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FIG announced in November that a decision was made not to employ any overseas workers at the abattoir in the summer of 2021.
The suppliers of the Falkland Islands Meat Company (FIMCo) will be eligible for assistance through an FIG scheme, it was announced through a press statement on January 7. The support is in the form of £10 of compensation from FIG per head of mutton which cannot be processed by FIMCo, but does not make payments for cull sheep.
Payments within this scheme will be administered by the Falkland Islands Development Corporation (FIDC).
The need for this scheme comes following a FIG statement on November 16 explaining that a decision was made not to employ any overseas workers at the abattoir in the summer of 2021 – limiting the season within which the farms and FIMCo can operate.
EU is the destination for close to 90% of the Falkland Islands’ exports of fishery products, measured by weight, according to 2018 data.
Falkland Islands European Union exports are now subject to tariffs due to the UK not obtaining an agreement on behalf of the Falklands in relation to Brexit. On Wednesday, Legislative Assembly members released an opinion piece that expressed disappointment and frustration.
Falklands exports fish and meat to the EU and now anticipates tariffs of between 6 and 18% on seafood exports and an average tariff of 42% for meat exports to EU.
The release begins: “Firstly, it is important to put on record how disappointed and frustrated we are that the deal between the UK and the EU makes no provision for the Falkland Islands or the other Overseas Territories (OTs); as a result our EU exports are now subject to tariffs.”