MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Fisheries News.

Headlines:
Rift between Chile and EU over swordfish; Australia: piracy causes market rush for toothfish. The EU seeks political agreement to regulate western waters fishery. Brazil: Applications open for the chartering of foreign vessels.

Rift between Chile and EU over swordfish

A new rift has emerged between Chile and Spanish vessel owners over the swordfish deep-sea fishery near the EEZ. The conflict, which dates back to the end of the last decade, arose when Chile prohibited the Europeans from landing in their ports after they refused to comply with swordfish conservation measures. This provoked the EU to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO). Despite measures taken to resolve the differences, the dispute has still not been settled as both parties have been unsatisfied with the WTO's resolution. The resolution would permit four European and four Chilean vessels to carry out a research fishery, with an annual quota of 1,000 tonnes for each fleet. The European fleet would be free to access Chile's national ports for two years - the time needed for the research to be carried out. During the research, each vessel would have an inspector on board to make sure that catches were only carried out to meet the goals of the research and that no transfers were made at sea. Roberto Izquierdo, president of the National Fishing Association (Sonapesca), says the agreement cannot work, as no research outlines have been specified. And there are also concerns over Spain's refusal to carry a national inspector on board the research vessel. Representatives from the Chilean Foreign Office and the private sector will go to the EU headquarters in Brussels to discuss the issue. (FIS/MP).-

Australia: piracy causes market rush for toothfish.

Local Patagonian toothfish processors have reported an unexpected local surge in sales of the prized deep sea fish. Traditionally a non-seller on the domestic market, it is believed sales have surged because of increased media reports on illegal fishing in Australian waters. Processors were achieving the same price on the local market as the fish sold for on the US, Japanese and Chinese markets. And some wholesalers were selling up to 50 kg per day at USD 22.80/kg. Austral Fisheries CEO David Carter said his company, which is one of the main legal harvesters of Patagonian toothfish in the region, viewed demand from wholesalers for the fish as "at this stage a novelty value sparked by curiosity." He said there had been a previous attempt to introduce the toothfish to Australian consumers several years back with no success despite heavy subsidy by his company and wholesalers. Australians also have cultural differences that make toothfish unlikely to become a major seller, including preferences for fresh fish such as snapper and dhufish (Westralian jewfish), and local chefs do not favour expensive, frozen fish or have the knowledge to cook it properly as do their counterparts overseas. Nevertheless, the recent sales surge was of interest Mr Carter said, though it was unlikely that it would, in the short tern, reduce the amounts available for export markets. (FIS/MP).-

The EU seeks political agreement to regulate western waters fishery.

Following ten months of negotiations, the European Union's (EU) Agriculture and Fisheries ministers are meeting today and tomorrow (Monday 13 and Tuesday 14) in Luxembourg in order to pass new rulings that will regulate fishery in the western fishing grounds that extend from the British Isles to the Azores. It is believed that Portugal will approve the measure if Spain agrees to operate no more than 300 vessels in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The Portuguese government estimates that the ruling, as it is currently written, will provoke a literal invasion of its fishing grounds. It claims that 10,000 vessels could access its waters if the measure is passed without objection. Portugal is therefore struggling for the creation of a 200 mile marine reserve in outlying regions such as Madeira, the Azores and the Canaries. The Italian presidency however, is insisting on a 100 mile area and Spain has announced that it will not accept a restriction of more than 50 miles in these areas. According to the European Commission, the new ruling - consisting of fourteen articles, released in December 2002 - seeks to put an end to the discrimination that Spain and Portugal has suffered in the fishing industry, since joining the EU in 1986. EU sources have hinted that if the parties do not reach an agreement on the regulation of western waters during this meeting, the debate may be frozen. It is believed that Italy may attempt a compromise, but will be hindered by Spain, Portugal, Ireland and France which have all expressed objection regarding their fishing areas. During the meeting, the European ministers also plan to discuss the Commission's proposal to limit fishery in the Mediterranean Sea, by stipulating temporary bans on certain fishing methods in sensitive areas and the increased use of nets(FIS).

Applications open for the chartering of foreign vessels.

On 8 October, the head of the Aquaculture and Fisheries Department, José Fritsh, signed an order authorizing the chartering of foreign vessels, a measure which national vessel owners have been requesting for a long time. Applications should be submitted by Brazil-based fishing companies and cooperatives that want to charter vessels to operate in national waters, deep-sea waters and in waters that are under the jurisdiction of the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Living Marine Resources (CCAMLR) The permits will be authorized for vessels that correspond to the following criteria: ? Thirty-five steel-hull surface longliners, up to 35 mts in length and with a 250 tonne capacity. Thirty would fish for tuna and related species, and five would exclusively fish swordfish (Xiphias gladius). ? Five steel-hull surface longliners, with freezing equipment that operates at -60°, and onboard processing devices, up to 42 mts in length, with a 550 tonne capacity for the fishing of tuna and related species. ? Two bottom longliners, to fish gulf hake (Urophycis cirrata) and by-catches, in depths of more than 600 mts. ? One bottom longliner to operate under the jurisdiction of the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Living Marine Resources (CCAMLR), to fish mero (Dossistichus eleginoides), and whose activity would have to comply with the norms imposed by the convention. ? Two mid-water trawlers, to fish exclusively anchovies (Engraulis enchoita). ? Three bottom trawlers, to fish demersal resources at depths of over 500 mts Companies interested in accepting these measures will have to fulfill a series of requirements, such as the presentation of a social contract, social security certificates, and other legal documentation. Applications can be presented up to 25 days after the official publication of this order in the Diario Oficial de la Union