Kelly Green's September Report from Tristan
Report from Head of Tourism Kelly Green on 19th September 2025
It has been a busy few weeks here on Tristan da Cunha, with the island community hard at work across a range of activities.
Fishing off Hillpiece in 2024
Fishing Season
Almost every day except Wednesday has been a fishing day recently. At this time of year, the catch naturally begins to slow down, as many lobsters are in berry (carrying eggs). Berried females often stay hidden in shelter and move around less, making them harder to catch. There are also strict protections in place to ensure these lobsters are released, helping to safeguard the population for future seasons.
Archive photo of SA Agulhas II off Tristan da Cunha
Preparing for the SA Agulhas II
The community is also preparing for the long-awaited annual visit of the SA Agulhas II. This year’s arrival has unfortunately been delayed by almost 17 days, which is a real shame for the visitors.
The ship is now expected to arrive on Sunday 22nd September, and the island will be ready to welcome passengers ashore by helicopter once conditions allow. Snacks, confectionery and souvenirs have all been prepared, and welcome letters & programmes sent out to hosts. With the extra activity surrounding the visit, it’s been said that it’s “nice to have a bit of hustle and bustle on the island” as everyone comes together to get ready.
Night Skies Over Tristan
Away from the day-to-day work, Tristan offers moments of natural beauty that few places in the world can match. Thanks to Dr. Alex Wonner, we were able to share a stunning photograph of the night sky over the settlement, where the stars spill across the mountain like a glowing cloud. With no light pollution here, evenings like this are common, giving islanders the chance to enjoy clear views of the Milky Way and countless stars.
Dr Alex Wonner's photo of the night sky looking south from the village towards the mountain.
Looking Ahead
Once the offloading from the Agulhas is complete and the first good weather day arrives, Head of Conservation Trevor Glass has confirmed that planning will begin for the much-anticipated trip to Nightingale Island. We hope it will go smoothly and become another highlight of this year’s Agulhas visitor programme.