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.
The Falkland Islands and its people want to be 'good neighbors, have trade links, cooperation agreements and closer relations with the southern cone of South America, but 'without losing our identity', said Falklands lawmakers to Punta Arenas Prensa Austral that was present at the celebrations last Saturday for the 250th anniversary of the first flying of the Union Flag in the Islands marking the beginning of British rule.
A lively debate, at times impassioned took place earlier this week in the Falkland Islands during a public meeting at the Chamber of Commerce to discuss bad behavior from Argentine visitors which was described as 'disturbing and distressing” for many Islanders.
The Falkland Islands government discussed and agreed proposals from the Policy Department on a Social Effects monitoring program in respect of hydrocarbons development, according to the report on the latest Executive Council meeting.
With increased exploratory drilling activity anticipated in the Falkland Islands next year, and Stanley airport expected to play a leading role, the Falklands government is investing in additional fire-fighting equipment to meet the needs of the helicopters servicing the rigs.
The former Argentine vice-president and presidential hopeful Julio Cleto Cobos who visited the Falklands this week will at least have a better understanding of the Islands commented Member of Legislative Assembly Phyl Rendell on behalf of the Assembly Thursday.
The Falkland Islands Government have minted a new circulatory £2 coin, to mark the Centenary of the Battle of the Falkland Islands in 1914.
Commemorative events to mark the centenary of the Battles of Coronel and the Falklands were brought to the table by the Falkland Islands 1914 committee. Chair of the committee MLA Phyl Rendell said the committee split into two working groups last year to organize the schedule of events and to progress the memorial wall plans.
Three crewmen from a Taiwanese jigger operating in Falkland Islands who were reported missing over the weekend have not been located. The first news of the incident was received in the early hours of Saturday February 15, when the Department of Fisheries Operations Sections notified the Royal Falkland Islands Police (RFIP).
The Falkland Islands coming Illex season has been described as encouraging because out of 100 available jigger licenses 51 have been taken up and £5.6 million has been received so far, confirmed Director of Fisheries John Barton.