SS Fishing has been fined NZD 1,500 for breaches of the Antarctic Marine Living Resources Act. The company is a joint venture formed by Sanford, Sealord and Amatal to fish for Antarctic toothfish. The company was fined NZD 750 on two charges of not complying with the research provisions of the act.
The Falkland Islands Trust (UKFIT) says its activities to benefit the Islands have been reinvigorated by Princess Alexandra's first visit last year as Patron, which made the Trust's twentieth year rather special. The Trust's annual report for 2000, just published, says the visit has renewed interest in its consultancy and sponsorship activities.
The Chilean human rights groups ongoing battle to take former president Augusto Pinochet to court and have him sentenced seems endless, reminding ordinary Chileans how powerful the military still are even ten years after the return to a democratic system.
Celso Lafer, an academic and Mercosur enthusiast will become Brazil's next Minister of Foreign Affairs January 29th. He will take office from Luiz Felipe Lampreia who has held the Itamaraty job since president Fernando Cardoso was first elected in 1995.
A Royal Air Force Officer, Air Commodore John Cliffe, has been appointed to take over as Commander of British Forces in the Falkland Islands (CBFFI), in succession to Brigadier Geoff Sheldon, who returns to the United Kingdom this month.
According to a press release issued by Falklands Conservation in Stanley, a fire on South Jason Island which began after British Troops detonated unexploded cannon rounds which were found on two crashed Argentine Skyhawk aircraft, 'it is estimated that 90% of the 'tussac' grass which covers the Island has been lost, with the entire southern half of the Island badly affected by the fire'.
The Falkland Islands Government which has already benefited from a grant of 3.2 million euros (US$3.5 millions) from the European Union, can expect to receive another 3.0 million euros in development aid, which will be spread over a 5 years period.
The British Foreign Office Minister responsible for the Falklands Islands and relations with Argentina, Mr John Battle, is planning to make his first visit to the Islands in a few weeks time, either in February or March. He intends to combine it with a visit to Chile, travelling to the Falkland Islands by way of Santiago and Punta Arenas.