MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands fisheries: ban looms on high seas bottom trawling

THE proposal for a ban on high seas bottom trawling has caused some concern among members of the fishing industry at the Falkland Islands.

The issue was considered in the Fisheries Committee in June 2006 and was originally proposed for places such as vulnerable deepwater areas and seamounts. The United Nations General Assembly Resolution 61/05 calls upon regional fisheries management organizations to regulate bottom fisheries and adopt measures for a precautionary and ecosystem approach within international law as a matter of priority, no later than December 31, 2007. Councillor Andrea Clausen explained that the ban was inevitable: "If we wish to continue to fish in these areas we have to make a case that we are not endangering any of the vulnerable areas. To this end we have to produce a case so that whenever the relevant monitoring body seeks to ascertain our actions and position we are ready." A report is to be compiled by the Director of Fisheries and circulated to the industry for comment. "There may well be actions that we as a government have to take prior to January 1, 08 and if we do, these will be communicated to the industry accordingly." said Cllr Clausen. Those countries that are party to an RFMO (Responsible Fisheries in the marine ecosystem) are provided with an extra year's grace, however the Falklands are not in this position, Cllr Clausen said. She commented: "This is due to a lack of willingness to progress the establishment of an RFMO by our neighbour." Penguin News