MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

FIBS Breaking news.

Headlines:
New Appointment; £25,000 for Boston Seafood Exhibit; Santiago based Chamber of Commerce to visit; Artist James' London opening.

New Appointment.

The Falkland Islands Development Board has agreed to allocate 48 thousand pounds to appointing Scottish company Nautilus Consultants. The company will carry out a study into the viability of mussel export from the Falklands. The money would come out of 200 thousand pounds which has been allocated to the Aquaculture budget this year. Members discussed who would have access to the results of the study - because it is funded by FIDC the public are likely to have access to outline results and interested individuals will be able to pay for a more detailed report, at a suggested price of 400 pounds. This money would then go towards the costs of funding the Nautilus proposal. Mike Summers expressed concern about the possible biological risks that the proposal may present. Julian Morris said his initial concern was that the project made sense financially. He added that if an Aquaculture industry was established in the islands it was likely to need considerably more scientific monitoring than had been anticipated.

£25,000 for Boston Seafood Exhibit.

FIDB also agreed at this mornings meeting to spend 25 thousand pounds out of the 2004/2005 budget on a place at the Boston Seafood Exhibition in March next year. Although 25 thousand was approved, the board expect a reduction in the total cost. Various fishing companies have donated 18 thousand pounds towards the stand and ongoing management costs involved. The expenditure will include set up costs and minor alterations to the Generic Falklands Islands Exhibition Stand which is currently under the care of the Fuchsia Exhibition Services who take care of storage, transportation and any alterations that may be required. The stand was originally designed by Hamish Wylie and Connie Stevens and a paper to the board described it as "very popular and noticeable" and has already been used on several occasions this year.

Santiago based Chamber of Commerce to visit.

A DELEGATION from the British Chamber of Commerce based in Santiago is to visit the Falkland Islands in late November. Julian Morris of the Falkland Islands Development Corporation said the group will look at what possible bi-lateral trading arrangements might exist. He said they will be interested to hear what business areas Falkland Island companies might like to be researched on their behalf.

Artist James' London opening.

A reception Falkland House in London on Tuesday marked the opening of an exhibition of Falklands' artist James Peck's work. Over thirty people attended the opening of the exhibition of eleven works, which will remain on show until December. The exhibition was officially opened by His Excellency the Governor, Mr Howard Pearce. Among the guests were Jamie's sister Tracy Porter, former Governors Sir Rex Hunt and David Tatham, and former Commander of British Forces in the Falkland Islands Brigadier Geoff Sheldon and his wife Liz. Jamie, the best known painter of the Islands has also exhibited and with great success his work in several galleries of Buenos Aires.