MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Busy May for South Georgia fisheries with good tooth-fish catches

HMS Clyde rescued the crew of the sinking yacht “Hollinsclough” (MoD Crown Copyright)

May has been a busy month in the South Georgia Fishery, which opened on April 26th and catches have been good, according to the latest edition from the South Georgia newsletter.

Four long-liners visited Cumberland East Bay (CEB) on the 1st and 2nd, three for inspection and licensing and one to swap government observers. All 9 licensed long-liners were fishing in the zone during the month and catch reports have been good.

The South Sandwich Island Toothfish Fishery was closed when the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for the area was completed.

One long-liner had an emergency situation when the engine room partially flooded. Two other fishing vessels diverted to assist if needed but within a few hours the ship had rectified the problem. No mayday was issued.

The winter krill fishery got under way with the arrival of two krill trawlers in CEB on the 10th and 11th for inspection and licensing. Initial catches have been good.

One reefer visited CEB on the 18th and 19th to conduct a crew exchange for one of the fishing vessels.

Four yachts have been around South Georgia in May: The ill fated “Hollinsclough” departed on May 3rd; a single handed sailor aboard private yacht “Restless” departed the Island bound for Cape Town; a charter yacht departed bound for Uruguay. Yacht “Wanderer III” remains at South Georgia and will over-winter for a second year running.

Meanwhile Royal Navy “HMS Clyde” has been on patrol in South Georgia waters and called in for a two day visit to Grytviken on May 4th.

The vessel's 38 crew and a handful of invited passengers enjoyed walks ashore and visits to the museum and post office, as well as boating trips in the bay. There was also a small but enthusiastic turnout for the football match played on a snow covered pitch late afternoon on the 5th.

Several people from KEP accepted an invitation to join the ship when she sailed on the 6th for Fortuna Bay. It was during this trip that the ship was suddenly diverted to assist the sinking yacht “Hollinsclough” 300 miles away. The ship returned on the 9th to drop off the KEP staff by boat transfer before departing for the Falklands.