Whalers, seal hunters and guano collectors in Patagonia and the Falkland Islands

Whalers, seal hunters and guano collectors in Patagonia and the Falkland Islands
 AUTHOR: Sofía Clara Haller
 Year 2023
 Number of Pages 164
 REVIEW:

 Whalers, Sealers, and Guano Collectors in Patagonia and the Falkland Islands is an original and pioneering investigation into the environmental history and introduction of biological species to the Patagonian Sea, coasts, and islands as a result of navigation. From the late 18th century, the Patagonian coast and the Falkland Islands received vessels from around the world. North American, British, and French whalers and sealers exploited marine mammals and southern fisheries in settlements and seasonal camps inhabited by cosmopolitan populations who established trade with Indigenous peoples. Jealous of its empire, Spain attempted to control coastal routes and settlements, as did the Creole governments during the 19th century. Occupied by Great Britain in 1833, the Falkland Islands became a hub of exploitation, which included guano among its resources, valued for its use as fertilizer. The British colony became a transnational port of call, capable of centralizing and exporting products, while Argentina expanded southward and established its maritime presence. In a country whose agricultural exports are destined for overseas markets from the outset, very little research has been done on the history of the relationship between its inhabitants, regions, and governments and navigation. Therefore, "Whalers, Seal Hunters, and Guano Collectors in Patagonia and the Falkland Islands" led to broader questions, allowing for a rethinking of traditional approaches to Argentina's relationship with the sea, sovereignty disputes, territoriality, resource extraction, and Patagonian connectivity on a global scale. Sofía Clara Haller holds a PhD in History (Institute of Advanced Social Studies, National University of San Martín) and a Bachelor's and Teaching Certificate in Communication Sciences (University of Buenos Aires). She specializes in maritime and environmental history. She is currently a CONICET postdoctoral fellow at the Patagonian Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities "Dr. María Florencia del Castillo Bernal" and a professor in the Tourism program at the National University of Patagonia San Juan Bosco.