The British 150-mile fishery conservation and management zone around the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands

Abstract

The British announcement of a 150-mile fishery conservation and management zone around the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands on 29 October 1986 ended the ‘free-for-all’ among foreign fishing boats in Falklands fishing grounds. It also reinforced the continuing state of hostility between the United Kingdom and Argentina since the end of the Falklands War in 1982. Major reasons for this belated declaration of a 150-mile fishing zone include: (1) the geographical and economic disadvantages of the Falklands Islands; (2) the development of EEZs and their impact on fisheries; (3) the problem of overfishing; (4) the 1982 Falkland Islands War, the 1982 Shackleton Report, and the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention; (5) the increasing danger of depletion of the Falklands fishing grounds; (6) unsuccessful bilateral and multilateral efforts at fishery conservation by the United Kingdom; and (7) the intensification of Argentina's diplomatic offensive. The British announcement might cause problems of boundary disputes between the United Kingdom and Argentina. Foreign countries such as the Soviet Union. Poland, Spain, and Japan, are affected by the announcement which might create a fishery controversy between Argentina and foreign fishing vessels.