Introduction
Situated in the South-West Atlantic, the waters around the Falkland Islands are one of the richest fishery resources in the world.
Louis Vernet, a German businessman of French origin, looked to exploiting the fishery, particularly sealing, in 1828. He was supposed to have sent away eighty tons of salt fish in one year.
In 1833 Woodbine Parish stated that mullet ‘are in such numbers that ten or twelve men could always catch and salt about sixty tons in less than a month. They were usually caught with a sweeping net…many ship loads might be procured annually’.
When Charles Darwin visited the Falkland Islands in the 1830s he recorded two indigenous species of freshwater fish, Aplochiton zebra and Glaxius maculatus, known locally as zebra trout and minnows.
Common sea fish which were easily caught in creeks and bays were the mullet, a member of the Antarctic rock cod group, and smelt. Mullet were easily caught with a hook and both were caught using nets, often in conjunction with fish weirs.
Edmund Kemp, age 21 and an English fisherman, arrived at Port Louis 18 December 1840. He was employed in Mr Whitington’s fishing establishment and lived in Fish House Creek.
The mullet fishery in Johnsons Harbour, Chabot Creek, and Bougainville Creek in Berkeley Sound, as well as the mullet fishery in Duperry Harbour were leased 31 March 1851 to Messrs Mackinnon, Hamond and Sulivan, the highest bidders at public auction. Other mullet fisheries awarded at the same auction were Mullet Creek to Henry Felton and Weir Creek to Augustus C Ploger.
The Falkland Islands Company Ltd were quick to see the possible commercial potential and May 1854 saw the arrival of Thomas Fawcett, a fish salter, who arrived under contract. On 21 January 1856 the Company rented the mullet fisheries in the North Creek, Middle Creek and North East Creeks in Port San Salvador for an annual rental of £6. Three days later they rented the mullet fishery at Weir Creek for £2 per annum.
In the 1940s and the 1950s brown trout were introduced and thrived in both the rivers and at sea.
On 29 October 1986 an Interim Fishery Conservation Zone with a radius of 150 miles was announced and the Falklands Inner Conservation Zone (FICZ) came into effect from 1 February 1987. On 28 November 1990 the Falklands Outer Conservation Zone (FOCZ) was established with a radius of 200 miles. As well as protecting these important fishing grounds from overfishing the income generated provided the means for the Falkland Islands to grow and develop its infrastructure.
Government Files
TRA-FIS-1-3. J O Borley. Proposed introduction of salmon and trout.pdf5.62 MB
TRA-FIS-1-4. Supply of fish at South American Coast and possibility of trawling in FIs waters.pdf360.59 KB
TRA-FIS-1-7. Dr R T Wade. Possibility of oyster growing in the Falkland Islands.pdf701.93 KB
TRA-FIS-1-8. Fishing resources. Includes Falkland Islands sea fish. Also trout part only.pdf2.91 MB
TRA-FIS-1-9. Colonial Development and Welfare Act 1940. Fisheries research.pdf5.89 MB
TRA-FIS-1-10. Sea fisheries. Trawling and Centolla by T J Hart.pdf3.22 MB
TRA-FIS-1-11. Imported fish.pdf6.48 MB
TRA-FIS-1-12. Minor industries. Fishing.pdf398.1 KB
TRA-FIS-1-13. Falkland Islands fisheries.pdf921.39 KB
TRA-FIS-1-15. Falkland Islands fisheries. Donald Black USA applies for fishing concession.pdf95.07 KB
TRA-FIS-1-16. Falkland Islands Fisheries. Falkland Islands Fisheries Limited.pdf143.4 KB
TRA-FIS-1-17. Territorial waters.pdf2.74 MB
TRA-FIS-1-18. Imported fish.pdf10.24 MB
TRA-FIS-2-1. Imported fish.pdf4.2 MB
TRA-FIS-2-2. Fish. Salmon ova trout ova.pdf1.38 MB
TRA-FIS-2-3. FIRADA proposal for commercial fisheries study.pdf815.18 KB
TRA-FIS-2-4. Fisheries consultancies. Salmon project.pdf4.81 MB
TRA-FIS-2-5. Krill.pdf1.91 MB
Reports
R-TRA-FIS-1-4. The Offshore Fisheries Resources of the Falkland Islands - Dr DNF Hall - 1984.pdf8.17 MB
R-TRA-FIS-1-5. Report on the Spanish Southwest Atlantic Fisheries - Dr DNF Hall - 1984.pdf2.66 MB
R-TRA-FIS-2-1. Falkland Islands Fisheries Department Fishing Log Book - Gamefish Survey - 1992.pdf364.29 KB
R-TRA-FIS-3-1. Stanley Fisheries Ltd Annual Report 1987.pdf2.5 MB
Disclaimer
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