MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Government of South Georgia Increase toothfish catch quota.
Eighteen vessels, an increase of three, have been licenced this season by the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) to catch Toothfish in the waters surrounding the two Islands.
Similarly on the advice of CCAMLR, the maximum catch quota for the season has been increased from 5.820 to 7.810 tonnes. The increase has been permitted following an assessment of scientific evidence recorded over several seasons of fishing, by CCAMLR.
The Governor of the Falkland Islands is regularly appointed Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and the Islands are administered from Stanley.
The season opens on 1st May and will close on 31st August, although one ship, the 'Argos Helena', a United Kingdom flagged trawler, was permitted to begin operations two weeks in advance of the other vessels. This decision was taken by the SGSSI, after it was revealed that, last season, the ship complied totally with conservation measures instructed by CCAMLR. The 'Argos Helena' is currently carrying two observers on board, as opposed to the normal one, while severe restrictions on the number of sea-birds caught on the lines has been set to just three birds, otherwise all the catch has to be returned to the sea.
The complete allocations for the 2003 season are as follows:
Vessel Flag Quota (in
tonnes) Argos Georgia UK (registered in St. Helena) 700 Argos Helena UK (registered in
St. Helena) 500 Ibsa Quinto Spain 450 Isla Alegranza Uruguay 350 Isla Camila Chile 385 Isla Santa
Clara Chile 465 Isla Sofia Chile 350 Ivan Kyushin Russia 350 Jacqueline UK (registered in
the Falklands) 450 Koryo Maru 11 South Africa 350 Lyn UK (registered in
the Falklands) 350 Magallenes 111 Chile 300 Moresko 1 Korea 400 Polar Pesca 1 Chile 450 San Aoeta
11 New Zealand 350 Sinsei Maru
3 Japan 350 Tierra del
Fuego Chile 350 Viking Bay Spain 400 The SGGSSI sub-charters the Falkland Islands Government to undertake policing of the fisheries zone for a total of 8 months of the year. Two ships, the 'Sigma' and 'Dorada', are used singularly to conduct the patrol duties. The Royal Air Force of Britain also assists in checking vessels during regular flights by its C130 Hercules from the Falklands to the island of South Georgia. Similarly the SGSSI also uses satellite surveillance to assist with its patrolling operations. Each vessel is required to carry an official observer on board, in order to ensure that the daily catch rates are correctly reported to the Marine Officer at King Edward Point on South Georgia. Five day catch reports, showing how many tonnes were caught and where, are also required. Before any Toothfish can be sold to a prospective buyer, the ship's owners must produce documentation, showing a full record of the vessels fishing activities during the season. Both Islands are claimed by Argentina. South Georgia lies 800 miles south-east of the Falklands. It is estimated that the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands receives around £4 millions ($US 6.5 millions) annually from the licencing regime. Patrick Watts (MP) Stanley.
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