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i)
Falkland Islands Outer Conservation Zone (FOCZ)
Perhaps the most significant development in the intervening period since the
initial 87/88 report, relates to the declaration of the Falkland Islands
Outer Conservation Zone (FOCZ), and at the same time the setting up of
the South Atlantic Fisheries Commission (SAFC) in 1991. The FOCZ was
introduced on 26th December 1990, and extends beyond the FICZ to the
north, east and south of the Falkland Islands
to 200 miles, measured from coastal baselines.
ii) South Atlantic Fisheries Commission (SAFC)
The SAFC is composed of delegations from Britain
and Argentina with
participation of observers from the Falkland Islands
as part of the British delegation. The SAFC provides a forum for
exchanging information on marine living resources, and for the discussion
and implementation of measures to improve the conservation of
commercially significant stocks in the southwest Atlantic.
The first and second meetings of the SAFC took place in May and December
of 1991 in Buenos Aires and London respectively.
Meetings have continued at regular intervals with the 12th meeting taking
place in Buenos Aires
in November 1996.
iii) Voluntary Restraint Agreements (VRA)
Another important feature of the intervening years since the 87/88
report, was the development of the Voluntary Restraint Policy through
Voluntary Restraint Agreements (VRA). It increasingly became apparent
that despite the introduction of the FICZ that the widely distributed and
highly migratory Illex squid required further protection. The VRAs were
conceived as a means of reducing fishing effort directed at Illex on the
high seas and in the Southwest Atlantic
generally. The VRAs have had moderate success in improving conservation
of Illex by controlling the activities of a number of major fishing
fleets on the high seas. Since 1993, when the Argentine zone opened to
foreign fishing (see Argentine developments) it has proved too difficult
to maintain the VRA policy. In order to be effective a similar policy
would need to be adopted by Argentina.
iv) Licence conditions
A more gradual but nonetheless significant development in the operation
and control of the fishery has been the general reduction in fishing
effort, the introduction and refinement of licence types and constant
review of licence conditions. The requirement for such changes has come
about in the light of experience and through appropriate analysis of the
comprehensive data collected since the introduction of the FICZ. In the
early years of the fishery (87 - 89) reductions in licences for the squid
species Loligo gahi led to a large demand for licences to catch hake for
which there had previously been little demand. As data was acquired on
the hake fishery, it became apparent that fishing effort needed to be
reduced, which has been done. The general reduction in the number of
licences for Loligo gahi and hake has resulted in increased interest in
some of the previously under-utilised species which is likely to
continue. Despite the reduction in fishing effort there have been periods
when major squid markets have been over supplied. This has reduced
interest in licences at times although demand for licences has generally
remained strong. New licence types have been introduced, specifically for
skate (Rajidae) and Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides).
v) Commercial activity
The style and extent of private sector commercial activity has also
changed. The 87/88 report described the operation of Stanley Fisheries
Limited, which as a subsidiary of the Falkland Islands Development
Corporation (FIDC) was set up to enter into joint venture agreements to
develop the commercial side of the fishing industry in the Falkland
Islands, and to provide supporting services for that industry. Following
the well publicised collapse of the Seamount Limited joint venture, it
was decided to withdraw from the entire joint venture system. Since then,
the Falkland Islands Government (FIG) has sought to develop and stimulate
Falkland Islands involvement in the
fishery through a series of policy statements. The policyhas attempted to
maintain a number of the partnerships formed during the time that the
joint venture scheme was in place and encouraged the development of new
partnerships with Falkland Islands'
companies. The main purpose of the policy has been to promote and develop
a commercial fisheries sector within the economy of the Falkland
Islands. The policy has also sought to create opportunities
for Falkland
Island companies
and residents. Whilst the policy has allowed a variety of commercial
arrangements, joint ventures and vessel ownership have proved the most
popular. There are currently 13 vessels on the Falkland
Islands register and their number is slowly increasing.
vi) Argentine developments
The Argentine exclusive economic zone lies to the west of the Falkland Islands conservation zones. A number of
important species have a transboundary distribution or migration and of
these the most important are the squid Illex argentinus and the Southern
blue whiting Micromesistius australis. Stocks of both species are shared
between the Falkland Islands and Argentina, together with the
high seas beyond 200 miles in the case of Illex. As a consequence
developments in the Argentine fishery have some potential to impact on
the Falkland Islands fishery. In this
context the development of the Argentine Illex fishery in 1993 has had a
significant impact. Prior to 1993 catches of Illex in the Argentine zone
were relatively low ; 46,000 tonnes in 1991. In 1993 Argentina started allowing
foreign flag vessels into her zone to catch Illex and also started
building up her domestic fleet. As a result catches increased to a record
260,000 tonnes in the Argentine zone in 1996. The opening of the
Argentine zone in 1993 gave boat owners more choice as to fishing
grounds. Lower licence fees in Argentina together with
generous export subsidies, and the absence of VRA made Argentine licences
appear more attractive. The main point of concern for the Falkland Islands is whether the increase in effort
can be justified. From the Falkland Island’s
viewpoint the total level of effort directed at Illex including that on the
high seas is too high. There needs to be a reduction. This assessment is
borne out by the results of joint United Kingdom/Argentine research
cruises. Additionally in recent years both Argentina
and the Falkland Islands have closed
their respective fisheries for Illex earlier than the scheduled end to
the season, in order to conserve stocks.
vii) High seas
The Falkland Island Government introduced a High seas fishing ordinance
in 1995. This ordinance makes provision for the implementation of the
Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) agreement
to promote compliance with international conservation and management
measures by fishing vessels on the high seas. It also makes provision for
implementing the United Nations agreement relating to the conservation of
straddling and highly migratory fish stocks. As a consequence all fishing
vessels registered in the Falkland Islands
require licences to fish on the high seas. They are obliged to provide
daily position reports together with details of their catches.
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