MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Fisheries News.

Headlines:Agreement boosts Chilean salmon exports to Japan; Galician fishermen back to work; Argentine shrimp exports down in 2002; Modern marine bio-technology centre in Vigo; Argentina lifts restrictions on Ecuadorian tuna; EU drops salmon dumping investigation; Cantabrian and north-western fishing limits modified.

Agreement boosts Chilean salmon exports to Japan

Chilean Salmon company Pesquera Mar de Chiloé is preparing to export 24,000 tonnes of salmon to Japan during the next three years, to be placed on Asian markets by the Japanese Nichirei group. The trade agreement is worth EUR 69.94 million in sales revenue, reports the Ministry of Economy in its bulletin TodoChile, and both parties say they will be seeking new markets and products for future development. Ricardo Merino general manager of Pesquera Mar de Chiloé, which is controlled by the food industry group Invertec, said the agreement will benefit the entire domestic salmon industry. "It is a significant acknowledgement of our management and a testimony to our country's potential," he said. Merino pointed out that Nichirei participates in the food business in all its phases, including refrigeration, as well as in other activities related to this industry. He highlighted the group's "considerable volume of business and its research and development capacity." Nichirei's Marine Products division imports various fresh and frozen fish products from around world, which it then sends to processing plants, supermarkets, restaurants and wholesalers through their extensive sales network. The Japanese company also processes some of its imported goods in its own factories. According to TodoChile, Nichirei's sales totalled EUR 5,245.97 million in 2002 and it spends USD 34.87 million on new product research and development every year. Pesquera Mar de Chiloé manages the entire salmon farming process. It has modern facilities in the south of Chile, including a breeding centre, three aquaculture farms, a lake-based development facility and 16 marine centres, which between them produce Atlantic salmon, Coho salmon and rainbow trout. (FIS/MP).

Galician fishermen back to work

Galician fishermen officially resumed fishing this week following a three-month moratorium resulting from the Prestige oil spill disaster. A resolution signed by Galician Fisheries councillor, Enrique López Veiga, authorises 21 unions from Arousa to resume fishing with trammel and stow nets, although most of the fishermen's associations asked for other gear, such as shrimp pots, to be included. For the time being, fishing will be allowed inside the Arousa estuary, in an area bordered by Cabío and Barbafeita points, and by Castelo and Cabeza de Mouro points. Of the 49 vessels that can resume fishing, 30 would probably take up the opportunity to go back to work, chief vice-skipper Manuel Iglesias told La Voz de Galicia. He also said the authorities had assured those who don't start fishing immediately that they would continue to receive some financial support. The Galician Government is planning a gradual return, so initially only vessels of less than 2.5 gross tonnes with two or three crewmembers will be allowed to start fishing and they must first obtain permission from the General Directorate of Marine Resources. So far only eight unions from Arousa - A Illa de Arousa, Cambados, O Grove, Vilaxoán, Vilanova, A Pobra, Cabo de Cruz and Rianxo - have requested permission to use trammel nets and only one - la Carril union - requested permission to fish with stow nets, reports Diario de Arousa. (FIS/MP)-

Argentine shrimp exports down in 2002

Argentine 2002 shrimp exports were down from 2001 both in volume and revenue, according to official data, but still accounted for 50% of the country's total seafood exports. A report by the National Statistics and Census Institute (Indec) reveals that last year 52,307 tonnes of shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri) were exported valued at 249 million US dollars. In 2001, which was a record year in terms of production and exports, 67,996 tonnes of shrimp valued at USD 409 million were exported. The cyclic nature of this species - with periods of abundance followed by periods of scarcity - contributed to the decline, but the fall in international prices also affected exports throughout most of 2002. The main destination markets were Spain and Italy, but volumes purchased decreased approximately 28%, FOB values were down 47% and purchase prices fell 26%, according to a Patagonian Shrimp Chamber (Calapa) report based on initial analysis of the figures for January-September 2002. Calapa's report also points out that Puerto Deseado in Santa Cruz was the leading shrimp export port, since it handled 50% of total shrimp sales overseas. Regarding the future Argentine National Institute for Fishery Research and Development (Inidep) is optimistic about future prospects for shrimp and estimates that 25,000 tonnes could be harvested during the current campaign. (FIS/MP).

Modern marine bio-technology centre in Vigo

Vigo, in Galicia, northwest Spain will be receiving a new Marine Biotechnology Centre, to support fishermen's unions, producer associations and organisations, processing and manufacturing companies and all parties involved in developing shellfish gathering, coastal fishing and mollusc cultivation. The new centre is being built as part of the region's development plan and fisheries councillor Enrique López Veiga announced this week the decision to locate it in Vigo. The centre's main mission will be to conduct research on seafood engineering. The project is based on "educational, scientific and technological innovation objectives in relation to fishery products," according to an official statement from the Galician Xunta. The project involves EUR 7 million from the central government's "Plan Galicia" fund, and from the Xunta's Revitalisation Plan. "This is the highest budget dedicated to a centre of this type in Spain. Besides, it will be a reference centre at national level," pointed out Corina Porro a local councillor to Faro de Vigo. The authorities decided to locate the centre in Vigo because of the city's importance for the seafood industry and because of the existing engineering and industry related schools. The centre will have an autonomous management, although it will report directly to the Marine Technology Centre, of Galicia. (FIS/MP).-

Argentina lifts restrictions on Ecuadorian tuna

Argentine authorities are allowing imports of tuna from Ecuador at the previous 4% tariff for 75 days, in the hope that Ecuador will lift restrictions on Argentine beef, says Ecuador's National Fisheries Chamber leader César Rohón. Ecuador's Agriculture and Livestock Health Service (SESA) restricted beef imports from Argentina that retaliated by raising import duties on tuna and sardine from 4 to 18%. According to Mr. Rohón, Argentina has decided to take a more flexible position on account of supermarket pressures. The temporary measure is now awaiting approval from the Ecuadorian authorities. This week Ecuadorian producers met Foreign Trade minister Ivonne Baki and Agriculture minister Luis Macas to analyse the situation and possible solutions. During the meeting, cattle producers said they couldn't compete with Argentine meat exports, and supported the restrictions initially imposed by SESA. But tuna producers argued that Argentina is one of their main markets after the US, France, Spain, Holland, England and Germany - and high tariffs were affecting export revenue. Baki suggested using diplomatic channels to negotiate a solution and proposed encouraging Argentine imports to Ecuador. Mr. Rohón told El Universo that his sector wanted to allow imports of meat - based on the average import volume of the past three years - so that Argentina does not block tuna imports from Ecuador. "Figures reveal that meat imports are worth USD 1,4 million, while tuna exports to Argentina will render USD 30 million, once Ecuador recovers from its current economic crisis", said Mr. Rohón. According to the Ecuadorian Corporation for Export and Investment Promotion tuna exports to Argentina earned 3,02 million US dollars last year - considerably less than the forecasted sum. (FIS/MP)

EU drops salmon dumping investigation

The European Parliament says there is no evidence to support allegations that cheap salmon imports from Chile are harming the Scottish and Irish industry. Struan Stevenson, chairman of the EU Parliament fisheries committee, confirmed the investigation was over when he arrived in the country on Sunday with six fellow MEPs to learn more about Chilean salmon farming. "Chile is the world's second largest producer after Norway, which instigated the claim, and is ahead of Scotland, which is in third place, and I can say that there was no evidence to support the claim and the investigation is over," he told local press. Nevertheless, the EU is looking into preventing dumping practices, which affect salmon prices, by means of "an early detection system, when price variations on the EU market indicate that there is risk of dumping." The decision comes a few weeks after the Chilean salmon industry has been cleared of dumping by the United States Department of Commerce (DOC). This means 90% of the country's fresh Atlantic salmon exports can enter the US duty-free. Mr Stevenson highlighted the progress Chile has made in salmon farming and did not rule out the possibility of "reaching specific co-operation agreements with Europe," reports El Llanquihue. Chile's fisheries commission chairman, who invited the European delegates, said the visit was "Europe's acknowledgement of the advances in Chilean salmon exports, which have made the country the world's second salmon exporter." The salmon industry association SalmónChile, which fervently denied the allegations, declined to comment, as the association had not yet received official notification of the EU decision. (FIS/MP).

Cantabrian and north-western fishing limits modified

The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) has announced modifications to specific zones of the Cantabrian and north-western fishing grounds where fixed gear, purse seiners and trawl operations can be carried out. The new resolution - APA/367/2003 - became effective on 24 February, and is based on the results of studies on oil contamination from the Prestige slick. The measure modifies resolutions APA/3011/2002 of 29 November and APA/279/2003 of 14 February, and bans fishing outside interior waters in the Cantabrian and north-western fishing grounds as follows: Fixed Gear a. From the maritime border with Portugal, at the mouth of the River Miño, up to longitude meridian 008° 02' 5 W (Punta Candelaria). b. From longitude meridian 004° 31' 0 W (Tina Mayor) up to the maritime border with France, at the mouth of theRiver Bidasoa. Purse Seine From the maritime border with Portugal, at the mouth of the River Miño, up to the maritime border with France, at the mouth of the River Bidasoa. Trawl a. A 12 mile stretch, in a straight line from latitude 43° 34' 5 N parallel (cabo Corrubedo) longitude meridian 008° 02' 5 W (Punta Candelaria). b. From longitude meridian 004° 31' 0 W (Tina Mayor) up to the maritime border with France, at the mouth of River Bidasoa. MAPA based the decision on reports from the Spanish Oceanographic institute (IEO), which agreed with the experienced trawl fishing sector that in some areas north of Cape Corrubedo oil residue was present in sediments while much lower concentrations were found closer to Rías Bajas. IEO experts also analysed samples of hake, angler and megrim, which showed a hydrocarbon residue level below the reference value for safe human consumption, according to the Official Gazette. But they said fuel residue was appearing in the maritime area off the Cantabrian coasts, which affects harvesting with the most common fishing gear. (FIS/MP).-