MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

2022 Was a Boom Year For Falklands Squid and Finfish Fleets

The name LILIBET was proposed by Aimée, a pupil at Stanley Infant Junior School and Camp Education (Pic@LarusDom)

Fisheries authorities in the Falkland Islands have said that 2022 was a bumper year for the squid and hake fishing fleets licenced by the territory. Sixteen ships caught a remarkable 101,166 tonnes of loligo squid; a catch that was exceeded only in 1989 when 118,120 tonnes were landed, although that record catch was achieved by almost three times as many ships.

The haul of hake in 2022 was even more remarkable. Trawlers netted 62,830 tonnes of the finfish species, making it the highest annual catch of this species since the Falklands established its exclusive economic zone in the mid-1980s.

Figures for the third important catch, the migratory Illex squid, are not yet in, as the season is ongoing. But the jigging ships, which are owned by companies in the Far East, have been operating since early February. They caught some 15,000 tonnes within 10 days of the season commencing.

Details of the boom year for Falklands fishing were released by the Government’s Fisheries Committee, which met on 6 March and received reports from the Director of Fisheries. The director also reported on routine inspections of fishing vessels that were carried out in 2022. Issues of concern that emerged from the inspections included accidents, safety equipment not meeting specifications, and out-of-date documentation. As is normal, all issues relating to fishing/safety equipment or documentation were resolved prior to vessels sailing for the fishing grounds.

The Director of Fisheries also reported that the Islands’ new patrol vessel FPV Lillibet was due to leave Capetown last weekend, and on arrival in the Falklands will undergo two weeks of training with fisheries officials and observers before commencing patrols in the exclusive economic zone.

 Graham Bound