MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Squid transshipment in Montevideo

During June, twenty five vessels that normally fish in South Atlantic waters have been in Montevideo for transshipment, maintenance and other industry related operations, representing a turnover of over seven million US dollars.

Captain Manuel Barros head of one of the main agencies and chandlers for South Atlantic fishing vessels said that this season operations have run smoothly and praised Montevideo port authorities for the speed and efficiency of the different services, including facilitating the arrival of spares, change of crews and maintenance of the vessels, most of which have been operating with Falklands licences.

"The transshipment of 9,000 tons of squid is practically over and we estimate that 15 of those vessels will remain in Montevideo for forty days ", indicated Captain Barros, adding that with an average crew of 45, "at least 1,200 fishermen have spent time in Montevideo, with all the activity and income this means for local businesses".

"Local companies also expect to bunker 10,000 tons of fuel to the fleet of fishing vessels", stressed Captain Barros.

In August another ten vessels are scheduled, although longliners, that will also proceed to transship toothfish in Montevideo, plus all the other services involving crews and preparing for another season.

"We are particularly satisfied with the Montevideo port authorities and several of our Spanish clients have made it a point to underline their surprise, and praise, with the efficiency of harbor services", remarked Captain Barros.

The administration of the port of Montevideo was recently privatized.

Senators defend coastal fishermen

Several Senators from the ruling Chilean coalition presented a bill extending the exclusive fishing area for coastal fishermen from 5 to 7 miles. The initiative is contrary to the official bill intended to modify the current Fisheries legislation to adjust it to the recently signed Chile-European Union free trade agreement.

"It is our duty to protect the 40,000 Chilean coastal fishermen, since with the recently singed agreement with the European Union, foreign companies will be able to take control of Chilean fishing companies and participate as full members in the National Fisheries Council that decides fisheries policy", said Senator José Ruiz de Giorgio and member of the Higher House Fisheries Committee.

The Senators initiative is intended to substitute Article 47 of the current Fisheries bill, extending the exclusive area for coastal fishermen to seven miles from the basal line, all along the Chilean coastline, from the border with Peru to parallel 41 degrees in the South including all insular territories and oceanic islands.

Other aspects of the Chilean Executive proposal severely criticized by the dissident Senators include the absence of specific reference to conservation of marine resources, the lack of transparency in the awarding of fishing licences and the excessive powers of the National Fisheries Council that can interfere with official conservation decisions.

"The official project does not contemplate any special decision when the stock of a species drops dramatically, 60, 70% or even more, as has happened in several occasions, and common sense indicates that when such a situation happens, industrial fishing must immediately cease. The potential damage by coastal fishermen is not at all comparable to the big trawlers", underlined Senator Ruiz de Giorgio.

Further on the Senator described some aspects of the current Chilean fisheries licensing system a "absurd", particularly since it denies the logic of an open and free market when "there's virtually no competition, no public lease system for all those interested in participating, and in fact it perpetuates fishing rights".

Dumping claim against Chilean salmon

A group of European salmon farming companies requested last week that the European Commission start an investigation into the Chilean salmon industry claiming dumping practices.

Although the accusation is against Chilean companies, the Chilean government is giving full political and technical support to the businesses involved, following the experience and co-ordination achieved when a similar situation was put forward by United States salmon farmers.

Chilean diplomats have contacted the European Commission in Brussels, business associations from the salmon industry in Europe, and will be making presentations to each of the member countries regarding the non existence of dumping practices in the Chilean industry.

Chilean businessmen argue that the claim is very unfair since it involves frozen salmon, and the Chilean supply is minimum in the European market, Besides it has no incidence at all in the prices of fresh salmon that is totally dominated by local production.

The European Commission has 45 days to examine the case and decide if there's sufficient merit for a formal investigation.