
The illex squid fishing season in the Falklands Islands officially closed this Monday although many vessels had left by early June. The season was marked by rising fuel prices and catches well below the ten year average, however the Falkland Islands Fisheries department and the Fishing Companies Association, FIFCA, say the low catch is not an immediate cause for concern.
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The Falkland Islands Fishing Companies Association (FIFCA) and its Spanish associates said that following the early closure of the first Loligo season, (March first/27 April) given the scientific reports, and with total catches close to 38,000 tons, it was a relatively good season.

“The Southwest Atlantic is the largest body of water in the in the world without a RFMO (regional fisheries management organization) and that’s something the Falkland Islands are very keen to see put in place,” said James Bates, Executive Secretary from the Falkland Islands Fishing Companies Association at the 2024 Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, Spain this week.

Crew members from the Spanish fleet which operates with Falkland Islands licenses met on Monday in the capital Stanley for a poignant ceremony to honor their fellow mariners who went down with the fishing vessel Villa de Pitanxo, off Newfoundland.

Yesterday the Executive Council (ExCo) approved the referral of the Fisheries (Conservations and Management) (Amendment) Bill 2021 to the Legislative Assembly next month.

The Falkland Islands Government has received a batch of Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines, supplied by the UK government. These 960 doses arrived on 12 August and are being rolled out as part of the ongoing vaccination programme which began in February.

The departure of several fishing vessels scheduled to leave from Vigo, Galicia to the Falkland Islands' squid season, has been delayed because a few crew members tested positive for the coronavirus. Companies involved have undertaken the necessary and isolation measures, reports the local media.

The Falkland Islands Government (FIG) and the Falkland Islands Fishing Companies Association (FIFCA) have agreed an Accord to underpin the future of the industry. The Accord acknowledges that the Falkland Islands has a strong commitment to quality, sustainability and the environment.

Falkland Islands fishing company representatives led by Stuart Wallace of Fortuna Ltd condemned the 50% rise in toothfish and calamari fishery fees at the Fisheries Committee meeting.

The decision of the recent meeting of Executive Council attended by MLA Elsby, Bragger and Edwards, to increase quota access fees paid by local fishing companies by 50% will increase costs to the industry by £4 Million per annum. The hike is targeted at the Loligo and toothfish quota holders.