MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Fisheries News.

Headlines: Shetland scenic plans under mussel threat; Andalusian fleet urged to claim EU funds; California squid fisheries drastically reduced; Spanish fishermen longing to return to Morocco...more.

Shetland scenic plans under mussel threat

Shetland Islands Council could review its planning guidelines for aquaculture location following an application to site a mussel farm inside a designated scenic area. The Council turned down the application from Demlane Ltd, but heard calls for a review of its guidelines. Such a review could have sweeping implications for Shetland, which is one of the top farmed fish and shellfish producing areas in the UK. The controversial site inside Weisdale Voe was designated as protected from aquaculture development following a public inquiry in 1989 in a bid to halt siting of cages in a handful of scenic areas. According to a report in The Shetland Times, Demlane, one of the largest mussel producers in Shetland, wants to site six long-lines just inside the zone. Objectors included Shetland Fishermen's Association, the local community council and residents. Local salmon firm Scottish Sea Farms also objected as it claimed more mussel spat in the voe could mean extra fouling of salmon cage nets and associated costs and cleaning. Demlane boss Jim Tait had argued the site would be largely out of the public gaze and that it would strengthen the firm's business by leading to more constant production when linked to a farm further out to sea. Local councillor Florence Grains said the protected areas had been set up in the days when the development of larger salmon farms loomed - they had not been intended to curb less obtrusive mussel farms. But with other applications in the pipeline, it was time to review the policy. She moved that the application be turned down to allow a review to take place. The policy was breached once in 1999 when oyster farms, which have very little surface presence, were allowed to be set on the seabed at nearby Whiteness Voe. If the policy review goes ahead, it may also have to include a review of the siting of cages attached to the shore by feeding pipes - the first of which, for Aqua Farm Ltd, was approved at the same meeting. According to the Council's Ports and Harbors Department, such submerged pipe systems could pose a major hazard if they were located widely around Shetland. (FIS/MP).

Andalusian fleet urged to claim EU funds

Andalusian fishermen are being urged to renovate their vessels before EU finding is withdrawn in 2004. The authorities are hoping that 38% of Andalusia's fleet will modernized before the cut-off date. Andalusia's fisheries councillor, Paulino Plata told union leaders from the Fishermen Unions Federation and the Andalusian Fishery Associations that they have just two more years to take full advantage of the subsidies provided by the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The authorities are working closely with unions and fishing associations to ensure that all vessel owners can take advantage of the opportunity while it lasts, otherwise they risk losing out on funding to ensure their vessels will comply with regulatory requirements, he said. And to ensure the modernization process is as efficient as possible, the authorities are prepared to approach each vessel owner to offer assistance. According to Diario Sur the region has 785 small vessels, over 20 years old, that could potentially benefit from the EU funds. The province of Malaga has the most vessels in need of upgrading, a total of 353, which is half of the region's fishing fleet. Cadiz has 343 vessels, Almeria has 77, Huelva has 67 and Granada has 19 vessels. (FIS/MP).-

California squid fisheries drastically reduced

California's first no-take marine areas, the Channel Islands Marine Protected Areas, passed their last hurdle on 10 March when the state's legal review office officially gave them sanction. The closed areas cover some of California's most productive fishing grounds, and will significantly affect the squid, sardine, sea urchin, rockfish, and other commercial fisheries. The measure was vehemently opposed by the Ventura County Commercial Fishermen's Association, the Sea Urchin Harvesters Association, and others. In an unusual alliance between traditional enemies, a number of large recreational fishing organisations joined forces with commercial fishermen to fight the plan. Some opponents say the plan is politically motivated and lacks any reasonable scientific basis. The regulation creating the closed areas will be signed first by California's Secretary of Resources Mary Nichols and then by Secretary of State Kevin Shelley, at which point it becomes effective and enforceable. Under California statute, the process takes 30 days, meaning the marine protected areas will come into existence on 9 April. However, opposition groups have brought a suit against the plan, most recently filing papers with the Superior Court of the State of California on 7 March requesting a "temporary restraining order." Such litigation would freeze the creation of the marine reserves until a legal decision was rendered in the lawsuit. A decision is expected on 17 March. If the court rejects the temporary restraining order, Ilson W. New, the attorney representing fishing interests in the lawsuit, proposes that California voluntarily wait to enforce the no-take areas until the lawsuit is decided. The Channel Islands Marine Protected Areas plan was written and approved by the state's Fish and Wildlife Commission after more than a year of intense debate and raucous public hearings. Mr. New says the final regulation contained serious legal pitfalls for California, and he did not expect the enormous document to pass muster with the state's Office of Administrative Law, the legal review agency. ?We're quite surprised that they approved it," said New. "We thought they'd kick it back, since there is so much in there that won't stand a challenge." Mr. New echoed the conviction of commercial fishermen to fight the reserve plan "to the bitter end." (FIS/MP).-

Relief for Scottish communities

New temporary rates relief measures were announced this week for businesses in Scottish communities dependent on demersal fishing. The devolved Scottish government will fund 95% of the cost of the rates relief for harbors and other businesses experiencing hardship as a result of the reduction in whitefish catches. Around 94% of businesses affected by the reduction in catches will be eligible to apply for the new relief measures. The Executive has designated Aberdeen, Buckie, Eyemouth, Fraserburgh, Kinlochbervie, Lochinver, Mallaig, Peterhead, Shetland, Ullapool and Wick as dependant on white fish catching. The scheme will also be extended to any additional ports and affected businesses, which have vessels eligible for the transitional support available to the catching sector. First Minister Jack McConnell said during a visit to Aberdeen: "The fishing industry in Scotland is facing real challenges. We recognise and understand those challenges. That is why we are taking action on a range of fronts to help the industry through short-term and long-term challenges. "There is no doubt, however, that those challenges are felt onshore too. The communities dependent on the fishing industry are also being hit hard. "This scheme recognizes that. It offers rates relief of up to 100% to harbors and affected businesses dependent on whitefish catches. Hard-pressed businesses in Grampian and in our most vulnerable rural areas will benefit." The Executive, he said, usually paid 75% of the cost of providing rates relief, but in recognition of the challenges facing the industry, that would be increased to 95% with local authorities contributing the remaining costs. "I am confident that this additional funding will make it easier for councils to grant rates relief to those businesses experiencing hardship," said McConnell. "This is certainly no panacea, but it will offer some welcome relief to our most hard-pressed communities at a difficult time. We want to see a successful and sustainable fishing industry, onshore and offshore, in the years to come." The scheme will run for six months from 1 April, and apply to all harbors whose landings value have a 20% dependency on whitefish catches. Affected businesses with a rateable value not exceeding GBP 50,000 will also be eligible to apply. Up to GBP 10 million in transitional aid is being made available by the Executive to help fishermen deal with the effects of fisheries reductions owing to cod recovery measures, and to "help manage the process of catching sector restructuring and rationalization". (FIS/MP).

Spanish fishermen longing to return to Morocco

Spanish fishermen are calling on the governments of Galicia and Andalusia to forge stronger links with the Moroccan authorities to help secure future benefits for the Spanish fishing fleet. National Organisation of Fishery Associations (Onape) president Senén Touza said the authorities have a duty to improve relations between the two countries and develop a framework for negotiations to help the fleet affected by the closure of fishing grounds. Onape leaders believe Spain is in a good position to broach the subject, as the Moroccan authorities have shown support by opening its fishing grounds to the Galician fleet affected by the Prestige disaster, reports La Opinión de La Coruña. Onape's letter to the Galician and Andalusian authorities joins the requests already made by the fleet that operated in the Moroccan fishing ground and has repeatedly asked the EU to renegotiate the agreement it had with Morocco, since the agreement expired in 1999. Meanwhile, it was revealed this week that the Galician Fisheries Council was extending the deadline to submit fleet reconversion proposals for vessels that fished in Morocco until the end of the year. Fisheries official Andrés Hermida announced the decision following criticism from councillor Carmen Gallego who complained to the European Parliament that many fishermen faced difficulties when claiming the subsidies. As a result the 31 December 2003 deadline set by the EU will apply, instead of the 31 March date proposed by the Galician Xunta. The Galician Xunta also said that any fishermen who haven't yet decided about their future could choose the reconversion scheme until 2006. However it was announced that as from next year, they will not be able to benefit from the 20% additional premium offered under this scheme. (FIS/MP).

Norwegian salmon farmers squeezed by debts

There seems to be no end to the debt problems facing a number of large Norwegian salmon farmers. DÃÂ¥fjord Invest AS, the company that owns DÃÂ¥fjord Laks has been taken over by the banks. With a debt of NOK one billion and negative equity the company has no chance of surviving. One salmon trader told FIS.com that last year some salmon prices were as low as NOK 11.20 per kilo. Although this figure remains unconfirmed, other media reports state prices between NOK 12 and 13 per kilo. The problems facing DÃÂ¥fjord Laks are no different from the problems encountered by other large Norwegian salmon farming companies like Pan Fish ASA and Fjord Seafood ASA. Both have grown rapidly but have suffered spiralling debts because of the drop in salmon prices. Pan Fish has been put into administration and Fjord Seafood has restructured its debt repayments and squeezed some extra capital from its shareholders. The question is whether this will be enough with continuing low salmon prices. It seems DÃÂ¥fjord Laks, either out of desperation to raise cash or as a strategy to increase market share, has sold their salmon at a loss more or less continuously for several years. Even in 2000 -the Norwegian salmon farming industry's golden year- the company made only a modest profit. The banks that stand to lose the biggest share on DÃÂ¥fjord Laks are Nordea and Nordlands Banken. Both were exposed to major losses on investments in salmon and fishing industries earlier this year. With the banks now taking full control of the company and the assets, the owner Roy Arne Pettersen looks to be out of the salmon industry for the time being. In the current market with low salmon prices and very little interest from other companies in buying farming licences and other assets, the banks are not set to recover much of the capital loaned to the company. (FIS/MP).-

Peru tests hake and squid fisheries

Peruvian authorities opened the hake fishery from March 10 to 16 to evaluate stocks, given their critical state last year. A provisional two-month fishery is also being allowed for gigantic squid catches, from 15 March to 15 May. The hake fishery allows catches in an area located between Puerto Pizarro (03° 30' S) and Lobos de Afuera islands (07° 00' S). But fishermen are warned to stay out of the five miles and the area surrounding Lobos de Tierra and Lobos de Afuera islands, according to the official bulletin El Peruano. Large-scale trawlers will be allowed to fish and all vessels must carry satellite tracking (Sisesat) beacons and an Imarpe supervisor on board. The hake fishery will comprise two phases. The first will take place from 12:00 am on 10 March till 12:00 am on 12 March, in a zone divided into four areas. In two of these four areas vessels of 500 horse power will be allowed to operate and they will be able to cast nets into the sea at least four times. In the second phase, from 12:00 am March 13 to 12.00 am March 16, only those vessels that have complied with the number of casts established for the previous phase will be able to fish. Regarding giant squid, it will be a provisional two-month commercial fishery with a quota of 10,000 tonnes per month. Foreign vessels wishing to participate in the fishery must request a fishing permit that will be valid for a maximum of one month, but which could be extended by paying the relevant fee. (FIS/MP).-

Spain backs innovations in aquaculture

The Spanish government is funding a programme to support innovation, improve scientific research, and develop new technologies with the aim of boosting quality and production in aquaculture. Organisations - including public and private research centres, technological centres, companies and business associations - dedicated to researching new aquaculture species and technologies will be eligible to apply for subsidies. The programme, launched by the National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology, will fund research and development in fish and mollusc farming and food quality control. The "New species and technologies in aquaculture" action plan will give preference to projects that respond to the following objectives: ? To increase aquaculture production of the species currently cultivated, through reproduction control and genetic, food, health and environmental improvement. ? To promote the production of new species, in particular those for human consumption, and as an alternative system for repopulation. ? To develop new aquaculture technologies and optimise existing ones. ? To identify indicators of the impact of aquaculture on the environment as a tool for effective planning, and to prevent negative effects of contamination on aquaculture. The financial support may be used to fund projects entirely or partially, and will be compatible with other subsidies "as long as they do not exceed the total cost of the projects." The subsidies are granted as part of the National Food Programme under the National Plan for Scientific Research, and Technological Development and Innovation 2002-2003. (FIS/MP).-

Changing from fishmeal to canning, not so easy

Peruvian authorities are having a hard time persuading processors to convert from manufacturing fishmeal to products for human consumption. National Fisheries Society (SNP) president Juan Ribaudo said that making the switch to canning is not that easy. He said they were two very different activities, involving purpose built facilities for processing and different types of vessel and fishing gear, reports Gestión. Ribaudo was responding to accusations that processors just weren't interested in diversifying. Earlier this month, Juan Valdivia, president of the parliamentary Production Commission said that despite the reductions in income tax (IR) and sales tax on oil (IGV) granted to producers under the Tuna Law, these companies preferred to continue manufacturing fishmeal "because it was more profitable." However Mr. Ribaudo said the Tuna Law was appropriate and that it was right to promote the best methods of catching and processing fish, but he pointed out that harvesting tuna was a totally different activity from the industrial methods used to produce fishmeal. Regarding the possibility of investing in canning, he said the canning industry already suffers of overcapacity. The country has facilities for producing 30 million boxes of canned products, but only manufactures six million, he said. Mr. Ribaudo said this problem stems from a time when companies were nationalised and only canning plants could manufacture fishmeal, but then many more plants were built that are now processing tuna. However, Ribaudo admitted that most active canning plants in Peru are obsolete and inefficient. SNP studies suggest that of the 100 canning plants throughout the country, only 20% are operating. (FIS/MP).-

California expects sky-high prices for Loligo

The California squid fishery posted another bleak month in February, producing just 870 short tons of squid for the month. While the fishery has passed the peak of its season, February landings have averaged about 6,000 short tons over the past decade, and topped 13,174 tons in February 2002. In the midst of an acute worldwide loligo shortage, wholesale prices for California squid have reached USD 1,300/tonne to USD 1,350/tonne on the Chinese market. However, with such miniscule volumes of squid available to the market, the exorbitant prices are little consolation to processors and fishermen. "If we had any to sell, we'd probably ask more than that," says Rick Mayer of Marcus Foods, a California squid exporter. Chinese buyers have reportedly indicated that they can't or won't pay more. As has been the practice in the past, some of the processors were buying squid and sending it to China for re-processing and re-export to US markets. However, wholesale prices in the US apparently have made that unfeasible. One squid exporter reported prices of USD 1,550/tonne for two containers to a European buyer. These consignments were shipped in advance of the Lent buying season, however. European interest in the squid has since abated. "It's gotten to the point where for the smallest quantity you have you try to get as much as you can for it," says Mayer. "You sell it, and then hopefully get another three or five tons the next day to sell. We've had just six or seven days of landings since December." Ex-vessel prices increased to USD 500/short ton around the first of the year and remain there. Last year, squid fishermen averaged USD 197/short ton on landings of 103,000 short tons. Largely because of an unprecedented spring fishery in Monterey, overall California landings now total about 46,000 short tons. The management year ends on 1 April. One processor says that high wholesale and ex-vessel prices belie the economic strain this year's poor fishery has put on the industry. "It doesn't even matter what the price is," he says. "The boats have payments; we have fixed costs. You could charge USD 10,000 a ton and it wouldn't even cover our fixed costs. When we do thousands of tons, it just covers our expenses. When you pack 300 tons instead of 10,000 tons, it's just losses." According to squid brokers, Illex from the Atlantic squid fishery is starting to become available with of USD 500/ton FOB Argentina for 80-120 gram squid. With such high prices for loligo, traditional squid markets are now using Illex for consumption. "Loligo has a sweeter meat to it, but if they can't get loligo, they will substitute Illex," notes one broker. (FIS/MP).