Fisheries

• Thursday, December 29th 2011 - 22:07 UTC

  Scientists establish critical benchmark link for seabirds and available food

  

  An international group of scientists has shown that many seabirds begin to suffer when the food available for them in the ocean declines below a critical level. This level is about one-third of the maximum measured amount of food available. They have found that this critical level is about the same for seabird species around the world. Their study — the most comprehensive ever undertaken — covers birds from the Arctic to the Antarctic and from the Pacific to the Atlantic.

• Wednesday, December 28th 2011 - 03:41 UTC

  Falklands have three options for a new deep water port

  

  The location of a new deep water port for the Falkland Islands been narrowed down to three potential sites: Mare Harbour, Navy Point (north of the Camber) and Stanley harbour (FIPASS) it was confirmed at the Executive Council meeting last week following a discussion of the issue.

• Tuesday, December 27th 2011 - 07:04 UTC

  Chile confirms it supports Mercosur resolution barring Falklands’ flagged vessels

  

  Chilean government Secretary General Andres Chadwick denied on Monday any official message from Britain or from Spain regarding Chilean support for the resolution that bars vessels flying the Malvinas flag from Mercosur ports, reports La Tercera from Santiago.

• Monday, December 26th 2011 - 11:21 UTC

  Falklands’ flagged vessels: Spanish fishermen call on Madrid to fight Argentine blackmail

  

  The President of the Spanish Association of Marine Fishing Officers (Aetinape), José Manuel Muniz, has asked the new Spanish government to get involved and act against the pressure placed on Falklands-flagged vessels by the Argentines, according to an article in the Galician newspaper Faro de Vigo, which examined the Spanish reaction to the ban on the entry of Falklands flagged vessels to Mercosur ports.

• Friday, December 23rd 2011 - 21:25 UTC

  Falklands’ flagged vessels conflict: Almagro and Hague agree they remain in disagreement

  

  Uruguayan Foreign Affairs minister Luis Almagro spoke Friday on the phone with Foreign secretary William Hague for the first time since the Falklands/Malvinas’ flagged vessels controversy, but both sides apparently could only agree that the situation remains stalled according to brief statements

• Friday, December 23rd 2011 - 18:27 UTC

  Barring Falklands’ flagged vessels in “more symbolic than anything else”, says Uruguay port authority

  

  Mercosur latest decision to bar all Falkland Islands flagged vessels from entering its ports is “more symbolic” than anything else because a change of flag is enough, according to Uruguay’s Ports Authority, ANP President Alberto Díaz.

• Thursday, December 22nd 2011 - 21:02 UTC

  Hague and Almagro to discuss Falklands’ flagged vessels restrictions on Friday

  

  Britain’s Foreign Secretary William Hague and Uruguay’s Foreign Affairs minister Luis Almagro will discuss the Falklands/Malvinas flagged vessels issue on Friday according to a release from the British embassy in Montevideo

• Thursday, December 22nd 2011 - 20:59 UTC

  Uruguay Navy says there is no legal impediment for Falklands’ flagged vessels to operate in Montevideo

  

  A report from the Uruguayan Coast Guard argues there is no legislation impeding Falklands/Malvinas flagged vessels from operating in the port of Montevideo. The report was handed to the Uruguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs which is drafting a protocol regarding what ships can and which can’t access Uruguayan ports.

• Wednesday, December 21st 2011 - 17:24 UTC

  The Falklands are resourceful and will adapt to changing logistics say industry sources

  

  Reacting to the news this week that all Mercosur member countries had agreed to close their ports to ships flying the Falkland Islands flag, Cheryl Roberts, chair of the Falkland Islands Fishing Companies Association, stated that: “It is still too early to say exactly what the effect might be, whilst obviously disappointing we are now working to find solutions to minimise any potential impacts, both operational and economic, of the recent decision.

• Tuesday, December 20th 2011 - 21:02 UTC

  Uruguay bars vessels but will never share a maritime or economic blockade of the Falklands’ people

  

  Uruguayan President Jose Mujica addressing his peers at the Mercosur summit in Montevideo ratified the country’s position barring Falklands’ flagged vessels from Uruguayan ports in active support of Argentina’s sovereignty claim over South Atlantic Islands, which has led to a serious diplomatic controversy with the UK.