MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

FIBS News Direct

Latest Stamp Issue Focuses on Local Bridges

The latest stamp issue from the Philatelic Bureau is entitled local bridges and is due to be released on Monday 16 October. The stamps have been reproduced from photographs of oil paintings by local artist Mike Peake and all depict local bridges. The issue consists of three stamps and an official first day cover and the 43 pence stamp shows Fitzroy River Bridge, the 37 pence stamp shows Bodie Creek Bridge and the 20 pence stamp shows the Malo River Bridge. The First Day Cover also depicts Bodie Creek Bridge but in contrast to the stamp is a winter scene. The cover contains a liner giving information about each bridge featured in the issue and is priced at £1.80. The Philatelic Bureau in Stanley is prepared to take advance orders locally for official First Day Covers.

Reindeer Project

The Reindeer Project, masterminded by the Department of Agriculture, will take a giant step forward at the start of the new year as a team from the department, headed by vet Cameron Bell and Tim Bonner, depart for South Georgia to capture the first of the animals destined for commercial farming in the Islands. The team are due to leave on January 2 on the Sigma. Once on South Georgia they will spend a month building corrals and penning between 150 and 200 reindeer. Once back in the Falklands in early February the reindeer will be taken to Brenton Lock/Saladero.

Poaching Incident

Reports that the Australian Federal Government have formally protested to Britain over the alleged poaching incident involving a Falklands registered vessel, have appeared in the Australian press. The Mila, owned by Prion Limited a Falklands registered company was seen by another vessel apparently fishing in Australian waters without a licence on September 11. Initially giving a false name the Mila attempted to sail away from the area but was photographed by crew from the other vessel. The reports also say the incident has been acknowledged by both the British and Falkland Islands governments and that the ship has been recalled by Fisheries Director John Barton. Australia is noted for it's hard line against poachers. Since 1997 a number of unlicense