A group of managers representing Punta Arenas port facilities, logistic companies and shipping companies visited the Falkland Islands last week with an ultimate aim to offer solutions to the current and future commercial needs of the Islands.
International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) president Susan Jackson considers the improvement of vessel registration schemes and the eradication of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) activities should be the top priority for all ocean conservation organizations.
Patagonia squid caught by the Falkland Islands Beauchene Fishing Company trawlers, scored a hat trick at the Brussels Seafood Exposition this year, winning a quality taste testing award for the third year running, through marketing company Marfrio.
Falkland Islands catches of Illex squid surpassed this week the previous record annual catch by 2,022 tons. That record was 266,201 tons in 1999 and Director of Natural Resources John Barton reported midmorning on Thursday that the 2014 catch had just has just overtaken that at 268,223 tons.
Argentina made the official presentation to foreign diplomats in Buenos Aires of its Blue Pampa initiative described as an effort to collect more information on Argentine maritime spaces, surrounding areas and associated ecosystems, helping to create a South Atlantic conscience in the country. Five areas have been chosen to implement the initiative including South Georgia.
Falkland Islands Consolidated Fisheries Ltd (CFL) celebrated its 20th anniversary as a company at a reception and banquet at Malvina House Hotel. It also celebrated the 10th anniversary of its vessel CFL Gambler’s blessing and highlighted the MSC certification of the toothfish fishery.
In the framework of the Seafood Expo Global 2014 in Brussels, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) held its annual Global Commercial Network meeting, which showed an annual rise in MSC certified products of 21% to September 2013 and a fivefold increase in four years.
Fishing vessels licensed in the Falkland Islands all undergo safety inspections, Director of Natural Resources John Barton confirmed this week, when talking to Penguin News about standards applied to fishing vessels and the working conditions of the crew. He also assured that if a fisherman reports mistreatment an investigation will follow.
In the last 25 years, the squid fishery has been one of the major contributors to the economy of the Falkland Islands. It is unique in the world as about 80 per cent of the total annual catch is squid. Both Illex and Loligo squid have annual life cycles, with a new generation recruiting into the fishery every year
One of the most significant seabird by-catches in over a decade occurred in the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) Marine Zone last week, by the Chilean longliner Antarctic Bay.