MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Fisheries News.

Headlines: Galician in the forefront of joint ventures; Sea lion deaths halt squid fishing; Punta Arenas resumes sea urchin fishing; Success of the Irish seafood industry; Pay dispute over toothfish;

Galician in the forefront of joint ventures

A cluster of Galician companies aims to consolidate the European Union's fishing activities in foreign waters and to put pressure on the EU to acknowledge the importance of this industry to the European economy. The European Commission is examining a proposal to set up a fisheries lobby of EU companies - mainly from Spain - who have interests in countries such as Namibia, Argentina, Chile, Falklands, Mozambique, and Morocco, among others. The aim is to set up joint ventures - some of which are already operating - with 26 nations to generate annual revenue of EUR 1,300 million and employment for 12,000 workers on land and at sea. The companies behind the project expect this cluster, whose headquarter would be in Madrid, to be formed by next summer. It will bring together 260 vessels owned by Galician companies, including 100 vessels belonging to Vigo's Association of Joint Fishing Ventures (Acemix) and 120 vessels from Pescanova. The project is still open to companies interested in establishing joint ventures and investing in the foreign fishing sector. The idea is to carry out the full range of activities in these 26 countries, from harvesting and processing to distribution and marketing. They will operate from Mexico to Chile in the American continent, and from Morocco to the southernmost point in the African continent, apart from different countries in the Middle East. Although there are differences in the vessels, fishing grounds and tax regimes, the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is supporting all Spanish companies that wish to participate. Fisheries secretary, Carmen Fraga supports the initiative because these are "not just boats that are fishing in different areas, they are creating jobs and wealth wherever they work." Those backing the move point out that the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) "continues without truly recognising the importance of joint ventures operating in foreign waters" to the extent that financial aid for joint ventures will only be valid through 2004. They are hoping that the EC will approve the creation of the cluster and that it will recognises joint ventures as "the greatest exponent" of cooperation in fishing and forging economic links with the EU. (FIS/MP).-

Sea lion deaths halt squid fishing

The New Zealand government has closed squid fishing almost two months early after sea lion deaths exceeded the maximum limit, Fisheries Minister Pete Hodgson has announced. Squid fishing was stopped effective midday on Friday, March 29, although the season was originally planned to run until May. According to Mr Hodgson, 80 sea lions have been killed since the season began on 1 February. The limit is 70. According to an Independent Newspapers report, Environment and Conservation Organisations of New Zealand chairwoman Cath Wallace believes the public has lost confidence in the minister. "It's not acceptable that they overshoot the target (of sea lions killed) by the number they have. The minister hasn't closed the fishery early enough...you should be blowing the whistle earlier than that," Ms Wallace said. "We think he's doing it out of naivety rather than malice." Ms Wallace has accused the minister of not doing his job properly. She said that the ministry had been "fluffing around not taking the environment seriously for years." Mr Hodgson disputes this, however, and claims that sea lion exclusion devices were being tested in the fishery. The device has been monitored by the ministry over the last three seasons but it was "still not clear whether they expelled sea lions from the net alive and without serious injury." This is the third squid fishing season in a row that has closed early due to sea lion deaths. (FIS/MP).-

Punta Arenas resumes sea urchin fishing

Punta Arenas, the southernmost Chilean port is experiencing a revival in sea urchin catches and processing since the fishing ban was lifted. It takes a 27 hour journey from Punta Arenas to reach the area where the sea urchin is caught at a depth of about 10 metres The fishing vessel Pancho was one of the first to arrive at the Prat jetty with the highly prized product, reports La Prensa Austral. According to one crewmember, good weather made harvesting easy during this first trip. Easterly winds helped them to catch around 36,000 sea urchins very quickly, he said. But this is a rare occurrence. Most of the time fishermen and divers find it very difficult to harvest sea urchin because of strong winds. Pesca Chile, one of the most important sea urchin processing plants in Punta Arenas has already taken on 200 workers to process and freeze the catches. Sea urchin roe is considered a delicacy in Japan and most frozen sea urchin is exported to Japan, Europe and America. The Japanese market also imports fresh product, but in smaller quantities. Sea urchin exports through 31 January 2003 totalled 204 tonnes worth 2.5 million US dollars. The main export product was frozen tongues, which totalled 190 tonnes and 2.2 million US dollars. Canned sea urchin - at 14 tonnes worth USD 254,000 - was second. The main market for sea urchin exports was Japan, with 202 tonnes worth 2.49 million US dollars. (FIS/MP).-

Success of the Irish seafood industry

According to the Bord Iascaigh Mhara's (BIM) annual review, the seafood industry in Ireland is enjoying it's highest level of investment ever. The industry has the Common Fisheries Policy to thank for its recent success, as new grant-approved investment under the National Development Plan reached a record 77 million Euros last year, across the catching, aquaculture, processing and marketing sectors, according to a report in the Irish Times. There has been a 10% increase in the value of seafood at final point of sale on the domestic market, at 307 million Euros. And sales of seafood in the food service sector also outdid the retail sector, capturing 54% of local markets. The BIM analysis estimates per capita consumption at 17 kg live weight in 2002, which was presented to the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Ahern, this week. The export market increased marginally to 436.5 million Euros in 2002, compared with the 2001 figure of 433.4 million Euros. The EU takes the bulk of the exports, 76% of the total, whilst France remains the single biggest market for Irish fish, spending 100 million Euros on the product. "BIM is firmly focused on the effective implementation of the Government's programme for the seafood industry," said BIM chief executive, Mr Pat Keogh. "In recent years the industry has out-performed other sectors of the food industry and this has brought lasting benefits to the most remote coastal areas of the country. "With continuing State and EU support, and BIM's integrated resource and market-led development approach, the industry can readily achieve the ambitious growth targets set for it up to 2006." BIM has recently focused more on fisheries conservation and stock recovery, due to pressure on certain fish stocks, and has also concentrated on implementing new safety standards in the industry. (FIS/MP)

Pay dispute over toothfish

A disgruntled South African crew has jumped ship over a pay dispute. The South Princess was left stranded in Bluff after the crew walked out in protest against conditions and wages. The ship left Cape Town in December to catch toothfish in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. It was due to sail for home on March 28, but 15 out of the 22 fishermen left the ship after their employers, Irvin & Johnson (I & J) refused to renegotiate their contracts, according to Independent Newspapers. Apart from the pay dispute, crewmembers also accused I & J of abuse and mistreatment. They alleged that they were treated "like slaves" and that I & J attempted to intimidate them to remain on board. Most now expect to lose their jobs as a result of their protest. They feel that it is unreasonable to expect them to continue working for the same rate of pay. Each crew member received USD 40 a day, plus an extra USD 4.50 for each tonne of fish landed. Unfortunately, toothfish has become a scarce commodity. The crew argues that in the Antarctic they catch two or three tonnes of fish a day, but where they are going now, they will get only get 200 kg a day. This means they will lose out in commission so they want to renegotiate for higher rate of pay. A spokesman for the crew said, "The contract is finished. We want a new contract with more money." According to crewmembers, their contract with I & J had expired and a new contract should be negotiated before moving to other waters to fish. However I & J dispute this saying that it was a "Cape Town to Cape Town" contract, and that they will not negotiate halfway through the voyage. The company claim that the crew is in breach of contract. According to I & J Trawling commercial manager, Mervyn Burton, no-one was coerced to remain on the ship, and the crew had agreed to the wage before leaving Cape Town. The company is under no obligation to renegotiate rates until the vessel returns. "We do not consider it appropriate to enter into negotiations during a voyage," Mr Burton said. "This disrupts the fluidity of the operation." The International Transport Workers' Federation has read the contracts and supports I & J, saying that they are satisfied that the company is acting within its rights. Crew members who were flown back to Cape Town at the weekend would have the cost of the flights deducted from their salaries. Omaui man Gwyn Edwards, who took care of some of them, said that legal aid would be arranged for the men when they got home. They expected the company to give them "a very hard time." (FIS/MP).-