MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Fisheries News.

Headlines: NZ company to catch toothfish in South Georgia; Frozen fish consumption up in Spain; Modernization of canning sector; Seaweed as fish feed protein; UK must act to stop illegal fishing; Encouraging Peruvian fish exports; New rules protect Paraná fisheries

NZ company to catch toothfish in South Georgia

In a deal worth 3 million New Zealand dollars, listed fishing company Sanford has been awarded a licence to catch Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) in South Georgia and South Sandwich Island seas, the first New Zealand company to do so; its ship, San Aotea II, set sail this week. The South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands are under the administration of the Falkland Islands, which granted 12 to 14 licences for this season, which begins next month. The New Zealand Herald reports that the company previously fished for the species in the Ross Sea, which is administered by New Zealand. The new deal, according to managing director, Eric Barratt, "has the potential to double our involvement in the toothfish industry". The Patagonian toothfish is a sub-Antarctic species, found around Kerguelen, South Georgia, Heard and Macdonald Islands. It has a lifespan of up to 50 years and can grow up to two metres in length. Its biggest markets are Japan and the United States, where it can reach prices of NZD 30/kg to NZD 40/kg. It is a very attractive catch for illegal fishing, and although Barratt points out that a new catch documentation system has made it more difficult for poachers, environmental lobbyists are calling for a ban on sales of the toothfish. Last November, The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) unanimously approved the Chilean proposal to regulate the fishing and commercialisation of Patagonian toothfish, without including it in Cites Appendix II. The proposal sought increased the cooperation between Cites and CCALMR to protect Patagonian toothfish, and above all, to ensure global use of the documentation system (CDS), which differentiates between legal and illegal production. This method is used to certify Patagonian toothfish from catch to destination country. Sanford recorded sales revenue of NZD 393 million for the year to 31 August last year, with a profit of NZD 37 million. (FIS/MP).-

Squid Fishery re-opens

Fishing vessels are once again fishing the lucrative squid fisheries around the sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands. Trawlers had been denied access to the fishery after the New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries claimed that their boats had killed an estimated 80 Hooker's sea lions. When there are an estimated 70 deaths the Minister has the right to close the fishery. But the Squid Fisheries Management Company (SFMC) has taken the Ministry to court and has won an interim order which prevents the Ministry from closing the fishery. They were able to prove that Ministry of Fisheries estimates based on limited observers on the vessels, were too high. Richard Cade, Chief Executive Officer of the SFMC said there had only been six recorded fatalities of sea lions and that their estimates were that only a possible 14 had been caught in the nets. "There is just no way vessels fishing in these waters could have caused the deaths of 79 sea lions and the judge has supported that view." This represents an important victory for the industry. In the last two years the squid fishery has closed early because of estimated sea lion deaths. In the 2001 season only 3,000 tonnes of squid was caught before the closure and last year the figure was 11,000 tonnes. This represents only a fraction of what the fishers can catch. Cade estimates that the fishery could probably yield 30,000 tonnes, (35 million NZ dollars) if there was a full season. The squid fishers are committed to reducing the number of sea lions caught in their nets. Over the past six years, they have developed a Sea Lion Excluder Device (SLED) designed to let sea lions escape from trawl nets. SMFC is confident that the reason the level of actual mortalities this year is so low is because the SLEDs are proving effective in enabling sea lions to escape. Cade also stressed that continual co-operation between the Ministry and the Squid Fishers was vital for the success of the industry. "We want to continue to work co-operatively with the MFish Scientists to resolve any issues they have relating to the effectiveness of the SLEDs in reducing sea lion mortalities. Our objective is to develop an agreed protocol for their use next season." In re-opening the fishery the Minister, Pete Hodgson said: "The fishery will reopen under strict conditions, the most important of these is that the industry will maintain from now on the minimum level of 20% observer coverage, or stop fishing as soon as it fails to do so." In the absence of agreement between the Crown and the industry on an estimate of the number of sea lions killed to date this season, the Court has arrived at a figure of 30. The limit of 70 for the season remains in place. (FIS/MP).

Frozen fish consumption up in Spain

Frozen fish consumption was up 3% in Spain in 2002, according to the Association of Frozen Fish Wholesalers, Processors, Importers and Exporters (Conxemar). A report issued by the association predicts a further two per cent rise this year in frozen fish consumption, following the general increase in all frozen foods. According to Conxemar, this growth could be due to the drop in fresh fish consumption as a result of the black tide in Galicia, although the impact of this has not been quantified yet. The report says hake was the most popular fish species on the Spanish market, representing 48% of the total household consumption of frozen product, cooked and raw. During the first nine months of 2002, hake consumption totalled 48,846 tonnes at an average price of EUR 5.09. During 2001 consumption totalled 61,618 tonnes at an average price of EUR 4.81, says Conxemar. Among the most popular seafood products were squid and shrimp, which lead the country's ranking of favourite species. During the first few months of 2002, these two products represented 49.5 per cent of total household seafood consumption. Conxemar's research also predicts significant investments in new processing plants during 2003, although it admits that the sector may encounter problems with a lack of raw material in some fishing grounds because of food safety issues or poor catches. The association points out that there is already concern in the sector about poor halibut catches in waters managed by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO) - which has pushed prices up to EUR 0.50 per kilo during the first few months of 2003. (FIS/MP).-

Modernization of canning sector

The National Fish and Seafood Canners Association (Anfaco) launched the Accent initiative to promote new management systems and cooperation within the canning industry. The Accent project will help to modernise the canning sector, with special emphasis on new management systems, preferably for small- and medium-size companies in Galicia. Accent also seeks to promote and develop tools for inter-company cooperation, according to Anfaco. By helping companies and workers to adapt to structural changes and the use of information technology, Anfaco aims to reduce the risk of social exclusion and remove barriers to employment for the less skilled workers in the fish and shellfish canning sector. Accent project comes under the Equal initiative sponsored by the European Union to develop new strategies in the fields of labour and training and involves a series of activities with European partners from Germany, Finland and Portugal. Other organisations participating in the project include the Galician Fisheries Council, the UGT-Galicia Federation of Food, Beverages and Tobaccos, University of Vigo, Vilanova de Arousa Council, the Women's Foundation, the Association of Psychologists and Método Galicia SL (FIS/MP).

Seaweed as fish feed protein

Chilean scientists are investigating new sources of proteins, like seaweed and lupine, in the production of fish food to replace part of the fishmeal usually used as the base for fish feed. The Valparaíso Catholic University School of Marine Sciences and the Institute of Fisheries Development (IFOP) are collaborating in the study of natural and environmentally friendly feed products in response to increasing international interest in organic aquaculture. The National Fund for the Promotion of Scientific and Technological Development (Fondef) is sponsoring the seaweed project, while the study into the use of lupine as alternative protein source is being supported by the Foundation for the Agrarian Innovation (FIA). Private companies dealing in seaweed meal production, food processing, lupine harvesting and seaweed meal processing seem to be backing the studies. By providing alternatives to traditional feed ingredients, it is hoped that the studies will help to developing organic aquaculture and contribute to sustainable production. As well as giving seaweed harvesting a boost, this research could also benefit agriculture by increasing the cultivation of lupine, a plant belonging to the papilionaceae family. Scientists believe seaweed and lupine have tremendous advantages over other feed ingredients used in aquaculture because apart from being an important source of proteins and minerals, it has immunological properties and also stimulates appetite and growth. They are confident that their results will lead to a drop in production costs, especially for salmon farmers, and at the same time will boost quality and give them a competitive edge at national and international level. (FIS/MP).

UK must act to stop illegal fishing

The United Kingdom National Audit Office (NAO) has raised concerns over illegal fishing in British waters, and warns that not enough is being done by authorities. A report released this week by the NAO says that it is essential that stocks, already under threat of collapse, are not reduced even further by illegal fishing. The NAO believes that, although the Government is complying with European Union (EU) requirements to regulate the industry, much more can be done to enforce these regulations, according to The Guardian. The head of the NAO, Sir John Bourn, told the Financial Times: "The Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has improved the effectiveness of enforcement: for example, by requiring larger vessels to land at designated ports to make it easier to target inspections. The low chance of prosecution and the potentially high gains, however, may encourage illegal catches and the landing of fish, undermining conservation policies." Fishing illegally, such as exceeding quotas, is one reason for the decline in stocks, and last year the EU agreed to new cuts in the size of fishing fleets in an effort to combat the problem. This decision means that the English fleet is to be reduced by up to 20 per cent. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has attempted to improve the enforcement of laws. The Department is working with other agencies to police vessels, and is making greater use of satellite technology to track boats. It has also ordered larger boats to unload at specific ports, in a bid to monitor catches more efficiently. Despite these increased efforts, the NAO reports states that there is a less than a one per cent chance of a vessel being inspected at sea on any one day of fishing, and less than a six per cent chance of its landings being inspected. Sir John said: "Continuing threats to fish stocks highlight the need for effective enforcement methods." The report recommends that there should be more focus on individual vessels suspected of illegal fishing, and more information on fish sales is needed to help estimate the extent of illegal fishing. Also recommended, according to Fishing Monthly, is that inspection staff should be redeployed to maximise the likelihood of detecting illegal landings, and that information on landing patterns and surveillance information should be used more. The fishing industry in England lands annual catches of GBP 150 million, and over 3,300 vessels are monitored. The fishing fleet in Scotland is larger, and the Scottish Executive has introduced similar measures to DEFRA to combat illegal fishing in its waters. Up to 40 per cent of the Scottish cod fleet may be cut. (FIS/MP).-

Encouraging Peruvian fish exports

During February, Peruvian fisheries exports reached 158,000 tonnes worth USD 92.8 million, which represents a 3.2% increase in volume and 2.3% increase in value against January's figures. Raw oil and frozen products - which increased 67% and 20.6% respectively - were the main contributors to the overall increase, according to Ministry of Production statistics. Fishmeal exports totalled 130,000 tonnes and the main destinations were Germany, China, Japan, Indonesia, France, Canada, Taiwan, England, Spain and Philippines. Sales of frozen products came to 7,600 tonnes, up 20.6% from January and the most popular were products based on shrimp, parrotfish, squid, mackerel and octopus. Canned product sales totalled 3,000 tonnes, and horse mackerel, sardine, anchovy, tuna, shrimp and mackerel products registered the most demand. Cumulative figures for January/February 2003 show Peru exported a total of 311,000 tonnes - up 74% from last year due to the increased export of canned products (176%), fishmeal (82%) and fish oil (100%). Consequently, revenue increased 61 per cent toUSD 183.5 million. February landings totalled 150,600 tonnes, up 29.4% from January, but down 12.3% from the same period last year. Cumulative landings during the first two months of the year totalled 267,000 tonnes, down 58% from last year, because of the drop in anchovy catches and, to a lesser extent, horse mackerel and hake catches. (FIS/MP).

New rules protect Paraná fisheries

Brazil's environmental agency Ibama introduced new commercial fishing regulations applicable to all estuaries and lagoons in the southern state of Paraná. The decision was taken to prevent over-fishing and protect the region's biodiversity. "This will enable fish to spawn at least once before being caught," says the agency's fisheries specialist José Carlos Ramos. Ibama's new regulations (12/03) specify the type of fishing gear and methods allowed from now on for catching sardine, prawn and white mullet (Mugil curema), among other species. Specifically, the regulation forbids the use of any type of net within 200 metres from the confluence of rivers flowing into any bay or lagoon throughout the state of Paraná. The ban extends to all commercial and recreational underwater fishing in the bays of Paranaguá, Guaratuba, Antonina, Pontal do Paraná and within 200 metres from the river mouths of these bays and in the Guaraqueçaba Environmental Protected Area. (FIS/MP).