MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Vet inspection moves north following the squid

This season squid moved north out of the Falklands fishery, and so that's why Veterinary Steve Pointing ended in Montevideo making the final inspection round of the Falklands registered vessels prior to their trip to Spain.

"So far everything has worked out fine, all vessels inspected were in excellent condition and before leaving Monte next Friday I expect to co-ordinate future actions with the Uruguayan Fisheries Department Office", Steve Pointing told Mercopress last Wednesday before an afternoon inspection of the "Capricorn" and "Beagle".

Although the official designation of Steve's task is "transhipment inspection", at the end of the fishing season, as is the case, no transhipment actually takes place because all vessels act as reefers in their 19 days journey to off load in Vigo's market.

Steve's job besides checking the "incredible" paperwork for European Union Fisheries authorities is to make sure sanitary conditions aboard the Falklands flagged vessels are "spick and span", particularly the continuous temperature record of the holds, "no below minus 18 Celsius is tolerated".

By Wednesday Steve had been aboard "Argos Vigo", "Argos Galicia", "Argos Pereira", "Sil", "Robin M. Lee" and "Polar Fury". "Another five, possibly six are in the waiting list, some docked, some out at sea", said Steve.

This season because the Falklands vessels were catching squid two sailing days north from the Falklands it was decided, for cost reasons that the final inspection be done in Montevideo instead of returning to Stanley.

"With the exception of one day when I had to endure a two hours trip in a small boat in choppy waters, and I'm not a good sailor, --you can imagine the rest--, I've enjoyed working in Monte".

"Actually I like Monte very much, it's very European, people are friendly and Uruguayan beef is extremely good", remarked Steve who on Wednesday managed to escape for a lunch barbecue in Monte's port market. If Steve has time before returning to the Islands on Friday evening, he hopes to visit a wheat and cattle farm in Soriano, and possibly a local abattoir.

He also has a meeting scheduled with Uruguayan Fisheries officials to co-ordinate the "transhipment inspection" for normal squid seasons when Falklands' vessels arrive in Montevideo and have to be extended a cargo "certificate of non manipulation", ensuring that the holds are not opened until final destination.

"Hopefully next year squid will return and this job will be done in the Falklands, although I'll miss Monte", concluded Steve.