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Fisheries News

Headlines: EU preferential tariffs for Argentine fishery; New Zealand welcomes Europe's CFP policy; Galician industry divided over re-opening fisheries; Good catching year in north Chile

EU preferential tariffs for Argentine fishery

The European Union announced Argentina will remain within the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP), due to the economic crisis affecting the country. In response to requests from European fish processing businessmen, who operate in Argentina, EU Commerce Commissioner Pascal Lamy confirmed the decision in a letter sent to the European Association of Fish Processing Companies (AIPCE). He said a clause would be included in the revised GSP by which third party countries in critical economic situations will continue to benefit from preferential tariffs. When the European Commission announced, in November 2002, that Argentina might be excluded from GSP, several Spanish sector associations - including Conxemar which represents wholesalers, importers, exporters and processors - began intense discussions with Spanish and EU authorities, as well as with their European peers to gain support. Representatives from the Spanish National Association of Canned Fish and Shellfish Producers (Anfaco) said they supported Argentina's request to keep its advantageous tariffs because it would guarantee the EU fish processing industry supplies of raw produce at good prices. Argentina is one of the main fishery product suppliers to the European Union and if excluded from the preferential scheme, import prices would rise. This would lead to "a loss of competitiveness within the industry and a change in circumstance for European companies, most of them Galician, which are based there. Besides, there would be an increase in prices for European consumers," said Conxemar in an official statement. The Generalised Scheme of Preferences allows exports into Europe from developing countries with tariff reductions ranging from 15 to 100 per cent. Local sector sources indicated that given the serious Argentine socio-economic crisis, "it is extremely important that Argentina has access to foreign markets", to help the country achieve economic recovery. GPS benefits are estimated to amount to more than USD 600 million per year. (FIS/MP).-

New Zealand welcomes Europe's CFP policy

New Zealand has welcomed the European Union's agreement to reform the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Earlier this week, European Union ministers agreed to a new process to manage fish stocks and to gradually phase out state aid for replacing fishing boats. Mr Jim Sutton, New Zealand's Trade Negotiations Minister, said the decisions were a step in the right direction. "New Zealand has a leadership role in an informal grouping of World Trade Organization nations called the "Friends of Fishing". This group is seeking improvements to WTO rules to deal with the negative effects of fish subsidies on trade, the environment, and sustainable development. Mr Sutton said that globally, the fisheries industry was hooked on subsidies. "This distorts trade, threatens fish stocks, and impedes the development of poorer nations. New Zealand has a big stake in this issue. Foreign subsidies adversely affect the competitiveness of our fishing industry and increase threats to fisheries stocks in the Southern Oceans, in which we have significant environmental and economic interests." Worldwide fish subsidies are estimated at USD 20 billion a year, or 20% of global fisheries revenues. About 70% of the world's stocks are already fully exploited, overexploited, or depleted. Alongside other "Friends", which include a wide range of developed and developing countries, New Zealand has been seeking improved WTO disciplines on fisheries subsidies. Mr Sutton said New Zealand had a world-class fisheries management programme which was sustainable, both economically and environmentally. "It's a system we can recommend to the world." he concluded. (FIS/MP).-

Galician industry divided over re-opening fisheries

Representatives from several fishing and shellfish gathering associations say they are totally opposed to the Galician government, Xunta, plans to re-open fisheries at the beginning of February as announced earlier this week. Unlike the commercial and processing sectors, which support the decision, a commission representing 32 fishing cooperatives affected by the Prestige oil spill, think the authorities are being hasty in lifting the ban. They argue that the marine environment has not recovered sufficiently for fishing to resume, although initial test results are favourable. Fishing and shellfish gathering unions deny opposing the decision so that they can continue receiving financial aid, reports El Ideal Gallego. The problem isn't about being paid, but about recovery of the marine environment and being able to guarantee the cleanliness and purity of the water, say the unions. "It is wrong to give the public the impression that the problem lies in receiving grants. The problem is still lying on the bottom of the sea and it is too soon to talk about re-opening fishing grounds," they said. The comments were made during a meeting last weekend at which unions analysed the situation of fishing grounds and shellfish beds. They decided unanimously that it was better to keep fishing and shellfish gathering areas closed for the time being. The also argued that other steps need to be taken before fishing can resume, including training for workers, re-establishing infrastructure and, above all, restoring consumer confidence in Galician products. Unions proposed a comprehensive action plan to achieve recovery with support from experts and professionals from the region's universities. The Association of Shellfish Dealers, however, supported Fisheries Council decision to resume shellfish gathering in Rías Baixas in early February and said it wouldn't lead to a dramatic fall in prices. The association's president Manuel Alfonso told Faro de Vigo that if prices did fall, then the longer it took to resume shellfish gathering, the greater the slump would be because the market is becoming accustomed to a shortage in certain species. The Cleaners' Association agreed. Businessmen fear losing their market because "without sufficient raw material to satisfy demand, foreign products are starting to win markets," the association's president Manuel García told Faro de Vigo. "Cleaning yields an annual turnover of EUR 180 million, and employs 3,800 workers", said Mr. García. Meanwhile, experts reinforced the Xunta's decision to resume fishing and shellfish gathering as soon as possible. The latest report, issued by a team of 30 specialised samplers and coordinated by professionals from Lugo's Veterinary Faculty, confirmed that the smell and taste of species such as mussel, cockle, clam, razor clam and common scallop, among others, has not been affected by the Prestige spill. And Juan Maneiro, director of Vilaxoán's Marine Medium Control Centre, reported that the tests on molluscs from Ría de Arousa showed "favourable" results. All of the studies and tests being carried out follow an international protocol that will be permanently enforced with regular inspections, said Fisheries Councillor Enrique López Veiga. He added that the data obtained would be used to determine when the region's fishing and shellfish gathering could resume. (FIS/MP).-

Spanish vessels licensed to fish in Morocco

The Moroccan Government has allowed 21 Spanish boats to fish in the country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for three months. The Moroccan authorities offered the permits to help Galician, Asturian and Cantabrian fishermen affected by the Prestige disaster. But Spanish unions are not so sure. Although the Moroccan Government offered a quota for 64 boats, only 26 applications were received, most of them from Pontevedra fishing unions. The authorities have issued 21 permits so far, mostly to longliners, reports Faro de Vigo. "We agreed that 64 ships would be allowed to operate. Our Spanish friends submitted a list of 21 ships that will start fishing from 15 January and we are waiting for them to give us a list of ships that will follow these," said Moroccan Fisheries Minister Tayeb Rhafès last week. Morocco's offer includes 15 coastal boats to catch conger; 25 purse seiners for sardine, mackerel and anchovy; 20 longliners to catch hake, swordfish, blue spotted and common sea bream; and four trawlers to catch Patagonian toothfish exclusively. These vessels will not have to pay for a fishing permit, nor will they have to undergo any prior inspection at local ports, as Spanish authorities will be in charge of these controls. The cooperation agreement, signed by Spanish and Moroccan authorities on December 23, was initiated by King Mohammed VI to help the Spanish fishermen who are unable to work as a result of the contamination caused by the Prestige oil tanker. (FIS/MP).

Good catching year in north Chile

During 2002, landings in Chile's Region I, next to Peru, increased 58% over the previous year with landings of pelagic species - such as sardine, horse mackerel, common mackerel and anchovy - reaching 1,265,163 tonnes. Iquique port handled 72% of the total landings with the remaining 28% going to the port of Arica, reports the Chilean National Fisheries Service, (Sernapesca). The industrial sector contributed 1,157,228 tonnes, accounting for 91% of the total catches. Catches by the coastal sector totalled 107,935 tonnes, representing a 108% increase compared with 2001. Víctor León, regional Economy Secretary, Mario Castro, regional Fisheries Director, and Zone Director Jorge Toro said the figures show that production was stable during 2002. And this stability was achieved, "thanks to the enforcement of maximum catch limits per fleet owner and the approval of law 19,849, which allows the coastal sector to catch sardine and anchovy", reports Estrella de Iquique. Mr. Castro was also satisfied with exports from Region I, which increased 29.2% from 2001. The main destination was the Asian market, followed by the European Union, and less frequently, South American countries. The main export product was fishmeal with a total of 187,000 tonnes, but frozen products and fresh chilled products were also exported. Aquaculture also registered significant growth with new projects developed for croak, scallop and molluscs. Víctor León said 16 or the 33 projects submitted to state agencies had already been approved, including micro-algae cultivation, which has been successfully developed in La Tirana and La Huayca. The coastal sector meanwhile, received an investment of CLP 100 million (approximately USD 139,000) from the regional Government to improve the infrastructure of wharves and unloading facilities, reports Sernapesca. (FIS/MP).-

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