In July 2024 the Falkland Islands Fisheries Department conducted a routine pre-season survey prior to the second Loligo season, working in close partnership with local fishing companies. The survey results showed the lowest second pre-season biomass estimate since 2008, with the lower end of the estimate being below the Fisheries Department safe stock replenishment threshold of 10,000 tonnes.
National Sports Council and Beauchene Fishing Co Ltd have jointly announced a generous funding package to support the Falkland Islands team for the Island Games in Guernsey next year.
The Falkland Islands Director of Natural Resources John Barton confirmed this week that exchange of fisheries data will resume “in short order” following the resumption of fisheries talks with Argentina last month. Mr. Barton confirmed that proposals for joint research cruises are being drawn up and another meeting has been scheduled to take place in London in late 2018.
Seafood Expo Global and Seafood Processing Global opened doors on Monday to thousands of seafood professionals from all around the world seeking to grow their businesses in the global market. The exposition, which takes place at the Brussels Expo, Belgium, from 26-28 April, is the world’s largest trade fair for the seafood industry.
One hundred and five jiggers and one trawler have been offered Falkland Islands Illex squid licenses for the coming season which opens on February 15. The total number of licences offered matches those taken up in 2014, confirmed Director of Natural Resources John Barton at the Islands Fisheries Committee Meeting.
A lack of cooperation from Argentina to share data means that the total Illex fishery for the region is not known and affects the accuracy of seasonal predictions in the Falklands fishery, it was reported at the Fisheries Committee on Thursday.
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.
Two Falkland Islands fishing companies were awarded in Brussels last week the Superior Taste Award which was extended to Marfrío a Spanish processing company that works with Patagonian squid caught in the Islands waters.
The Chair of the Falkland Islands Fishing Companies Association (FIFCA), Cheryl Roberts, used the occasion of the annual Christmas social evening at the Wirebird last week to reflect on FIFCA’s role in what is now its sixth year of existence.
The Falklands fishing industry has encountered the highest Loligo squid catch for 16 years, however, this could negatively affect the price for the industry.