The Falkland IslandsFalkland Islands Offshore Hydrocarbon Industry • Focus on: •Marine higher...
Transcript of The Falkland IslandsFalkland Islands Offshore Hydrocarbon Industry • Focus on: •Marine higher...
The Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands GovernmentPolicy and Economic Development DirectorateFebruary 2018
The Marine Falkland Islands The Falkland Islands Marine EEZ comprises of 453,
897 km2 area of water.
Strong maritime history and ties to the sea
35-48% of our economy is based on fishing
We take pride in our collaborative approach to protecting our ocean environment
Shallow Marine Environments
• Environments that have been subject to very little research considering their productivity.
• Unimpacted, undisturbed natural environments – natural laboratories
Offshore Marine Environments
• A large successful fishery that is still relatively young
• The benthic ecosystem of this environment is understudied
• Unique, complex oceanography
• Largest black browed albatross colonies in the world
• Significant and globally important seabird population
• Significant populations of cetaceans (marine mammals) and pennipeds(seals, sea lions)
Terrestrial Environment
Ocean Policy Research and data-informed Collaborative approach across Government,
private sector and not-for-profit organisations South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute
(SAERI) Falklands Conservation
Focused on:• Balancing multiple uses including fisheries and tourism• Sustainable, world-class fisheries management• Understanding and protecting biodiversity
• Ratification and implementation of international obligations and multi-lateral environmental agreements
Ocean Stewardship
Marine Spatial Planning A Marine Spatial Plan for the Falkland Islands was developed in
conjunction with SAERI and FIG, funded by Darwin-Plus (UK Government)
Contributed to research and produced useful policy tools
Provided an overview for areas important to: Native and migratory animals Fishing Tourism Ports and harbours Social uses
Cargo ships Oil tankers Cruise ships
Developed and maintained by SAERI for data collected on the Falkland Islands and other South Atlantic OTs
IMS-GIS Data Centre
Fisheries The introduction of a system of ITQs (Individual Transferable
Quotas) fishing licensing in our major fisheries has led to more national participation and strong fisheries management
Spatial management of fishery zones enables the closing of areas for reasons such as spawning, overfishing and environmental protection.
Fishery data received daily from vessels and from a dedicated group of observers deployed in all fleets.
MSC certification for Longline
Toothfish fishery
Ocean Research
Collaboration with Industry, Government, NGOs and local and international research bodies
8% of FIG budget spent on research and protection
FIG Fisheries Department also undertakes research in-house
Recent collaborative research includes: vulnerable marine ecosystems and fish biology
South Atlantic Research Institute (SAERI)
• Fulfills need for an umbrella organisation to produce and coordinate environmental science within the South Atlantic
• Falkland Islands was recognised as the ideal place to establish such an institution:
o Well connected geographically with established logistics hub for operating in wider South Atlantic and the Antarctic
o No other co-ordinating mechanism to give scientists to access environments in the South Atlantic
• Established 2012 as a Department of Falkland Islands Government
• Start-up funding support also received from Government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and the UK Government
Independent,registered UK charity since 2017
South Atlantic Research Institute (SAERI)
Understanding basic ecology
Identification of biodiversity
Locally threatened species
Endemics species
Ecosystem functioning
Environmental threatsIdentification of existing and potential disturbances
Determining ecological impact
Determining past and future impacts of climate change
Management of environmental resources
Direct and indirect impacts on organisms and ecosystems
Sustainable economic development
Assessing monitoring needs
Ocean Research @ SAERIGAP project: • Addresses priority gaps in
understanding ecosystem functioning to assist in regulating development of the Falkland Islands Offshore Hydrocarbon Industry
• Focus on:
• Marine higher predators (including penguins, seals, whales and other large marine mammals and birds)
• Environment of the seafloor in the direct vicinity of oil exploration, the oceanography of this area and potential interactions with fisheries
20+ Other Projects, including: • Natural Capital Assessment• Dolphins of the Kelp• Seaweed Biodiversity • Inshore Fisheries
EU-BEST Hub for the Atlantic and Caribbean
Ocean Protection Policy feeds into environmental protection which drives our
research goals.
Regulate and monitor fishing activities within the EEZ through licencing and through physical presence with help of fisheries patrol vessel FPV Protegat, Patrol flights, HMS Clyde
Regulate deposition of any materials into the sea through the UK’s Food and Environmental Protection Act 1985 adopted by the Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands are a signatory to MARPOL and adhere to it.
Local efforts to reduce visible signs of marine pollution:
Trawlers asked to return trawled up rubbish to shore.
Regular beach clean-up
Climate Change The geography of the Islands offers a natural marine
‘laboratory’ to investigate latitudinal effects of climate change on shallow marine species
Falkland Islands have accepted the extension of the UK-ratified Kyoto and Kyoto 2 Protocols Work underway towards understanding effects of climate change
effects and reducing carbon footprint
Adoption of a Sustainable Energy Strategy to Reduce demand of non-renewable energy sources
Increase energy efficiency
Find sustainable, renewable and low carbon alternatives
40% of electricity generated through wind power
Thank you! Any questions?