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Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News Update

Chris Millington, Tim Carter and Richy Simpson at Pebble Island with Tom Parrick and Fiona Whitehead

Headlines: Three kayaking expeditions rendezvous at Tamar Pass; Air shuttle service trial to continue; New CEO for Conservation.

Three kayaking expeditions rendezvous at Tamar PassAN unlikely and unplanned rendezvous between three separate kayaking groups took place at sea near Lotus Rock at Tamar Pass on West Falkland on Wednesday. The Cable and Wireless sponsored group consisting of Chris Millington, Richy Simpson and Tim Carter travelling in an anticlockwise direction from Stanley around the Falklands, met with Tom Parrick and Fiona Whitehead, who had set off several days before them in a clockwise direction. The lone German kayaker, Marcus Demuth, who left Stanley on January 5, also briefly met with them before continuing on his quest to circumnavigate the Islands. Ashore at Pebble Island on Wednesday evening, Richy Simpson said that the two groups were staying the night, while Marcus, who was making very good time and was completely focused on completing his circumnavigation in the shortest possible time, planned to camp off Falkland Sound for the night. He said Marcus had paddled in some horrific weather and was expected to be back in Stanley in four to five day's time. All three in the Cable and Wireless group were in good spirits and still in one piece 15 days into their expedition. Since the previous update when they were land-bound, they had been able to paddle every day, said Richy. Thursday was to be a rest day with some repairs to be carried out to a leaking kayak and the onward route to be planned. Fox Bay is the next scheduled stop for replenishment, with an estimated 15 days to do it in, said Richy. "We should be able to get more paddling done in the shelter of the islands," he added. With the weather delays of the previous week, food supplies had been running low and a drop, courtesy of Trudi and Marvin Clarke, before departing the East Falkland coast had been much appreciated, particularly the chocolate cake and sausage rolls. Despite the high winds the expedition has so far been accident free. Fiona and Tom, who set off in the opposite direction on January 4, meanwhile had taken a short cut when they were running short of food after being held up in the Lively Island area. They paddled up Brenton Loch, replenished at the Goose Green store and then carried their 80 kilos each of kayaks and kit for three hours across the one and a half kilometre narrow spit of land, to resume their expedition in Falkland Sound. Continued on page 3Air shuttle service trial to continue ALTHOUGH not everyone is happy with the present service supplied by the Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS) and despite the fact that there have been some hiccups, the system is to remain unchanged for the foreseeable future, Councillor John Birmingham has said. At the halfway point in the season, Members of the Legislative Assembly along with the General Manager of FIGAS, have reviewed the shuttle service operation, and are content to let the trial continue. Executive Council agreed in July 2008 that, as part of the FIGAS recovery plan, there would be a year's trial of the shuttle system. "It will be reviewed again later this year," said Cllr Birmingham. Figures put before the Legislature regarding better utilisation of FIGAS resources in an effort to reduce the government subsidy are now being independently audited. "The figures Councillors saw were quite good, bearing in mind the huge increase in the oil price," said Cllr Birmingham. The main reason for initiating these changes was because the Falkland Islands were entering a period where money was not going to be so readily available and there was going to have to be some belt tightening, Cllr Birmingham told Falklands Radio this week. He said the priority areas as far as he was concerned, were the Medical and Education Departments. "If that means we have got to tighten up on other areas to keep those departments at the level of service that they are at, I think that is what is going to happen," said Cllr Birmingham. PN/FIRSNew CEO for Conservation CRAIG Dockrill has been appointed as Chief Executive of Falklands Conservation, the charity that takes action for wildlife in the Falkland Islands. He succeeds Grant Munro, who left the organisation in September 2008 and it is hoped that Craig will arrive in the Falklands in early April to take up his role. Craig has spent the past three years working in the western Arctic region of Canada as a Habitat Biologist for the Canadian Wildlife Service. His duties included monitoring migratory bird populations, acting as a regulatory authority for migratory bird sanctuaries, and working with aboriginal communities to establish new protected areas. Prior to taking up residence in the Arctic, Craig served as a programme manager for the Wildlife Society of Malawi, where he became familiar with the workings of non-governmental organisations, and the critical role such organisations can play in wildlife conservation. Craig's background in rangeland ecology, familiarity with industry pressures and a passion for birds should all serve him well in addressing the new challenges that await him in the Falklands. "I am excited about this opportunity to immerse myself in a new ecosystem, and learn firsthand about the Falkland Islands, its history, its people and its wildlife. For bird enthusiasts and conservationists worldwide, the Falkland Islands are a 'must see'. I now have the good fortune of making my home in Stanley, and contributing to the conservation of the Falklands. Amazing!" he concluded.