MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina licences for 106 jiggers

Despite objections, Argentine authorities are allowing 15 bare boat jigger charters to participate in this year's squid harvest in Argentine waters. The Federal Fisheries Council (CFP) decided that a fleet of 57 registered jiggers, plus the 19 jiggers that were added for the current season and a bare boat chartered jigger fleet of up to 30 vessels was compatible with a sustainable fishery.

The resulting fleet will total 106 vessels, which is fewer vessels than the average of 111 that have operated in the Argentine fishing ground in the last ten seasons, according to CFP. The authorities say they also took into account "the socio-economic impact" of generating new jobs through the industrial exploitation of this species when they decided to incorporate the new vessels for this year's fishery.

According to CFP statistics which are quoted in the resolution issued on 13 February, 15,000 tonnes of squid will be reprocessed ashore and there will be 500 new jobs for on board workers during 2003, 2004 and 2005.

But the Argentine Jiggers Chamber (CAPA) criticised the decision and said that during the last 10 years harvesting had to be suspended on three occasions due to excessive catches. CAPA also claims northern squid populations were devastated and escapees in the south were fewer than recommended during the same period.

In March 2002, CAPA recommended a threshold of 60 local jiggers, and that bare boat charters should be authorised on a yearly basis, depending on the available biomass. According to Nuestromar.com, CFP said last year that the recommended number of jiggers was 90.

Another objection to the CFP resolution comes from its Chubut representative, Gerardo Dittrich, who says CFP conveniently decided that the evaluation of previously submitted proposals had been completed. Buenos Aires representative José María Casas also complained that the registration period had expired and therefore the new vessels were too late to be included. (FIS/MP)

Hubbsi hake quota up 50%

Argentina increased the hubbsi hake (Merluccius hubbsi) quota 50% for the first two months of this year so that fishing can continue normally while awaiting the outcome of research to decide on the maximum quota for the rest of the year. The measure, published in the Official Gazette on 13 February, will be in force until new legislation is issued on 2003 fishing activities.

The Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food Secretariat (SAGPyA) said the Mar del Plata National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (Inidep) needs to finish analysing data before this year's maximum allowable catch can be set.

In the meantime, authorities decided the fishery should be regulated by general management criteria until the scientific reports are completed and the criteria can then be adjusted for the remainder of the year. Authorities also stressed that as well as scientific criteria they would take into account the social aspects of developing this fishery and its impact on the sector.

Once the results of Inidep's scientific research on hake are available fishing quotas will be distributed for the remainder of the year, "in accordance with the resource's biological recovery goals." (FIS/MP)