MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Fisheries News

Headlines: Brazil creates new Fisheries Department; Canadian producers launch spawn on kelp brand; Lula unveils sustainable fishery plans; Long-term changes in Chilean fisheries legislation; Fishermen seek assurances on Spanish access to Irish;

Brazil creates new Fisheries Department

The new Brazilian fisheries department is set to "transform fisheries into one of the focal points" of the government's economic policy, says department head José Fritsch.

Mr. Fritsch, who will become Brazil highest fisheries authority, told La Tribuna he was optimistic about managing the sector with a specific policy and the support of the fisheries sector in all regions. Centralising fisheries management, which was previously controlled by several ministries, will allow for the creating of adequate policies to "increase exports and domestic consumption," said Mr. Fritsch.

Mr. Fritsch first action was to announce the creation of a National Fisheries and Aquaculture Council, which will not only represent the sector, but also environmental interests and the community as a whole.

Tsuneo Okida, leader of São Paulo's State Fishermen Federation, said the creation of a new fisheries department was the most important event for the sector in the last 10 years.

"The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Council should benefit 1,800 coastal fishermen from Baixada Santista region, because one million hectares of fresh water in São Paulo were available for developing aquaculture now that the technology was available", said Mr. Okida.

Maria Teresa de Oliveira, a researcher and one of the country's leading authorities on the subject, echoed Mr. Okida's optimism saying that Brazil has the necessary conditions "and competent staff for the sector to progress".

José Fritsch said incoming President Lula found it hard to believe that with 8,000 kilometres of coast "Brazilian fisheries were managed at quiet a low ministerial level". Lifting the profile of fisheries within the government would help to boost output.

Fritsch comes from the southern state of Santa Catarina where 60% of the country's fishery activity is concentrated. Itajaí alone accounts for 530 of the country's fishing vessels, which generate 20,000 jobs. Another important centre is São Paulo, which has 470 kilometres of coasts, abundant rivers and one million hectares of fresh water in dams.

However despite the abundance of resources, Brazil's average per capita fish consumption is well below the international average, writes La Tribuna. (FIS/MP).-

Canadian producers launch spawn on kelp brand

To unveil its new branding program for British Columbia spawn on kelp, a Canadian fishing association plans to hold formal reception in Tokyo, Japan later this month. The branding effort highlights both the characteristics of the product and its story as a traditional delicacy produced by BC First Nations and exported to Japan for nearly two centuries.

Like wild salmon, herring roe has suffered a deep decline in prices since the mid-1990s, and producers have been striving for ways to revive their earnings. Regional branding initiatives have become a popular concept along the North American west coast, though this is the first for spawn on kelp.

"The branding programme for this seafood delicacy is the first of its kind in the world and the new brand name, logo and brand promise will provide the BC product with a distinct identity and competitive position in the global marketplace," said the Spawn on Kelp Operators Association (SOKOA) in announcing the programme. "This programme is the main component of SOKOA's comprehensive five-year marketing strategy and forms the foundation for all other elements in the strategy. Phase one of brand implementation will follow the January 2003 launch."

The association says its product, known as komichi konbu in Japanese, promises quality and consistency to its markets. "This year the BC Spawn on Kelp Grading Guide was produced as one of the first tools to improve communication and consistency throughout the industry from producer to buyer," said a statement from the association.

The event, scheduled for 22 January at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, will feature BC spawn on kelp in a variety of preparations, along with other BC First Nations delicacies and traditional Japanese food and beverages. The programme will include the official brand unveiling and brief presentations by key guests. "To further institutionalise the brand, each guest will receive an exclusive gift featuring the new brand logo," says SOKOA.

"Spawn on kelp is a highly specialised niche fishery that provides a high end delicacy primarily to the Japanese market where it is sold as komichi konbu," the association says. "Spawn on kelp is a seafood product composed of broad leaf sea kelp with a covering of herring eggs. It has been harvested by British Columbia's First Nations (native groups) for food and trading for generations and first developed into a commercial fishery in the 1970s when ponding methods used in the herring bait fishery were combined with First Nations' expertise in harvesting spawn on kelp. Today, 16 different First Nations bands as well as 12 First Nations individuals operate 85 per cent of the commercial spawn on kelp licences. The leading world supplier of spawn on kelp, British Columbia produces an average of 80% of the world's annual supply. While Japan was the first market for commercial spawn on kelp, early photos show First Nations trading with the Japanese as far back as the early 1900s. And, while this historical relationship and strong cultural ties have made Japan the major export market for BC spawn on kelp, local BC restaurants as well as American and European markets have started to express a growing interest in this unique product."

Prices paid to BC producers peaked in the mid-1990s at about CAD 45 per pound, then sagged to less than CAD 10 by 2000. The 370 metric tonnes exported in 2000 were valued at approximately CAD 8 million. The Spawn On Kelp Operators Association was formed in 1995. (FIS/MP).

Chubut will discuss Fisheries Bill in February

Chubut's Parliament is postponing discussion of the Executive's new fisheries bill, until 20 February. Legislators from the Patagonian province in south Argentina failed to reach a consensus on the provincial government's initiative to modify the controversial fisheries law currently in force and finally decided to discuss the issues at an extraordinary session.

According to El Chubut, Comodoro Rivadavia's Radical party legislators are not inclined to support a project that apparently jeopardises the city's port operations. They object to a change in the law that offers a substantial reduction in fishing licence fees when landings are performed at Chubut's wharves. This measure is not in force yet due to the appeals that exempted many fishing companies from paying the new fees. But in the meantime most vessels included in the San Jorge Gulf agreement prefer to unload in Santa Cruz ports where legislation is considered more supportive.

Fisheries Undersecretary Raúl Riobó said the incentive to use Chubut's ports did "not disappear in the new fishery law project." But opposition spokesmen said they "continue supporting current laws, probably with some modification to the licence fees for the yellow fleet." Deputy María Martínez harshly criticised the provincial Government saying: "The Executive Power is talking on behalf of businessmen, which is reflected in this proposed law that we don't accept."

Analysts believe some degree of consensus will be reached between the ruling party, the opposition and sectors involved in the controversy, prior to the session that will take place February 20, opening the say for new fishery legislation in Chubut province. (FIS/MP).

Galicia fishing ban to be lifted gradually

Galician fishery authorities say it's likely that fishing and shellfish gathering will resume by mid-January, depending on the results of tests to detect fuel oil in the water, on the sea bed and in living organisms. Fisheries councillor Enrique López Veiga told fishermen's unions from Pontevedra, La Coruña and Lugo that fishing and shellfish gathering activities would be resuming within the next few weeks.

In an official statement the regional government (Xunta) said that given the sample test results, it was "reasonable to expect" a gradual return to normal activity. But fishing zones would be opened gradually "to avoid a massive influx of fishery products onto the market, which could lead to an unnecessary drop in prices."

During the transitional period, fishermen will be able to continue receiving financial aid for the days they are unable to fish.

At the same time, official sources report that 27 Galician ships - based in Laxe, La Coruña, Santa Uxía de Ribeira and Burela ports - have already accepted the Moroccan government's offer to fish in its waters for three months to make up for the lack of fishing opportunities in local waters. Morocco is allowing up to four trawlers, 15 artisanal vessels, 25 purse seiners and 20 longliners - to operate in its waters from 15 January for 90 days. As many as 600 fishermen stand to benefit, if all 64 vessels take up the offer.

"This is a very generous unilateral offer - not a fishing negotiation, as it does not demand financial input from us - and is unprecedented in the relationship between Spain and Morocco," said Spanish Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Miguel Arias Cañete. But one sector source told La Voz de Galicia: "There are very few fleet owners interested in the Moroccan venture." Although the minister said some of the ships interested in the offer are based in La Coruña, head skipper Torcuato Teixeira said he didn't know of any. Mr. Texeira indicated that the trawler sector is expected to hold a meeting to reject the offer and purse seiners have anticipated that they didn't like the proposal either. Apparently longliners are the only ones "who are thinking about it," he said.

What head skippers really wanted was a loan moratorium, given the fleet's huge debts, Mr. Texeira pointed out.

Moroccan Fisheries Minister Mohamed Tayeb Rhafés said the current offer to help the Galician fleet recover from the Prestige disaster does not have anything to do with the expired EU-Morocco fisheries agreement, underlining that bilateral negotiation would not be resumed "for the time being." (FIS/MP).

Fishermen seek assurances on Spanish access to Irish box

Irish fishing groups sought government assurances that a cap on Spanish vessels in restricted coastal waters will be enforced. At issue is the so-called "Irish box" -- rich fishing and spawning grounds, encircling Ireland for a distance of about 50 miles offshore.

Differences between Ireland and Spain about access to the box, the product of European Union negotiations in the 1990s, were unresolved at pre-Christmas negotiations in Brussels on EU fish quotas. Ireland wants the number of Spanish vessels allowed into the box to remain at a maximum of 40, while Spain says the limit expired with the end of the past year.

Both countries have legal opinions that support their arguments. Ireland lands almost 300,000 tonnes of fish a year worth EUR 206 million, but its fishermen are already angered by new restrictions and quota cutbacks that emerged from the Brussels talks.

Jason Whooley of the Irish South and West Fishermen's Organisation said the box was a conservation measure for a biologically sensitive area, and that fishermen wanted confirmation from Marine Minister Dermot Ahern that the law will be enforced.

If a 41st Spanish vessel enters the box they want it "treated as having broken the law" and arrested, he said.

"This, I must stress, is a conservation issue. It is nothing to do with politics. It is getting messed up in politics. We believe there is a very serious stock issue here," Whooley said.

Tensions were increased in coastal communities after media reports of a Spanish "armada" of up to 200 trawlers planning to invade the box at the start of the year. It never materialised.

Two fishermen's groups in Vigo, Spain have reassured Irish colleagues they do not intend to increase their presence in the box. However, "these organisations don't include all of the Spanish vessels, so its still possible some of them will come in," said Frank Doyle of the Irish Fishermen's Organisation.

An Irish Navy spokesman said there were 11 Spanish vessels in the box last week and a further 27 trawlers within 200 miles of Ireland's shores. With eight protection vessels and a long-range fishery patrol plane, Ireland's navy and air force monitor 132,000 square miles - five times the country's land area. Using computers and satellite technology at its command centre in Haulbowline, County Cork the Irish navy monitors all fishing using transponders that are mandatory on trawlers.

An Irish navy spokesman said orders were to operate normally and enforce the fishery laws. He described relations between the navy and Spanish fisherman as "excellent." (FIS/MP).-

Lula unveils sustainable fishery plans

Although it has one of the largest maritime coasts in the world, on which the economies of dozens of Brazilian cities and towns depend, "fisheries are not producing enough" so the Government plans to introduce a policy for sustainable growth and development, including specific measures for each region.

"Despite the immensity of Brazilian rivers and lakes and of the 200 miles of territorial sea waters, we do not produce the quantity of fish we consume. At present, each Brazilian national eats an average of just seven kilos of fish per year, practically half of what is recommended for a healthy diet," says President elect Luis Ignacio Lula da Silva.

"It is difficult to believe that countries such as Peru and Chile produce more fish than Brazil. It is not because there is not enough fish in our waters; it is because we do not have a real policy to promote the sustainable development of industrial and coastal fisheries." President Lula told local media this policy was vital to help boost local food production and combat hunger and poverty. Investment in the sector could generate employment and improve quality of life.

The first step is to create the National Fishery and Aquaculture Secretariat, which will integrate all Government ministerial offices related to the sector. This agency will develop the National Plan for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Development to enable medium and long-term sector planning. IBAMA will continue to control fishing activities but will be assigned a budget allowing it to perform its duties correctly.

A Fishery Fleet Renovation Programme will be implemented and a Professional Training Programme for Fishermen will create a workforce specialised in maritime, river, industrial or artisanal fishing, and in aquaculture.

President Lula is promising investment to expand fish landing, storage and trade through Fishing Terminals that will encourage value-added fish production. One of the most important measures in his programme is the creation of specific credit lines in each region to support artisanal fishing and aquaculture. Mr. Lula believes that if the fishery sector can focus on development "it will play a predominant role in generating employment and income as well as helping fight hunger," as well as safeguarding the country's natural resources. (FIS/MP).-

Long-term changes in Chilean fisheries legislation

Just two weeks after heralding the "short-term" fisheries law, the Chilean government is now turning its attention to the coastal sector's regulatory framework, which is a priority topic for discussions in the "long-term" fisheries law. During 2003 Congress will discuss the new laws that incorporate more controversial subjects related to both coastal and industrial fishing.

Debate is being resumed now that the short-term law - to deal with the urgent issue of sector stability - has been approved despite causing a great deal of controversy. Luis Felipe Moncada, manager of Bío-Bío Region Industrial Fishery Companies Association (Asipes), told El Mercurio that one of the central points to be included in the long-term law was a definition of the coastal sector, which would probably "include a modification to the coastal fishermen's register." He added that the new regulations would require large-scale coastal fishermen - also called lancheros because they own boats that are between 15 and 18 metres long - to use satellite positioning devices.

The organisation of regional fishery councils will also be discussed. These councils control and regulate coastal fishing and play an important role in resource allocation and ban enforcement. Legislation aimed at the industrial sector will include regulations on landing certification for foreign vessels and their use of ports, as well as the creation of technical committees.

Meanwhile, preliminary debates are taking place in Congress and the Senate's Fishery Commission is working on regulating how the long-term law will be approached from a legislative viewpoint, taking into account the controversies that arose during discussion of the short-term law. So far, three possible approaches have been proposed.

The first option is to analyse this vast project article by article, and discuss every point that is not included in the "short-term" law. The second is to make a "recommended substitution" that incorporates what has been agreed in both laws to become a new fundamental charter for Chile's fisheries. The third option is to discard the long-term law and pass a series of minor laws for each of the points to be discussed. (FIS/MP).-