Economy
The Falkland Islands are a British Colony and as such, a governor, appointed from London, oversees the Falkland Island Government. However, apart from defence, the Islands are self-financing. Although the Islands have their own currency, the Falkland Island Pound, the value is the same as the British Pound and British coins are legal tender.
Falkland Islands flag
Until the late-1980s, the majority of the Falkland’s income came from sheep farming. Massive farms exist and currently the Islands have over half a million sheep. From the sheep farmed, high quality wool is produced and exported. Some of the Falkland’s income is still from farming, but since 1987, most of the islands economic wealth has relied on fishing licenses to countries like Spain and Japan. The waters surrounding the Falkland Islands are some of the richest fishing areas in the World. The vast majority of what is caught is squid.
The Islands also have an income from the selling of Falkland Islands stamps. The Philatelic Bureau was established in 1978 and sends stamps to customers all over the World.
The Tourism Industry in the Falklands Islands is growing. New roads have enabled access to previously remote areas and a country code for military personnel and tourists has been produced to help protect environmentally sensitive sites. All visitors to the Islands should follow this code:
- Always ask permission before entering private land.
- Keep to paths wherever possible. Leave gates open or shut as you found them.
- Be aware of the high fire risk throughout the Islands. Be extremely careful when smoking not to start fires. Take cigarette butts away with you.
- Do not litter; take your trash home with you.
- Do not disfigure rocks or buildings.
- Do not touch, handle, injure or kill any wild bird or other wild animal.
- Never feed any wild animals.
- Always give animals the right of way. Remember not to block the routes of seabirds and seals coming ashore to their colonies.
- Try to prevent any undue disturbance to wild animals. Stay on the outside of bird and seal colonies. Remain at least 6m (twenty feet) away. When taking photographs or filming stay low to the ground. Move slowly and quietly. Do not startle or chase wildlife from resting or breeding areas.
- Some plants are protected and should not be picked.
- Whalebones, skulls, eggs or other such items may not be exported from the Falklands
Access to the Islands is primarily by plane from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, England. Many people are attracted by the remoteness and peace of the Islands, other come to undertake tours relating to the 1982 war or to explore the magnificent wildlife.
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