MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Fisheries News

Headlines: Salmon industry designs new commercial strategy; Tory campaigns for “Save Britain's Fish”

Salmon industry designs new commercial strategy

The Chilean salmon industry is looking to boost sales and dominate the international market in the next ten years, but producers' immediate concerns are focussed on the impact of the US-Iraq war. Salmon Technology Institute (Intesal) manager Adolfo Alvial, says the war may impact on salmon farming, demand and international trade. "The situation is very uncertain and we don't know how long the conflict may last," he told local media. To help cope with the impact, companies aim to gather information on what is happening on international markets as quickly as possible, and are already planning strategies for responding to whatever situation the war throws up. But at the same time, they are not losing sight of their long-term goals for future growth. The Salmon Industry Association (SalmónChile) has linked up with US and Canadian producers to form Salmon of the Americas (SOTA) and plans to hold similar negotiations with Japanese and European salmon companies. SalmónChile president José Ramón Gutiérrez, announced the move at the Aqua Sur 2003 International Fair, which is taking place in Puerto Montt, the capital of Region X. The Salmon of the Americas marketing campaign aims to promote qualities of farmed salmon and reinforce the sector's position in the American continent. It also seeks to respond to criticism against the salmon industry by presenting a united front. "If we are all selling this product, it makes sense to take care of this market and make it grow, instead of emphasising the differences between salmon from one country and from another," Intesal's manager told Aqua. The importance of the Chilean salmon industry is reflected in last year's figures, which show revenue totalling 973 million US dollars, making it one of the world's leading producers along with Norway. Producers this year expect a 30 to 40% increase in sales reaching around 1,2 billion US dollars. In January 2003 alone, the value of salmon and trout increased 34% generating 148.2 million US dollars, although the exported volume was down 29% from last year, according to SalmónChile. The figures show that prices increased from USD 2.03 per kilo in January 2002 to USD 3.84 per kilo in January 2003. The main export markets in January this year were Japan with 89 million US dollars, representing a 60% of the total - and United States with 41 million US dollars. (FIS/MP).-

Tory campaigns for "Save Britain's Fish"

UK Shadow Fisheries Minister John Hayes has branded the Common Fisheries Policy a "disaster for British fishing" and said that the only way to restore confidence and viability for the UK white fish fleet was through national control of fisheries. The MP delivered the message at a meeting of Fishermen's Association Ltd (FAL) representatives in Peterhead, which was also attended by representatives of the Scottish Ship Chandlers Association, the Scottish Fishing Services Association and Cod Crusader Carol MacDonald. Mr Hayes said the CFP had wrecked stocks, the UK Industry and the communities it supported. FAL chairman Tom Hay said: "Mr Hayes views are those which Save Britain's Fish has been promoting for the last 10 years and also those of this Association when it was formed in1995. They were mocked and derided then by certain fishing industry associations but now appear to be the prevailing view." Mr Hayes went on to disparage parties like the Liberal Democrats who suggested that regional management was an alternative to restoration of national sovereignty over fishing policy. He said that regional/zonal management would be like having a multitude of CFPs each with its own inconsistencies and disputes. Mr Hayes outlined a six-point plan for events after national control was restored. At local level, there would be involvement of fishermen working in partnership with government and scientists as a prerequisite to delivering a policy sensitive to local needs and supported by the industry. Mr Hayes committed to raising in Parliament the case of fishing's ancillary industries, including processing, chandlers, net makers, boat builders and engineers. The case had not been made frequently enough that these were dramatically affected by the Industry's decline. He pledged to send a loud and clear message to Brussels that the Conservative opposition was "resolute in its commitment to re-establishing national control of British fishing policy and that as a "minister in the incoming Conservative government" this would be given appropriate priority. Mr Hay said: "The meeting was one where strong feelings were expressed and rightly so. But I was impressed with Mr Hayes passion and commitment, his straightforward no nonsense talking and his grasp of the complex issues facing the Industry. (FIS/MP).-