§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the reasons for the current decline in Rockhopper penguin numbers in the Falkland Islands; and which other penguin species are similarly affected.
§ Mr. BaldryAssessments carried out on the reasons for the current decline in Rockhopper penguins are inconclusive. Two major reasons for the decline, which is not confined to the Falklands, have been put forward: first, changes in ocean temperatures, possibly related to the El Nino phenomenon; and, secondly, a natural cycle of decline similar to those previously recorded, which have been followed by an upturn.
No major penguin species on the Falkland Islands have suffered significant decline. Detailed surveys of penguin colonies are being conducted by the organisation Falkland Conservation.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures are being taken to avoid over fishing in Falkland Islands waters; and which countries are currently licensed to fish in those waters.
§ Mr. BaldryFishing in Falkland Islands waters is closely controlled by the Falkland Islands Government through a strict licensing regime that limits fishing effort to safe levels. Scientific evaluation of the sustainable development of the fishery is carried out, under contract 123W to the Falkland Islands Government, by Imperial College and the British Antarctic Survey. The Falkland Islands Government operate two fishery protection aircraft and, depending on the season, either one or two fishery protection vessels.
Vessels from the following are licensed to fish in Falkland waters during 1995:
- Belize Chile
- Falkland Islands
- France Honduras
- Italy
- Japan
- Korea
- Panama
- Poland
- Portugal
- Spain
- Taiwan