The new Fishery Patrol Vessel, FPV Lilibet is due to arrive into Port William over the coming weekend. Her arrival has been delayed due to the Captain making the decision to assist a vessel in need during a storm. FPV Lilibet was stood down by the regional MRCC once a Taiwanese vessel confirmed that they could reach the vessel earlier than FPV Lilibet.
Fisheries authorities in the Falkland Islands have said that 2022 was a bumper year for the squid and hake fishing fleets licenced by the territory. Sixteen ships caught a remarkable 101,166 tonnes of loligo squid; a catch that was exceeded only in 1989 when 118,120 tonnes were landed, although that record catch was achieved by almost three times as many ships.
The Falkland Islands Government's new Fishery Patrol Vessel (FPV) provided under a 15-year contract by Seagull Maritime Limited, beginning in 2023, finally has a name, “Lilibet”. The name was put forward by schoolchild Aimee Walker following an open competition at both Falkland Islands Schools in May.