MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Disastrous squid season just gets worse.

The current squid season in the Falklands is set to be the worst on record ? even if catch rates rise dramatically in the next few weeks. So far just 3,000 tonnes have been landed whereas in even the poorest years the catch had never fallen below 22,500 tonnes by this time. The contrast with last year's fishery is stark: during the third week of March this year barely 481 metric tonnes were landed compared to 28,600 tonnes during the same week last year. The islands' government is deeply worried about the situation as it depends greatly on the revenue brought in through the sale of squid-fishing licences. Research jointly carried out with the Argentine Fishing Research and Development Institute (INIDEP) did forecast a lower squid catch this year, due to the drop in the stock biomass. But it was not expected that the results would be as poor as they are. The director of fisheries in the Falklands, John Barton, told the local newspaper, Penguin News, that they still had not determined whether the low catches were a result of oceanographic changes or whether it is simply a bad year. The fishing in Argentine waters has also been very poor and, according to sector sources, the fleet has been returning to port with only half loads or even less. The situation is reported to be similar in international waters. The Falklands government is still hoping for a drastic turnaround in catches this month or during May. For more cephalopod news, reports, prices and trade offers see FIS Market Monitor.

Fisheries Secretary resigns

The Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food, Miguel Paulón, has resigned, just six weeks after taking up the post, over a disagreement about governmental plans to increase taxes on agricultural exports. The news comes as no surprise to the nation, considering the current political upheaval and the fact Paulón has always opposed these taxes. In fact, he resumed office later than expected because he wanted to be sure said measures wouldn't be enforced during his term as Secretary. According to Paulón, "the taxes go against the motivation and profitability of the agricultural sector", while he accepts that the State needs money to meet social r