MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Fisheries: Misreporting of Catches

On Friday, 7 March 2003, the Owners and Master of the Taiwanese jigger Jih Shin 1, appeared before Stanley Magistrates Court to each answer 8 charges of providing false information.

The Jih Shin 1, holds a licence to fish for Illex in Falkland Conservation zones. During a routine inspection at sea on 4 March by Fishery Officers from FPV "Sigma", a discrepancy was found between the amounts of Illex squid onboard the vessel compared to the amount which had been reported. The Jih Shin 1, was instructed to proceed to Stanley for investigation.

Further investigations made once the vessel arrived in Stanley, revealed that the Master had only declared about 50% of the catch taken during 8 days operation in Falkland Islands' waters.

During the Court case the prosecution (the Crown) emphasised that accurate catch reporting was vital for the proper conservation of squid stocks. The assessment of stock abundance and management of squid stocks in particular, relies upon the accurate reporting of catch and effort statistics by the commercial fleet.

The Owners and Master of the Jih Shin 1 pleaded guilty to the charge of providing false information over a period of 8 days. The provision of false information contravenes the Fisheries (Conservation and Management) Ordinance 1986. The Owners were fined £9.3000 and the Master £930.