MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands’ fishery back to normal says Director

Fishery Patrol Protegat docked in FIPASS, Stanley

Falklands’ fishery catches have returned to a more normal level in 2010, confirmed Director of Fisheries John Barton on Thursday.

Approximately one month into the squid fishery season (Loligo and Illex) Falkland Islands Fisheries Department officials will be breathing a sigh of relief as a result of “some good catches,” compared to the disastrously low catches of 2009.

Mr Barton said, “The Loligo fishery involves 16 trawlers, most of which are registered in the Falkland Islands. Catches were quite low in 2009 whereas catches in 2010 have returned to more normal levels…”

The short Loligo season is due to end in mid-April.

Speaking of the Illex fishery, Mr Barton said, “This year there has been significantly greater interest in licences, with some 70 vessels calling to collect licences. However, catching conditions are rather slow with average catches of 5-7 tons per night…”

The main fleets involved are from Korea and Taiwan: “There were so few squid in 2009, that the outlook for 2010 was always a bit uncertain. It is hoped that conditions will improve.”

“Falkland Islands fishery patrol vessel Protegat has been concentrating on monitoring the Illex fleet” said Mr Barton, “with a good number of inspections achieved in the last patrol. There has also been an exercise with the Falkland Islands Defense Force to refresh operations with the gun installed on the Protegat.”

Mr Barton also confirmed that one Korean jigger, Myung Jin 601, suffered a fire onboard last week. All of the crew was safely evacuated to another jigger, and the Myung Jin 601 has been towed away to Montevideo.

By Lisa Watson –SeAledPR - Stanley