Falklands : Environmental Committee Report for April 2006
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 07.04.2006 (Article Archived on 21.04.2006)
Find out what happened during this vital committee meeting.
Photo (c) James Glass - There is a direct connection between seabirds killed in unpatrolled fisheries and the amount of stolen fish from that fishery. Either the Authority cannot afford the measures or the poachers refuse to report the deaths. The later is more likely.
COMMITTEE NEWS: ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE
Dead seabirds indicate a lack of resources to check poaching.
By J. Brock (FINN)
A meeting of the Environmental Committee took place in the Liberation Room of the Secretariat at 0900hrs on Monday, 03 April 2006. Present were Cllrs Davies (Chair) and Rendell, Mr. Grant Munro (Falklands Conservation), Mr. Manfred Keenleyside (Director Public Works), Mr. Paul Brickle (Fisheries Department), Mr. Steve Pointing (Veterinary Service), Mrs. Dominique Giudicelli (Environmental Planning Officer), Mrs Sally Blake (Rural Business Association), Mrs. Sally Poncet, and Ms Fiona Wallace (Minutes). Apologies for absence came from Mr. Ollie Yates from Falklands Conservation and Mr. Ian Strange from New Island South Trust.
Confirmation of the minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2006 was signed and matters arising from those minutes were brought up.
The Murrell Road sineage was discussed with a view that the signs should reflect good driving habits for driving in Camp. Though it was suggested that these signs should be placed islands wide, they are for the Murrell Road only at this time.
Egging licences would be issued to a named person and not to a farm or landlord.
Aerial wildlife counts were favourable where terrain aided in the task. Foot access still needed to be used where the terrain was unsuitable for viewing from aircraft. Sally Poncet said that aerial counts and computer models were successful in South Georgia.
It was decided that the request to shoot Turkey Vultures was in the wrong part of the agenda and, though discussed in some detail, would be brought up at an appropriate point in the meeting.
AVIAN POX:
Areas where Avian Pox is present in penguin colonies were pointed out by the Environmental Planning Officer. The South-west coastlines and Islands of West Falklands is where Avian Pox is most prevalent. Though there are numbers of dead penguins as a result of the epidemic, those penguins that recovered have built up immunity to the disease. Steve Pointing pointed out that the first records of Avian Pox were recorded in the 1960s, so it is not like it is the first time this has happened. It is likely to spread during the winter months when penguins have a habit of visiting other rookeries. It was impractical to use vaccinations on wild populations like they are used on domestic animals. Humans also spread the pox virus when they visit various rookeries without cleaning and disinfecting their boots properly. Scavenger birds also help to spread the disease.
A reporting structure needs to be initiated but it is difficult to get people to do the work on a voluntary basis. However, those cases that have been reported were done so by staff at the Department of Agriculture. It was decided that in the first instance the disease in penguins should be reported to Falklands Conservation. If it was then necessary, reports need to be made to the vet.
Sally Poncet pointed out that IATO had strict regulations about the disinfecting of footwear between visits to rookeries in South Georgia. Foot baths have been placed on vessels.
Land owners could voluntarily quarantine their rookeries.
APPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH LICENCES:
Amy Van Buren’s application to research Johnny Rooks at Steple Jason was approved.
The Elephant Seal Research Group (ESRG) brought discussion about long-term licences rather than a yearly licence. In this instance they were given a year’s licence but the matter will be brought up at the next meeting.
A licence was needed to study plovers and dotterels. An extensive report on the findings of last year’s observations was given to the committee. But an application would be considered at the next meeting.
Albatross and White-chinned Petrel research with reference to seabird mitigation was approved for a year.
Falklands Conservation’s research was also approved. A long-term licence would be discussed at the next meeting.
The application to research Turkey Vultures brought discussion about whether the Falklands were a sub-Antarctic Island like South Georgia is. The defining factor is the Antarctic Convergence, which is located between the Falklands and South Georgia. Therefore, it is not a sub-Antarctic Island. This item was postponed because permission needed to be gained from the land owners to study Turkey Vultures in Camp.
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES BUDGET:
The Shallow Marine Study would be completed with a view to writing a book with photographs of marine life in shallow waters around the Falklands. With 15,000 km of coastline, this would be a huge study and involve divers and scientists. There would be no decompression units needed as the dives would be in less than 20 metres of water.
Once the study was complete – in an estimated 18 months – it would take a good two years to get the material into shape for a report and longer for the book. The information would be of use for those interested in aquaculture. And, there would be a presentation to the public when the study was complete.
An application for funding for research on Dotterels would be discussed next month when a decision may be made.
Additional discussion about studies took place when it was thought that a central repository for study information would be needed. It was a good idea to have all of the information catalogued and in one place – much like the archives.
ACAP:
Both Cllr. Davies and Grant Munro gave positive feedback about the ACAP workshop. It was useful to have environmental specialists from the Falklands, South America, South Georgia and Tristan da Cunha together to discuss what they are doing to protect bird species on the ACAP list. Ollie Yates was congratulated for all his hard work in putting the programme together.
KYOTO PROTOCOL
Important issues were discussed during the presentation of a paper on the Kyoto Protocol by Nick Rendell. He reported that DEFRA had come back to him on some questions and it appears that there will be no cut in emissions that have been assigned to the Falklands. Alison Ingles asked whether a population increase would affect this and Mr. Rendell said it wouldn’t. Mr. Rendell went on to say that the emission rate was calculated from information provided by the power station and Stanley Services. There are plans for heat recovery units and wind generation, so the Falklands are in a good position to stay within the parameters of the carbon emissions assigned by the Kyoto protocol.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
Cllr. Clausen has carried out work in the Memorandum of Understanding. Dominique Giudicelli gave a brief report saying that work is being carried out with Peter King and Anne Brown and the UK and it is hoped to have something to report at the next meeting.
CONSERVATION AND BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY
The Conservation and biodiversity strategy was being worked on by Nick Rendell and Dominique Giudicelli. A document had been tidied up for the ACAP Workshop and is now in the final stages of preparation before being approved but due to other priorities it will be some time before the project moves forward.
KIDNEY ISLAND DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN
Grant Munro said the Kidney Island Draft Management Plan would go out for public consultation. This is the second draft that would be considered. Sally Poncet brought out the importance of guides on Kidney Island who would point out the importance of following the guidelines for visiting the island. At the moment the management is good but there have only been 61 visitors this season and this is in contrast to other areas that received as many as 4,500 visitors. Fire prevention is paramount and it was suggested there be a camp stove ban on the Island. Hot food and drinks could be carried in thermos containers.
DRAFT GYPSY COVE MANAGEMENT PLAN
Publicity given the Gypsy Cove Draft Management Plan did not produce the response that was expected. One comment was received that said the gate should be wider and there should be a shelter for people during inclement weather. It was decided not to make a boardwalk. A site visit was made with Bob Hancox, who made the recommendation. The path could be made wider and repaired in certain sections. Signs could warn people away from the cliffs. Phyl Rendell stressed the importance to have a guide familiar with the area present when tourists visited the site. Bob Hancox made some of the signs on site. The importance of not removing the gorse was stressed as it was an important habitat for nesting birds. There was a snack concession at the site and the people also took care of the loos. This made sense and it was hoped that the loos would be spruced up at some point before next season. There is still debate as to which department will pay for the upkeep of those loos.
MARINE RESERVES
Discussion on the proposal for Marine Reserves was postponed until the next meeting because feedback is needed for this proposal. “We must be sure of what we are protecting,” said Paul Brickle.
DESIRE’S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
It was recommended that the Environmental Impact Assessment that was carried out on behalf of Desire Petroleum be accepted. It was the first time something of this size had been done in quite some while, so it was a welcome study.
PENGUIN EGGING
Penguin Egging has been under discussion for some while. This year’s returns have come in and they contain what has been asked for.
THISTLES
The rather extensive discussion about Thistles has been postponed until the next meeting.
It was proposed that the Environmental Committee meet more often to prevent such long agendas. This will be considered at the next meeting.
|
