[BITList] Britain courts fury with Falklands protection zone | The Times

[Michael Feltham]

THE TIMES
THE SUNDAY TIMES
TIMES+
MY ACCOUNT
Search    Welcome Michael FelthamContact us Log out 

 
                  
List View
Site Map
RSS Feeds
London Max 8C

Wednesday, December 7

Britain courts fury with Falklands protection zone

Article Graphic: protected zone
1 of 3
Britain has drawn up plans for a huge marine protection zone near the Falklands Getty
Post a comment
Recommend (1)
Print
Email
Share
 
Follow stories about
Environment
What's this
 
Britain has drawn up plans for a huge marine protection zone near the Falklands Getty
Frank Pope, Ocean Correspondent and Roger Boyes, Diplomatic Editor
Last updated December 7 2011 12:01AM
Britain has drawn up plans for a huge marine protection zone close to the Falkland Islands in a move that is certain to trigger a furious reaction from Argentina.
The area of some one million square kilometres around the tiny sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, where the Falklands War began almost 30 years ago, is a rich habitat for penguins, walruses, killer whales and Patagonian toothfish. It is at the heart of Sir David Attenborough’s series Frozen Planet. To protect the extraordinary marine life Britain seems ready to risk a serious diplomatic confrontation with Buenos Aires.
“Argentina, like the United Kingdom, is a signatory of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Living Resources so we would like to think that common interest in conservation will carry more weight than the dispute over sovereignty,” said a Whitehall source. But Argentina has recently strengthened its claims to be the master of the waters around the Falklands, which it calls Las Malvinas, by boarding Spanish vessels that had been granted fishing licences by the Falkland government.
The dispute with Argentina has been ratcheted up further. “South Georgia is an integral part of our territory,” said Ruperto Godoy of the Argentine Foreign Relations Committee. “The UK must obey international law and return them to Argentina peacefully,” he told The Times.
South Georgia lies to the east of the Falkland Islands and is situated between Shag Rocks and the South Sandwich Islands.
The Marine Protection Area — there are some 6,800 in the world but this would be the largest — will be formally announced in South Georgia in the coming days.
The move has been co-ordinated with Britain. The declaration of a marine protected area allows the local authorities to place strict bans on the slaughter of whales and other wildlife. Fishing is only permitted in designated areas.
The problem, in particular with sparsely populated areas like South Georgia, is how to police these conservationist measures. The best that can be done is to spot infringements and lodge official protests. Even this, however, could spark a conflict between Britain and Argentina.
Under the plan, 1.07 million sq km of some of the wildest ocean on the planet will be protected. Despite strong scientific evidence that marine reserves benefit both the fishing industry and the environment, globally less than two per cent of the sea has any kind of fishing restrictions.
South Georgia is already a sanctuary for an astonishing range of marine life. The whales that were hunted to provide oil for glycerol used in nitro-glycerine are returning in large numbers. Fur and elephant seals crowd the shores and huge penguin colonies cover the lower slopes. The islands, along with the neighbouring South Sandwich Islands, are also home to significant albatross populations.
Patrolling the area costs £2.5 million a year and £750,000 is spent on fisheries science. Both will continue to be paid for by the sale of licences for controlled fishing. The licences brought in £2.9 million in 2010. Fishing will be completely banned from more than 18,000 sq km immediately surrounding South Georgia itself and two nearby exposed rock outcrops, protecting the nurseries that young fish require and providing secure feeding for predators. Each of the eight South Sandwich Islands will have a similar buffer, amounting to another 2,000 sq km where fishing is illegal. This will most upset the Argentinians, who regard a fishing ban as an act of British arrogance.
No trawlers will be allowed to scrape the seabed and longlines for catching toothfish can only be set in water more than 700 metres deep to protect the younger fish in shallower water.
Fishermen will be largely unaffected since they already operate under strict rules. The major earner is the Patagonian toothfish, which grows to 1.5 metres and attracts up to £13 per kilo because of its sustainability certification from the Marine Stewardship Council.
Post a commentRecommend (1)PrintEmailShare
Comments (6)Order by: 
Newest
Oldest
Most Recommended
Andrew Jones
December 7, 2011 6:39 AM
The Typhoons can shoot down any aircraft the Argentines possess. The Trafalgar/Astute submarines can sink any ship the Argentines possess whilst also smashing Buenos Airies to bits. 

Those are the realities. Let little dogs yap.
Recommend (4) Report Abuse  					  				Reply  
neil watts
December 7, 2011 5:38 AM
oh and there's the little matter of oil down there too!
Recommend (0) Report Abuse  					  				Reply  
Edward Thompson
December 7, 2011 4:50 AM
With the Armed Forces cut to the bone on all fronts, fat chance we have to enforce anything and Argentina knows that.
Recommend (1) Report Abuse  					  				Reply  
Liam *B* (Now down under)
December 7, 2011 4:15 AM
How do you define what land is yours?
Recommend (0) Report Abuse  					  				
Hide reply (1)
Reply  
Timothy Landers
December 7, 2011 7:13 AM
By force if necessary!
Recommend (0) Report Abuse  					  				  
Global Voter
December 7, 2011 12:29 AM
Rule Britannia!
Recommend (1) Report Abuse  					  				Reply  
 
Commenting as Michael Feltham
  				
3000 characters remaining
Post My Reply
Behind the story:
Argentina condemns ‘provocative’ William posting to Falklands
The Duke of Cambridge’s posting to the Falkland Islands has been branded a “provocative act” in A...
Last updated November 12 2011
82 Comments
Argentina’s President hits out at Cameron Falklands ‘arrogance’
David Cameron has said the Falklands will remain British, enraging Argentina’s leader, who is fighting to reclaim... Last updated June 17 2011
45 Comments
  <a href="http://ad.uk.doubleclick.net/click%3Bh%3Dv8/3bd6/3/0/%2a/d%3B246584568%3B0-0%3B1%3B48112268%3B4307-300/250%3B45406342/45424015/1%3B%3B%7Eaopt%3D2/1/ff/0%3B%7Esscs%3D%3fhttp%3A//bs.serving-sys.com/BurstingPipe/adServer.bs%3Fcn%3Dbrd%26FlightID%3D3611858%26Page%3D%26PluID%3D0%26Pos%3D9544" target="_blank"><img src="http://bs.serving-sys.com/BurstingPipe/adServer.bs?cn=bsr&FlightID=3611858&Page=&PluID=0&Pos=9544" border=0 width=300 height=250></a> <a href="http://ad.uk.doubleclick.net/jump/news.thetimes/environment;pos=mpu;sz=300x250;tile=1;;ord=1323244504235?" target="_blank"> <img src="http://ad.uk.doubleclick.net/ad/news.thetimes/environment;pos=mpu;tile=1;sz=300x250;ord=1323244504235" width="300" height="250" border="0" alt="" /></a>
Sponsored Editorial
 
Smarter Living
Take control of your life
Eight essential guides to making everything easier, and win a fantastic holiday to Dubai
More from Environment
Warning as killer whales seen near shore

December 7 2011 12:01AM
Two killer whales have been spotted 100 metres off Cornwall, leading to warnings for surfers and swimmers

Ram cosies up to the deer herd

December 7 2011 12:01AM
A ram at the Yunnan Wild Animal Park in China has surpirsed handlers by becoming the dominant male among the does

Britain’s butterflies are taking flight

December 7 2011 12:01AM
During the past ten years, 72 per cent of species declined in abundance and the geographical range of 54 per cent of butterflies fell

Disco fever in the lizard lounge

Last updated December 6 2011 7:17PM
These geckos prove that dancing definitely isn’t for wimps as they limber up in a series of pictures captured by Shikhei Goh

Find
JobsMotorsPropertyHolidays
Search all JobsSearch
Director
Cedefop - Europe
Competitive
Director
Fusion for Energy - Europe
Competitive
Policy/Commercial Graduate Intern
Cabinet Office - London or Norwich
£20,749 - £29,355
PA to CEO
Leathersellers’ Company - London
£38,000
Most Read
Commented
Recommended

Kate looks on song at charity concert in her £69.99 dress

Disco fever in the lizard lounge

Hard times mean harder hearts after Britons lose sympathy for…

Britain courts fury with Falklands protection zone

David Cameron names his price
 
Welcome to our latest edition
Download The Times on Android tablet today

 <a target="_blank" href="http://ad.uk.doubleclick.net/click%3Bh%3Dv8/3bd6/3/0/%2a/e%3B224281843%3B0-0%3B1%3B48112268%3B17220-300/251%3B36953490/36971368/1%3B%3B%7Eaopt%3D2/1/ff/0%3B%7Esscs%3D%3fhttp://www.thetimes.co.uk/bookshop?CMP=INTtt8"><img src="http://s0.2mdn.net/697830/newbooks-MPU.jpg" border="0" alt="" ></a> <a href="http://ad.uk.doubleclick.net/jump/news.thetimes/environment;pos=bottommpu;sz=300x251;tile=2;;ord=1323244504235?" target="_blank"> <img src="http://ad.uk.doubleclick.net/ad/news.thetimes/environment;pos=bottommpu;tile=2;sz=300x251;ord=1323244504235" width="300" height="251" border="0" alt="" /></a>
© Times Newspapers Limited 2011 | Version 1.26.0.4 (31208)
Registered in England No. 894646 Registered office: 3 Thomas More Square, London, E98 1XY My Account | RSS | Site Map | FAQ | Classified advertising | Display advertising
Privacy Policy | Syndication | Terms & Conditions | Contact us
Article updates
Article history
Following
Click to revisit articles, see updates and follow stories that interest you.

Turn off

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.bcn.mythic-beasts.com/pipermail/bitlist/attachments/20111207/f7fa5978/attachment-0001.shtml