MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falkland Islands: Protegat on fishery patrol soon

AN end is in sight to the certification and compliance issues the new fishery patrol vessel Protegat is facing, the Director of Fisheries has said.

John Barton said the issues related to the Protegat'schange from a fishing vessel classification to merchant vessel classification had taken longer than anticipated: "All involved are hopeful that the end is in sight and the Protegatwill be here pronto," he said. The use of HMS Clyde as a back up for fishery patrol duties has been explored, Cllr Andrea Clausen confirmed last week. She said the military had been approached to ask if access to Clydecould be allowed on a temporary basis and that this was still being worked on. She said that while the window without a fishery patrol vessel had been larger than hoped, patrolling had still been carried out: "We have had a patrol by [South Georgia's patrolship] Pharosand there has been an increased level of aircraft surveillance. We know what's going on out there and there has been no illegal activity to my knowledge." Cllr Clausen added that she was chairing a strategic review group on fishery research and patrol: "We are having our final meeting next week and will make recommendations to Executive Councillor on the way forward for securing fisheries protection in the Falkland Islands." Penguin News