MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Penguin News Update.

Headlines:
Cautious outlook for illex season; Three hurt in Lafonia road accident; A musical tret;
Further Met investigation; First Sea Lord to meet cadets; Ferry proposal.

Three hurt in Lafonia road accident

THREE Chilean members of the community were injured after their vehicle (picture) left the road near North Arm, Lafonia and rolled, in one of two accidents at the weekend. Maxiliano Balladeres, Fernanda Tapia and Leyla Davis were all flown by Search and Rescue helicopter to Stanley after they were thrown from the vehicle as it rolled. Fernanda and Leyla are recovering well in Stanley but Maxi is now in hospital in Montevideo, where he is believed to be in a critical condition. The second accident happened at Fox Bay on Sunday evening. More on page 3

Cautious outlook for illex season

THE government's chief fisheries scientist is cautiously hopeful that favourable environmental conditions will mean a reasonable illex fishery for the Falklands fleet. Licence fees from the illex fishery are the biggest earner for the Falklands economy. As the February 15 start date of the illex fishery looms, Dr Alexander Arkhipkin says, unfortunately, there is no "crystal clear" indication of what level of catches the Islands can expect, due to the very nature of the life cycle of this squid. The Southern Patagonian Stock, which is caught in the Falklands, is a highly migratory ?straddling stock', moving during their short one-year life through the Exclusive Economic Zones of several countries; they mix with other illex stocks on the high seas, meaning there is no good correlation between catches observed on the high seas in January with those taken later (February-May.) Dr Arkhipkin added that better information about the recruit abundance of the South Patagonian Stock usually comes from the joint Argentine-UK recruit survey organised under the auspices of the South Atlantic Fisheries Council (SAFC) and taking place in February just before the start of the fishing season. "The survey is carried out on an Argentine research vessel with participation of two scientists from either the United Kingdom or Falkland Islands. The number of recruits estimated during the survey usually corresponds with the abundance of squid observed later during the fishing season." However, after a breakdown in talks at the latest meeting of the SAFC, the joint survey for 2006 has been cancelled. On a more positive note, Dr Arkhipkin reported, oceanographic conditions in the Southwest Atlantic are finally close to normal both in the spawning grounds in July-August 2005 (when recruits for this year hatched) and on the high seas in January 2006 (with the strong and relatively cold Falkland Current). "During the second week of January, trawlers on the high seas started to catch small immature illex belonging to the South Patagonian Stock, which may indicate that their abundance is low but not at the extremely low level which might have been expected due to the low biomass left at the end of the 2005 season." He added that environmental conditions are now favourable for these squid to migrate further south to their common feeding grounds on the South Patagonian and Falkland Shelves, "which hopefully will provide a reasonable fishery for the Falkland-licensed jigging fleet." Dr Arkhipkin explains the extraordinary journey of Southern Patagonian Stock illex on page 3. Budget implications? Councillors have adopted a cautious approach to the next government budget round, working on the basis of "restricted income" from illex. The "budget strategy" was discussed by councillors last week in order to give guidance to the Treasury and department heads in producing their proposals for the next financial year. Councillor Summers said he and his colleagues are "broadly content" with the strategy set out in an Executive Council (ExCo) paper deferred from the meeting last month but added, "...the matter is of course subject to any further deliberations at next week's ExCo and Standing Finance Committee meetings." The paper, prepared by the Deputy Financial Secretary and released to the public last week, recommended a budget strategy based on the scenario of "gradual improvement of illex revenues (scenario A)" and that a move to a low illex scenario (B) should be taken for 2007/8 in the event of a failure of the forthcoming illex season or, "...if the Consolidated Fund falls below two times operating expenditure." Councillor Summers commented, "In terms of illex we are working on the basis of restricted income from that source. Should the quantities of illex and demand for licenses exceed current expectations there will be an opportunity to re-consider budget levels again in March and finally in May."

A musical tret

TOURISTS and residents alike will be in for a rare treat on Monday when the cruise ship Rotterdam, makes its next call to Stanley. Andrew Sackett - the Director of Music on board and an organist - has kindly agreed to give an organ recital in Christ Church Cathedral at 12.30 pm, assuming the ship is able to get in to port. A spokesperson for the Church commented, "This will be a great opportunity for everyone to listen to a professional musician playing a programme of well known pieces." A large number of other cruise ships are visiting the Falklands over the coming week. On Sunday Clipper Adventurerwill call at Sea Lion Island (with approximately 121 passengers on board.) On Monday, Rotterdam (1316) will be joined in Stanley by Insignia (650) while Hanseatic (188) will visit New Island and Carcass Island. MS Explorer(96) will be at West Point Island and Steeple Jason on Monday and will head to Stanley on Tuesday. Hanseatic will visit Volunteer Point on Tuesday morning, before heading to Stanley for the afternoon. Norwegian Crown(1052) will also be in Stanley that day. On Wednesday, Silver Cloud (306) and Saga Rose (540) will visit Stanley while Clipper Adventurer will stop at Carcass Island and New Island.

Further Met investigation

THREE officers from the Metropolitan Police are returning to the Islands as part of the investigation into allegations made against members of the Royal Falkland Islands Police. Government House this week announced that Detective Chief Superintendent Carl Bussey and two colleagues from the Metropolitan Police arrive tomorrow (Saturday) for a week, "...to conclude some detailed aspects of their investigations" into the allegations. Following completion of these additional aspects of the investigation, a decision will be made by the Attorney General as to whether criminal proceedings are to be commenced.

First Sea Lord to meet cadets

THE First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Alan West, is in the Islands this week. He will be inspecting Stanley Sea Cadets and meeting with councillors this afternoon. Admiral West is a veteran of the Falklands War. He was Captain of HMS Ardentwhich was sunk on May 21, 1982. More about the visit by Admiral West next week.

Ferry proposal

AN OUTLINE proposal for a ferry service across Falkland Sound is to be put to residents of West Falkland. A spokesperson for the Development Corporation (FIDC) confirmed on Tuesday that residents will be asked "if they want to start it this season". A meeting is planned to be held at Fox Bay on the evening of Wednesday, January 25 to present the proposal to users. The announcement follows a meeting of the Coastal Shipping Users Group on Tuesday; in attendance were Myles Lee of Port Howard, John Ferguson from the Falkland Islands Meat Company, Ian Wilkinson of Island Shipping Ltd, Julian Morris of FIDC and Councillor Mike Rendell . Clare Cockwell of Fox Bay and Marshall Barnes of Dunbar were unable to attend the meeting after their flights were cancelled due to poor weather. However the spokesperson said their written and telephone comments were received and used at the meeting. Also at the meeting on Tuesday were Chief Executive Chris Simpkins and FIDC's Tim Cotter.

Subscribe to Penguin News online and save!

For more information and to subscribe to this full colour version of Penguin Newsgo to www.penguin-news.com(Terms and conditions apply)