MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine: Fisheries News.

Headlines:
Argentine ban on Patagonian toothfish catch; Sub-Patagonian squid stock data to be released in 30 days; USD 565 million of fish and shellfish in exports registered up to August.

Argentine ban on Patagonian toothfish catch

Argentina's National Fisheries and Aquaculture Undersecretary implemented a ban on Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) in Argentinean waters from September 29 to December 31. The decision follows the completion of total allowable catch (TAC) stipulated by the Federal Fishing Council (CFP).

The latest report on the species biomass, issued by the National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) was taken into account when CFP issued Resolution N° 13/2004 of 29 July 2004 establishing the 2,250 tonnes TAC for Patagonian toothfish.

Furthermore CFP decided to adopt precautionary measures allowing controls over Patagonian toothfish by-catches with the collaboration of INIDEP staff onboard fishing vessels. CFP also requested that authorities monitor catches and consider by-catches, making sure TAC was not exceeded.

INIDEP claims that 80% of last year's Patagonian toothfish catch were juveniles which is not healthy or encouraging for this slow maturing species biomass, reports Revista Pesca y Puertos.

This situation prompted the implementation of a new centralized real-time information system with the purpose of ensuring conservation and preventing over-fishing of the valuable resource. (FIS/MP).-

Sub-Patagonian squid stock data to be released in 30 days.

The National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) will release a new study at the end of the month, regarding the relative abundance rate for the sub-Patagonian squid (Illex argentinus) stock. Thus, the overall fisheries industry, and particularly the stakeholders associated with squid jigger vessels, will have the opportunity to see a new research into sub-Patagonian squid (south of parallel 44º S), the richest in the Argentine platform.

The news was confirmed during the meeting of the Squid Monitoring Commission within the framework of the Federal Council of Fisheries (CFP).

The previous research had shown a gloomy outlook, as Norma Brunetti, the director of the INIDEPs Squid Project, said that "recruiting possibilities for 2005 are low to zero."

Aiming a deeper look into the state of squid stocks, INIDEP technicians have requested that shipowners cooperate in order to keep a weekly record with the exact number and weight of a 100-specimen sample. The idea is to use this information to design new management ways that may help improving the low production rates registered over the recent years.

For several months, members of the Argentine Chamber of Squid Jiggers (CAPA), have insisted that it is necessary to put a set of measures into practice to revert this gloomy outlook, for instance, the future of bare boat chartering and the supression of contracts, reported Pescare.

They also propose to "flexibilize" the northern and southern areas based on a permanent control of sub-populations.

USD 565 million of fish and shellfish in exports registered up to August

During the first eight months of this year, non-processed fish and shellfish exports totaled USD 356 million, while processed products exports reached USD 209 million, for a combined revenue of USD 565 million, according to data provided by the National Institute for Statistics and Census (INDEC).

The Argentine Commercial Exchange (ICA) report, issued monthly by INDEC, this reveals that during last August "the exchange with the European Union resulted in USD 139 million. Exports were 3 per cent down due to lower sales of primary products, like unprepared fish and shellfish, to Spain and Italy, as well as soya beans to Germany and Italy."

The report indicates that during August 2003, unprepared fish and shellfish exports reached USD 36 million, a figure that is 42 per cent below last year's. Meanwhile, processed fish and shellfish exports were USD 24 million, with a 26 per cent increase on last year's USD 19 million.

Non-processed exports between January and August 2004 amounted to USD 356 million, a 15 per cent drop from 2003, when sales reached 419 million.

Processed products, exports in 2004 registered USD 209 million, which represents a 27 per cent increase over the same period of 2003, when sales reached USD 165 million.

It is noteworthy that shrimp and prawn exports between January and August 2004 registered USD 168 million, that is, USD 83 million less than during 2003, indicated the INDEC report.