2022 FALKLAND ISLAND - 40th Anniversary of Liberation FDC - POSTMARK FOX BAY

FALKLAND ISLANDS 2022

 2022 FALKLAND ISLAND -

40th Anniversary of Liberation

FDC Postmarked FOX BAY

On 2 April 1982, Argentine forces invaded and occupied the Falkland Islands. Three days later, on 5 April, a UK task force set sail to recapture the Islands and restore freedom for the Islanders.

25,948 British Armed Forces personnel, alongside around 3,000 civilian crew from the Merchant Navy, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and Chinese civilian crew, formed the task force, of whom 255 died during the campaign. In addition, three civilian Falkland Islanders also lost their lives during the war.

Following several weeks of intense fighting, Argentine forces surrendered on 14 June 1982, a date that has since been known in the Falkland Islands as ‘Liberation Day’ and is a national holiday.

Falkland Islanders can trace their ancestry in the Islands across almost 200 years, with some having family ties going as far back as nine generations. Throughout our long history we have welcomed people from over 60 different nations, individuals who have chosen to share our way of life, and to make the Falkland Islands their home. We are proud of our identity and heritage, but we also celebrate our diversity.

Today, the Falkland Islands is a forward-looking community, with a strong sense of culture and heritage. In 2022, a number of events are being held in both the Falkland Islands and the UK, to commemorate the sacrifices made in 1982, and also to celebrate the progress made in the Islands over the past 40 years.

We are calling this special commemorative year “Looking Forward at Forty”, making it a time to reflect on the achievements that have been made with our hard-won freedom, and to look forward to the next 40 years of life in the Falkland Islands.

In 2012, our liberation stamp issue focused on the Falkland’s community. On the 40th anniversary, our special stamp issue focuses on three important aspects of the Falklands’ economy, which have thrived, grown and been responsibly and sustainably developed since 1982.

The introduction of a fisheries conservation zone and fisheries management regime in 1986 transformed the economy of the Falkland Islands, securing self-sufficiency in all areas except defence and external affairs.

While the economic impact of the fishery has been transformational, the fundamental objective is the long-term sustainability of fishery resources for the benefit of future generations. This includes not only the commercial target species, but also reducing harmful impacts on bycatch species, such as seabirds, and marine mammals. FIG makes a significant annual investment in fisheries science and protection to achieve this aim. If you eat calamari in southern Europe there is about a 50% chance it is a Falklands squid!

CFL Hunter is the first ever Falklands registered fishing vessel to be built solely with Falklands capital investment. Launched in February 2017, the longliner was an historic milestone for the Falklands fishing industry and other companies have since followed suit.

The Falkland Islands is one of the last great wilderness destinations. Four-wheel vehicles are our mode of transport, and our little planes will take you to places abundant with penguins, albatross and petrels for you to discover and enjoy. At the end of each day, you can look forward to traditional, cosy Falkland Islands hospitality in the hotels, lodges and guesthouses scattered around the Islands.

Many cruise ships, from a number of companies, include the Falkland Islands as part of their austral summer itineraries. This is a great way to get a feel for the Islands as part of a South American or Antarctic adventure.

Much of the Falklands land mass is used for agriculture. Our main product is wool, with an EU-approved abattoir producing mutton and lamb for local and export markets, and beef for local markets.

The environment here produces exceptionally clean wool and the Falkland Islands have a very good reputation for these traits in our wool trading. The approximate annual wool production for the Falklands is 1,641,819kg of greasy wool, with an average weight of 3.85kg, and a fibre diameter range of 16.8-32.2µm. There are also a number of farms that have organic certification which is a step towards marketing these attributes internationally.

Responsible Wool Standards (RWS) – A voluntary farm assurance program that emphasises on providing buyers and consumers that our Falklands wool has been farmed and produced under internationally recognised guidelines that addresses animal welfare, land management and social responsibility. There are to date 43 Falklands farms part of the RWS.

The £1.30 stamp photo was taken at Mount Rosalie on West Falkland, part of Port Howard Farm. It was taken during a lamb marking day, when the ewes were being moved on after being separated from the lambs.

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