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Penguin News Update.

Headlines:

Twenty-four hour police patrols cut for six months; Loligo fee rise upsets industry;
Rockhopper applies for open door licences; Man jailed for £25 theft; Amsterdam is in on her own; Subscribe to Penguin News online and save!

Twenty-four hour police patrols cut for six months

FROM today, twenty-four hour police patrol cover is to be discontinued for a six month trial period. This announcement, from the Chief Police Officer, follows a decision made by Standing Finance Committee. Superintendent Dave Morris explained there will be a response officer on-call, "...but this will mean that there will be a delayed response to 999 calls between 2am and 8am." He said the move is to take account of the reductions in manpower as a result of the government's target savings. The situation will be reviewed at the end of the six month period.

Loligo fee rise upsets industry

A DECISION to increase licence fees to fish for loligo squid by 20% has angered Falklands fishing companies who have accused the government (FIG) of taking more from the industry than it can sustain. At a meeting of the Fisheries Advisory Committee held in early March, representatives of the industry said, if fees had to go up, they could advocate an increase in the region of 5 - 10%. However, Executive Council has decided the fees will rise by 20%. Hamish Wylie of Seafish Ltd described the increase as "extremely disappointing." He said that although this year's first loligo season has, despite being limited to six weeks, seen daily catch levels not experienced since 2000, "...this does not justify a 20% increase in fee levels, regardless of FIG's own financial circumstances." Mr Wylie is unhappy with the methodology supporting an increase, "...which indicates FIG can take more out of the fishery than I believe is sustainable on current performance. "The trend of catches and prices since 2001 when my involvement began does not reflect a fishery that is capable of withstanding the endless increases in licence fees that we have endured to date. On top of this we have seen fuel more than double in the last eighteen months." Mr Wylie called upon the government to seriously address what a reasonable level of take from the fishery is and how it will be calculated. "The fishing business, by its very nature, operates on a cycle of profit in some years and losses in others. To take excessively from it when it is clearly past its prime is a recipe for eventual collapse. "We need to work together to find a system that will enable the sustainability of both FIG revenues and a fishing industry, an industry which is now being expected to risk significant sums of money in aquaculture and other infrastructure developments." Tom Blake of Red Back Consultants Ltd said the increase in fees seems to raise a question over how best to extract value from the resource - "should it be by the state or by the private sector?" He believes the best approach for the Islands as a whole is to allow the private sector to do this, "... but a 20% increase in licence fee suggests that FIG's policy is to extract value by the state." Drew Irvine of Argos Ltd said increasing costs at a time of uncertainty is "not a welcome development" for Falklands companies and, "...will reduce FIG tax revenues in due course." He said it is unfortunate that the loligo fishery should be targeted in such a way, "...when it too suffers from effort cut backs and is still therefore operating in a restricted capacity. "This will be compounded by any restriction in illex fishing which will also have a negative impact on the profitability of the loligo vessels." Penguin Newsasked Councillor Richard Cockwell, holder of the fisheries portfolio and member of ExCo why loligo fees had been increased by such an extent. He responded, "On all different licences there is a ratio between the fee and the income; the fee/income ratio on the loligo is such that we were persuaded a 20% increase is sustainable." When asked if the increase was a knee jerk reaction to the poor illex season, Councillor Cockwell said this was not the case: "It has nothing to do with illex; we don't set fees based on other licences." Fortuna Ltd Director Stuart Wallace, who attended the Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting on March 9, said he was surprised at the scale of the increase. "We were clear we could accept an increase but 20% is too high. "Clearly the arguments and representations made by the industry weren't listened to." To this, Councillor Cockwell replied, "We can't expect the Advisory Committee to set licence fees. "We used not to have them in discussions on licence fees at all but I believe it is useful to have their opinions." However he added, "We can't necessarily accept the advice of people who have financial involvement in the outcome of that decision." Councillor Cockwell said he is keen for a working group to be established to study a bioeconomic report on the loligo industry, which was drawn up approximately two years ago. He commented, "Hopefully we will be able to use some of the information from that report to establish fee policies."

Rockhopper applies for open door licences

APPROVAL FROM the Secretary of State is to be sought for the award of two open door licences for hydrocarbons exploration. Executive Council (ExCo) has considered an application from Rockhopper Exploration (Hydrocarbons) Ltd for two open door production licences in areas lying to the north of the Falkland Islands. His Excellency the Governor reported that ExCo agreed the approval of the Secretary of State should be sought for the award of the two licences. "Government House has already forwarded these applications to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and the Secretary of State's decision is now awaited."

Man jailed for £25 theft

A MAN has been sent to prison for a month after he stole a purse in the Globe Tavern. In court yesterday Robert Kiddle pleaded guilty to stealing a purse belonging to barperson Beverley Lee on March 26. The purse contained £25. The Senior Magistrate, Mrs Clare Faulds, told Mr Kiddle that he had an "unfortunate and undesirable record of offences of one variety or another." She sentenced him to one month in prison and ordered him to pay £25 compensation to Miss Lee and £70 prosecution costs. More court news on page 3

Amsterdam is in on her own

JUST ONE cruise ship is due to visit the Falklands in the coming week. Amsterdam is expected to visit Stanley on Thursday, with approximately 1,200 passengers on board.

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