georgia, Phase 1: Operational Plan, version 4. 21 Dec 2010 2 Table of Contents RELATED DOCUMENTS .................................................................................................................................. 4 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .................................................................................................................................... 4 NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................ 5 Background .................................................................................................................................................... 5 This project..................................................................................................................................................... 6 Eradication methodology & timing ................................................................................................................ 6 Project management & staffing ...................................................................................................................... 8 Risk management............................................................................................................................................ 8 Project and Operational Plan development ................................................................................................... 9 SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION, RATIONALE, FEASIBILITY & OBJECTIVES .................................. 10 1.1 - INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................... 10 1.2 - RATIONALE ............................................................................................................................................... 11 1.3 - RISK OF RE-INVASION ................................................................................................................................ 12 1.4 - FEASIBILITY .............................................................................................................................................. 13 1.5 - OBJECTIVES OF THIS DOCUMENT ............................................................................................................... 14 SECTION 2 - OPERATIONAL AREA ............................................................................................................ 14 2.1 – SOUTH GEORGIA ....................................................................................................................................... 14 2.2 - OWNERSHIP AND STATUS ........................................................................................................................... 15 2.3 - OCCUPATION, MANAGEMENT AND VISITATION .......................................................................................... 15 2.4 – AREA OF OPERATION ................................................................................................................................. 16 2.4.1 Greene Peninsula ................................................................................................................................ 16 2.4.2 Thatcher Peninsula ............................................................................................................................. 18 2.4.3 Mercer baiting zone............................................................................................................................. 19 2.4.4 Saddle Island ....................................................................................................................................... 20 SECTION 3 - OPERATIONAL SUMMARY................................................................................................... 21 SUMMARY ABBREVIATIONS .............................................................................................................................. 25 SECTION 4 - PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STAFFING REQUIREMENTS .................................... 26 4.1 - INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................... 26 4.2 - PROJECT STAFF.......................................................................................................................................... 27 4.2.1 - Project Director (PD) ....................................................................................................................... 27 4.2.2 - Assistant Project Director (APD) ..................................................................................................... 27 4.2.3 - Aviation Advisor (AA) ....................................................................................................................... 28 4.2.4 - Administration Officer (AO) ............................................................................................................. 28 4.3 - FIELD STAFF .............................................................................................................................................. 28 4.3.1 - Chief Pilot ......................................................................................................................................... 28 4.3.2 - Helicopter engineer........................................................................................................................... 28 4.3.3 - GPS/mapping specialist .................................................................................................................... 28 4.3.4 - Field Officers .................................................................................................................................... 29 4.3.5 - Accommodation Manager ................................................................................................................. 29 4.3.6 - Paramedic/doctor ............................................................................................................................. 29 4.3.7 - Telehandler driver/boatman ............................................................................................................. 29 SECTION 5 - FIELD OPERATIONAL PREPARATIONS ........................................................................... 29 5.1 - COORDINATION OF EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS IN STANLEY ................................................................... 29 5.2 - READINESS CHECKS .................................................................................................................................. 30 SECTION 6 – TRANSPORTATION ................................................................................................................ 30 6.1 - GATHERING MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT IN THE FALKLAND ISLANDS. ...................................................... 30 6.2 - TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN FI AND SG. .................................................................................................. 31 6.3 - BIOSECURITY: MINIMISING THE RISK OF TRANSPORTING ALIEN ORGANISMS .............................................. 31 6.4 - REMOVING MATERIAL AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE 2011 OPERATION ....................................................... 32 Rodent eradication on South Georgia, Phase 1: Operational Plan, version 4. 21 Dec 2010 3 SECTION 7 – TEAM LIVING ARRANGEMENTS AND MEDICAL CARE ............................................. 32 7.1 FEEDING AND ACCOMMODATION ................................................................................................................ 32 7.2 MEDICAL CARE ............................................................................................................................................ 32 SECTION 8 - BRODIFACOUM BAIT ............................................................................................................. 32 8.1 - SOURCE OF BAIT & QUANTITY REQUIRED .................................................................................................. 32 8.2 - BAIT SPECIFICATIONS ................................................................................................................................ 33 8.3 - MOULD ISSUES .......................................................................................................................................... 33 8.4 - BAIT STORAGE ON SOUTH GEORGIA .......................................................................................................... 33 SECTION 9 - BAIT BROADCASTING OPERATIONS ................................................................................ 34 9.1 - OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................................................. 34 9.2 - ISLAND FIELD OPERATIONS PRIOR TO BAITING WORK ................................................................................ 34 9.3 - DAILY OPERATIONAL DECISION MAKING ................................................................................................... 34 9.4 - PRESCRIPTION RATES ................................................................................................................................. 35 9.5 - BAIT BUCKETS ..........................................................................................................................................