FINN(COM) DAILY RECORD: THURSDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2004
Compiled by J. Brock (FINN)
FIBS NEWS DIRECT: 16 SEPTEMBER 2004
MUSSEL EXPERT TO VISIT FALKLANDS:
An expert in the mussel industry is to be brought to the Islands in a bid to kick-start large- scale aquaculture industry. An advert for the job has been published in “Seafood International Magazine”, which is distributed world-wide and in a publication called “Seafood New Zealand.” Stuart Wallace (SW) from Fortuna told me about the sort of person they are looking for to start up the new position.
SW: They would be the main person advising and helping the mussel industry develop here in the Falklands. They would be responsible for providing advice on all aspects of the mussel industry and also generally in terms of aquaculture here in the Falklands.
SF: Why, exactly, do you need someone down here to do that?
SW: At the moment, we have Simon Hardcastle, who of course, is very knowledgeable and runs his own business. But really if we are going to have an industry on the scale which we think may be possible, we are not sure yet. We are still investigating that. But we would need this sort of expertise. It’s not here at the moment.
SF: What sort of a person exactly are you looking for?
SW: They would have to be a person with a great deal of experience but also varied experience in the industry. Quite a number of people would have experience, for example, in growing mussels and in processing them but critically, wouldn’t know about marketing them - who they might sell to because I think we can grow mussels in the Falklands - that’s not the issue. The issue will be about how much it costs us to grow them and how much it costs us to ship them to the market and then, how much we can get for them. Really, the marketing part of this will be very important.
SF: Who will be employing the person and paying their wages?
SW: We would set up some sort of structure or even company but later on - I envisage - but I couldn’t swear to this but it would be private sector and possibly with developmental money as well. The sort of person we are looking for would not probably be available until the new year, I would guess possibly February or March.
SF: How long would you be hoping to employ them for? Would the contract be open-ended?
SW: I doubt that. I should think that we’d go for a two-year contract - the normal sort of contract that everybody offers to attract people here.
PLANNING CHALLENGE FOR NEW NURSERY:
The new Childcare Organisation, “Kids Zone” is appealing against some of the conditions that were placed on planning permission that was granted to run a nursery at 3 Jersey Road. The Planning and Building Committee granted permission for a change of use of the building from a residential dwelling to childcare. But members said children would have to be dropped off on the north side of the road and staff would have to park on the premises. Directors of the new Company set up to run the unit say it’s dangerous to make children cross the road outside the building rather than dropping them off on the same side as the nursery. They also say that even some of the land around the building for car park spaces would cut down on the area for children to play in. The appeal is being made by Dawn Hoy on behalf of “Kids Zone” and any comments on the matter can be sent to the Clerk of Councils at Gilbert House by the 27th of September.
REPLACING THE PORT HOWARD JETTY:
Work has started on the repair of the Port Howard Jetty. The Jetty was blown away in storms earlier this year, leaving just a square end piece be in place. With plant from PWD, the farm’s manager, Miles Lee, has now started work on the new model. He will be breaking up part of the hill behind the jetty and pushing the rock into the harbour to create a new causeway, joining the end with the shore. It’s planned for the work to be finished in time to transport wool this coming season.
FALKLANDS CONSERVATION:
Falklands Conservation are about to start work trying to wipe out a stand of thistles that are now in our harbour area. They are one of the most dangerous and damaging species that are in the Islands, according to Becky Ingham (BI) from Falklands Conservation. On this morning’s Lifestyle programme with Liz Elliot, she updated listeners on the work the organisation is doing to combat various non-native plants, which threaten local species. She has this advice for anyone who wants to help rid the thistles on their own land:
BI: The first point to make, really, is that there are no native thistles in the Islands. So, you don’t have to be an expert to detect what type they aren’t. There are different ways of treating them, depending on the type of thistle. These flower over two years and therefore you have to remove them over that two-year period to be effective. They have to be cut at ground level, usually in January but especially before they flower. You also need to do that the second year and basically then just check to see that there is no subsequent re-growth. If they are in flower, you have to be very careful and it’s best to burn them because they will spread wherever you put the rubbish. The second type are creeping, smooth-leaved ones - less offensive - they have smaller purple or yellow bell-shaped flowers. These can’t be destroyed by cutting or digging out. They flower every year and because they spread through the root systems, they must be dug up and treated with plant killer. This should be done early enough in the year prior to flowering, usually during the spring.
PHOTO COMPETITION:
Invasive species might be unpopular with conservationists but they could be a bonus to someone, if you are a photographer. A photographic competition has been launched to raise awareness of the impact of alien species and native plants and animals, ecosystems and people’s livelihoods. The World Conservation Union, or IUCN is inviting amateurs and professionals to enter the competition, which has a prize of $1,000.00 The ten best pictures will be displayed at the up-coming world conservation congress. The IUCN are mounting the competition because invasive species are a threat to biodiversity but awareness is still very low. More information can be found on website http://www.sui.iucn.org/competion/index.htm.
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