MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

FIBS Breaking News.

Fisheries Department

Latest reports on the position of the Mila, the Falklands registered fishing boat recently accused of poaching in Australian waters, indicate she is now on the high seas heading for the Islands. Fisheries Director John Barton confirmed to FIBS today that the vessel called in to South Africa on a routine stop to take on fuel. He also said that as far as his department was aware the ship's captain was still on board. The Mila is expected to arrive in Stanley within the next two weeks when a full investigation into the poaching allegations will take place. Councillor Mike Summers, a director of Prion Limited, the locally registered company that owns the Mila is due to arrive back in the Falklands next week from the United Kingdom where he has been attending the party political conferences and other meetings.

FIDF

With a six-week deadline to clear the site, work has already begun on demolishing the Defence Force headquarters building on John Street. Up to this morning the roof and some of the walls of the lean-to extension on the West Side of the building have gone and the contractors hope to start on the main structure next week. Once dismantled the timber from the headquarters, said to be in excellent condition despite its age, and other materials will be removed to Elephant Beach Farm where it will be re-erected to begin its new life as a shearing shed.

British Antarctic Survey

The British Antarctic Survey season begins next week with the arrival in the Islands of four of their Twin Otter aircraft. The ?planes left the United Kingdom on Monday October 2 to cross the Atlantic and start the long ferry flight down the Americas. They plan to arrive in Stanley on Friday October 13. And staying with the British Antarctic Survey, the RRS James Clark Ross sailed from Grimsby in England on September 11. The vessel called in briefly at Portsmouth before heading South. She is due to dock in Montevideo on October 11th, arriving in Stanley on October 17.

Ozone Hole.

Following our story yesterday about the Ozone Hole growing recently to its largest ever area of around 24 and a half million square miles, we have now received a report that the hole