Falklands : FIFCA Predicts a Hard-Working Year Ahead
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 10.12.2011 (Article Archived on 31.12.2011)
The Falkland Islands’ Fishing Companies Association has recently held an annual general meeting at which Cheryl Roberts has been elected chairman for 2011/2012.
FIFCA Predicts a Hard-Working Year Ahead
By J. Brock (FINN)
The Falkland Islands’ Fishing Companies Association has recently held an annual general meeting at which Cheryl Roberts has been elected chairman for 2011/2012. At Tapas, this year held in the Malvina House Hotel on Wednesday, 07 December 2011, Mrs Roberts said that she has seen the industry work continually with the Fisheries Department, continuing to work jointly and attending regular meetings and presentations. The later FIFCA considers very important to get an improved knowledge of how the science works – and more importantly how the scientist works.
She went on to describe some of the activities members and the association were involved in, including on-going resource rental work, saying that this important work has been jointly funded by the industry and FIG. “Again, this is a fine example of how we continue to work together,” she said.
In addition, economic efficiency tests were carried out on all Loligo companies, the result of which was presented to FIFCA by John Barton last week. It is expected that this will be carried out on Finfish companies some time during 2012.
FIFCA members sit on a number of government and other committees concerned with our industry and environment. Mrs Roberts said that this is a useful tool to keep all members updated. Alison Nye was appointed recently as secretary and she is presently working out of the old FIG Training offices at Stanley Services. Mrs Roberts took the opportunity also to thank Alison Baker for her secretarial work for us since FIFCA’s inception.
“FIFCA is presently in the process of designing a logo and hopefully that will soon be available for members and everybody else to see,” she said.
One of the most important studies that we felt was carried out during 2011 was the Albatross study by Ian Strange. And FIFCA were very encouraged to see that they are indeed multiplying and doing very well, contrary to some beliefs in the industry and certain areas.
Mrs Roberts stressed that 2012 will no doubt be a busy year for the industry as it has been in previous years. We never know what our neighbours have in store for us and with the on-going harassment of our fishing fleet and the announcement from Argentina a short while ago to open their Illex season some 2 months early, obviously with complete disregard for conservation of the stock concerns us greatly. And I understand there will be a response to that shortly in the UK press and I spoke with John Barton earlier today regarding FIFCA and the Fisheries Department working together on responses to these matters that keep rearing their ugly head from a certain lady across the water.
“I hope we all continue to work successfully together in 2012,” she concluded.
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