MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

More EU funds to scrap hake fleet ...

The European Commission is following the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) reform with a proposal to create an additional EUR 32 million fund for decommissioning hake and cod vessels by reprogramming structural funds for the period 2004-2006. The proposal, subject to Council of Ministers and European Parliament approval, aims to redirect Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) vessel construction and modernisation funds towards fleet reduction

European Budget Commissioner Michaele Schreyer justified the proposed modification, saying it was necessary "to respond to an urgent situation" by reducing fleet capacity according to marine resource availability, reports La Voz de Galicia. This will provide an incentive for Spanish vessel owners to halve the number of vessels that target hake in Gran Sol and Bay of Biscay waters, 125 of which are from Galicia.

The European Commission adopted the measure to assist those affected by the hake recovery plan and now proposes to extend these substantial incentives to other fisheries, as stated in regulation 2370/2002, approved on 31 December 2002, and in the new CFP text. Under the terms of this regulation, owners who decide to scrap their vessels will be entitled to a 20% increase in compensation if their fishing quota has been reduced by at least 25%.

The new CFP will provide aid for building new vessels until 2004, when the mandatory decommissioning coefficient for every vessel over 100 gross tonnes that is granted aid will be increased until it reaches a 1-1.35 index. This means that for every 100 tonnes built, 135 tonnes are to be decommissioned, reports La Voz de Avilez.

According to the Commision's projections, EUR 272 million will be needed to subsidise decommissioning between 2003 and 2006, on top of funds that member states have already allocated to structural measures. (FIS/MP).-

Brazil to rationalize fisheries

Brazilian authorities are looking into several years' worth of research to formulate a strategy for the conservation and rational exploitation of Brazil's rich fisheries potential. A team of 150 specialists from 40 fisheries-related institutions have been carrying out studies since 1997 and Government will work and advance from this formidable data bank.

The federal government is ploughing 4,5 million US dollars into the project, which is part of the Programme to Assess the Sustainable Potential of Living Fishery Resources in the Exclusive Economic Zone (Revizee), reports Mercado da Pesca. The idea is to get an overall view of the current status of marine resources along the Brazilian coastline, equivalent to just over 40% of the whole South American territory.

Scientists have until December to submit their studies. The data will then provide a scientific basis for reassessing fishing effort to exploit resources rationally and in a sustainable manner. However a preliminary report reveals that it will be difficult to significantly increase catches of some commercially valuable species - including frogfish (Lophius gastrophysus), tilefish (Lopholatillus villari) and deep water crab (Chaceon genus) - in Brazil's EEZ that covers nearly 3.5 million square kilometres. These fisheries are already being systematically exploited by both the industrial and coastal sectors and in some cases even overexploited.

Pernambuco Federal Rural University (UFRPE) Biologist Fábio Hazin, who is also a coordinator of the Revizee plan for the northeast coast, says there is limited potential for real growth in some fisheries that are not yet overexploited, such as dolphinfish (Coryphaena hyppurus) and greater amberjack (Seriola dumerilli). Coastal fishing, which is generally artisanal, is already fully exploited, he says.

"For deep water resources, below 200 metres, there is a possibility of some growth, although levels will never surpass 100,000 tonnes," he adds. However Mr. Hazin believes there could be slightly more growth in tuna, barracuda, shark, Argentine anchovy and other pelagic species catches, although he says it would not exceed 1.5 million tonnes of fish per year.

As an alternative scientists propose fishing in other regions such as Antarctica or the North Atlantic, or the sustainable development of fresh water and marine fish farming, although development in this field has so far been disorderly and lacks adequate planning, underline Brazilian fishery experts. (FIS/MP)

Chile targets 3 billion US dollars salmon exports

Chilean salmon companies are expecting an increase in exports to Europe, following last week's announcement that the EU was dropping its investigation into the allegations of salmon dumping. The news was made public last week when European Parliament Fisheries Commission chairman Struan Stevenson reported that the investigation into the Chilean salmon industry was over as there was no evidence that imports from Chile had caused any "material damages to the European Community industry."

Following the announcement, Chilean Fisheries official Darío Molina forecasted a significant increase in salmon exports - up to USD 3 billion in the next ten years. However, he pointed out that industry growth would be closely linked to future changes in of European consumers' habits, "as happens in the United States."

According to Molina, it will now be easier for more Chilean salmon to reach Europe, especially with cuts in EU quotas for other important species such as cod. He also said it would be feasible for processed salmon producers to access European end consumers directly and "increase Chilean investments in Europe."

Chile's Senate Fisheries Commission chairman, Adolfo Zaldívar, said the situation offered a good opportunity for the industry to promote its competitive advantages abroad, including value-added products, according to Estrategia.

"Had dumping charges been confirmed, our country would have been out of business for a period of five years, in a market that has enormous expansion possibilities," he said.

The dumping investigations against the Chilean salmon industry began in July 2002, when Scottish and Irish companies blamed the large quantities and cheap prices of Atlantic salmon exports from Chile, Norway and Faroe Island for damaging European industry investments.

The charges were finally dropped by the EU, as no evidence of unfair competition was found to the relief of the Chilean salmon sector - the world's second largest salmon producer after Norway. (FIS/MP).-