MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Hake reproductive biomass has chances to recover, says a report .

A National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP)from Argentina report just released highlights the key issues of the hake workshop held in Mar del Plata from 13 to 22 February, which was attended by technicians from the institute and foreign advisors, including Doctors Robin Cook, Hans Lassen and Ana Parma.

Topics treated by the group included the overall evaluation of the hake stock status at the end of 2000, a possible rebuilding plan for the hake stock including medium term projections and risk analysis, and the role of the closed areas and selectivity devices in improving the exploitation pattern. Using data provided by various sectors of the hake sector the group also discussed how the shrimp fishery of Gulf San Jorge and the seasonal hake fishery around Isla Escondida (Rawson) could affect the hake stock.

The INIDEP report stresses that much uncertainty surrounds the evaluation of the stock, and claims "the estimated reproductive stock for 2000 is the lowest one since 1986" and "hydro acoustic surveys suggest that the original reproductive populations located around Isla Escondida have disappeared, which could mean the loss of an important component of the reproductive stock".

The report also suggests that mortality rates due to fishing have shot up since 1986, reaching a peak during 1996-1999. "The estimated figure for 2000 is lower and is consistent with the reductions in catches and effort," the report reads.

"The recruitment indexes estimated for 1998-1999 were low and have contributed to the recent diminution in the overall volume of the stock. This decrease is expected to continue until 2002, as these year classes enter the stock." On a more positive note the report states that recruitment for the 2000-year class could be much better, and if large volumes of small hake appear in commercial catches this would point to the recovery of the reproductive stock, providing the mortality rate, as a result of the fishing effort, was low.

The report adds: "If the fishing level and exploitation pattern estimated for 2000 are maintained, landings in 2001 could reach about 210,000 tonnes. This year's catches should not exceed last year's levels (169,000 tonnes were caught south of parallel 41º S and 189,000 tonnes in total) and the restrictions imposed on the fishing effort during 2000 should be maintained."

The report acknowledges the fact that the reproductive biomass is dangerously low and states: "If mortality due to fishing and the exploitation pattern estimated for 2000 are maintained over the