Falkland Islands Director of National Resources, John Barton, reported that after a slow start, fishery catches were beginning to pick up: trawlers had started operating and there were only a few jiggers still to collect their licenses.
The Taiwanese jigger Hung Shun 1 which on 24 February caught fire to the north of the Falkland Islands capital Stanley, last Sunday was towed outside the Islands Conservation zone. When the incident took place last month all 58 crew members were swiftly and safely evacuated to another fishing vessel Lung Soon Fa 1, which was in the area at that time.
Spanish trawlers involved in the Loligo squid catching season in the Falkland Islands are hoping that this year the operation will evolve with “no incidents”, recalling that the previous season was abruptly stopped because of accidental deaths of sea mammals caught in nets.
Global warming is on track to wipe out 70% of the world's King penguins by century's end, putting the regal birds on a path towards extinction, researchers warned on Monday. As climate change drives away the fish and squid upon which the flightless creatures depend, the penguins must swim further afield to find sustenance for their hungry hatchlings on land.
The Falkland Islands Government, FIG, has issued a public consultation document covering the taxation regime for oil companies operating in the Falkland Islands and their associated supply chain partners. This consultation will be open until Friday 6 April 2018 for responses from interested parties, which will be summarized and fed into final policy and legislative design later during 2018.
Anger has been expressed in the Falkland Islands this week over a letter which was sent to the Argentine Governor of Tierra del Fuego, Rosana Bertone, by a representative of the National Geographic Foundation. The letter, dated February 8, contains an apology for the appearance of the label ‘Falkland Islands’ instead of ‘Malvinas Islands’ on photos published on Instagram, which were taken here.
Everyone admired the rare phenomenon of the supermoon recently. Pictures of the lunar eclipse flooded the social media platforms. But for astronomy enthusiasts, there is another celestial event happening this week. On the 15th of February, a partial solar eclipse is going to take place. However, the celestial event will be seen over parts of Antarctica, southern parts of the Atlantic ocean and South America's Patagonia, including the Falkland Islands.
Ushuaia in the extreme south of Argentina is experiencing one of the busiest weeks of the current cruise season with six vessels and thousands of visitors calling at the capital of Tierra del Fuego. This includes the Emerald Princess, which is the largest to visit the End of the World city and will be completing its third call this season.
The Falkland Islands Meat Company (FIMCo) has announced the appointment of their new Business Improvement Manager. Michael Ledwith is to start this month on a new full-time contract, tasked with implementing change at the Sand Bay plant, “bringing peak performance through operational efficiency and productivity in the business,” according to information from FIMCo.
On 17th January 1775 a small party of men landed on a beach beneath snowy peaks and tumbling glaciers. In charge was an officer by the name of James Cook; the British Flag was planted, a volley of musket shot was fired, and the land was claimed for His Britannic Majesty. Cook named the bay in which he landed Possession Bay. On the 17th January 2018 (and every year) South Georgia marked ‘Possession Day’ with a bank holiday and reception at Government House.