FIFCA Board

John Barton MBE

Chair

John grew up at Teal Inlet, East Falkland and was educated at secondary school in Uruguay. He attended University in North Wales (Bangor, Marine Biology & Oceanography) and Scotland (Stirling, Institute of Aquaculture).
John began his career in fisheries in the Falklands working on a survey of inshore fishery resources based out of Fox Bay East. Following the declaration of a Fisheries Conservation Zone in 1986, he became Senior Scientist in the newly formed Falkland Islands Government Fisheries Department and Director of Fisheries in 1989. He continued in that role until 2019, becoming Director of Natural Resources in 2009 (Fisheries & Agriculture).
After leaving the Falkland Islands Government, John took up employment with Falklands Conservation for two years as warden of New Island, a very remote island nature reserve in the Falklands. He returned to the fishing industry in 2022, joining Fortuna Ltd as manager of Atlantic Catch Ltd and Director of Fishing Operations. He became Chair of the Falkland Islands Fishing Companies Association in March 2025.

Alex Reid

Vice Chair

Alex entered the Falkland Islands fishing industry in 1995 and is currently the owner of Seaview Ltd, which holds the majority shareholding in Polar Seafish Ltd.
Polar Seafish operates three trawlers dedicated to fishing for loligo squid in the Falkland Islands. Additionally, they conduct fishing operations and carry out research for the South Georgia Government for mackerel icefish. Alex has also been actively involved in the South Georgia toothfish fishery since its inception.

Bradley Roberts

Board Member

Michael Poole

Board Member

Falkland Islander Michael holds an MBA from Warwick University and an MSc in Public Policy from the London School of Economics. Local roles included Senior Economist for the Falkland Islands Government and a short stint as Executive Secretary to the Falkland Islands Fishing Companies Association. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly, serving his four-year term until 2017 with the portfolio for central government policy making, environmental issues and tourism development. He was General Manager of Fortuna Ltd from 2019-2024 and is now CEO of Seafish (Falklands) Ltd having joined them in mid-2024. As well as being a Board member of FIFCA, he is also the current Chair of the Falkland Islands Development Board.

Kyran Evans

Board Member

After working in various roles in the Falkland Islands' civil service, which included time within the Natural Resources Department in fishing-related roles, Kyran entered the private sector and took up a trainee management position with Argos Group Ltd. As part of his career progression within that role, he is nearing completion of his studies to become ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) qualified.
In 2025, Kyran became assistant manager of Argos Group and was appointed as a Board member of the Falkland Islands Fishing Companies Association.

James Bates

Executive Secretary, FIFCA

Born in Germany in 1971 in a British Military Hospital, James spent most of his childhood in the UK and went to boarding school before joining the British Army in 1989. He spent 13 years in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and saw active service in the first Gulf War, Northern Ireland and Bosnia/Croatia, both in a NATO and UN capacity.
James left the army and the UK permanently in 2003 to spend the next eight years working on contract at Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands in technical and facilities management positions.
In 2011, he was appointed as the dealer principal for the Land Rover dealership in the Falklands, (on the Falkland Islands Company’s senior management team) where he enjoyed a successful career that lasted six years.
Looking to gain knowledge about the fishing industry, James applied for (and became) the Executive Secretary for FIFCA in 2017 where he has remained ever since. It is an extremely varied and challenging position that he thoroughly enjoys. He has also been a Director of the Falkland Islands Chamber of Commerce since 2018.