MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falklands feel the cost of low Illex catches.
The Falkland Islands Government could lose as much as £10 millions ($US 18 millions) as a result of having to close the Illex Squid fishing season two months earlier than planned.
The seasonal average catch of Illex in the Falklands zone is generally 150.000 tonnes, but this season's yield has realized a disastrously low figure of around just 1.500 tonnes. Accordingly the Government has announced the official closure of the season for 14 April.
Director of Fisheries John Barton speaking on Falklands radio (FIBS) said the early closure is being taken for "conservation reasons". He expressed concern over the fact that unlike 2002, the last occasion when Illex catches was low, 'catch rates on the high seas then were quite reasonable before vessels entered the Falklands zone. In many instances before entering the Falklands zone in February they had probably caught 600 tonnes of Illex on the high seas which meant they had transhipped once and had a revenue stream coming in. However this year catches on the high seas have been quite low too'.
It is anticipated that the Falklands Government will soon inform fishing companies of the percentage refund of their licences which they will receive as a result of the low level of Illex caught this season, and because of the impending early season closure.
In 2002 a total of 13,000 tonnes of Illex squid was caught, which resulted in an early closure of the season on that occasion. However the season of 2003 brought a resurgence of Illex and renewed expectations of a return to the previous higher level of catches.
Mr. Barton somewhat despondently talked of ' A joint cruise between Falklands and Argentine scientists which did not find much squid, while information from elsewhere in the zone did not reveal much squid either'!
Asked if he could pinpoint the problem, Mr. Barton said,' The loligo squid fishery is also not good which rather indicates that it is an oceanographic problem which is affecting both squid species'.
Meanwhile the Falklands populations await any cost-cutting measure which the Government may introduce as a result of the anticipated loss of £10 millions Illex revenue. Councillor Mike Summers allayed fears of dramatic reductions in publics services, saying, 'We will make every effort to maintain education and medical services at current levels, but this might not be achievable in all areas; however there is no threat to mainstream education and health service provision'.
The one reassuring factor for the Islands population is knowing that owing to careful management of the annual £30 millions income from its fishery over a sixteen year period, the Falklands Government has approximately £150 millions safely stored in its Reserve Fund and successful investments, and could probably survive comfortably on the interest accured if necessary.
Bill Brown - MercoPress -Falklands.
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