MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Fisheries News.-

Hedlines:
New aircraft to patrol Galicia fisheries; Chilean fishery products showcased in Europe; EU policy moves towards ban on discards; International whaling conference disappoints Japan; Anticipated success of Fishing Exhibition-

New aircraft to patrol Galicia fisheries

Galician authorities in the northeast of Spain have incorporated a new maritime patrol aircraft, the Doñana, which is bristling with cutting edge technology. It is the third surveillance plane brought into service in the last five years and it will be dedicated exclusively to fisheries monitoring, maritime surveillance, and to supporting the Spanish fleet.

The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fishery and Food (MAPA) says this latest addition will provide more efficient coverage of the entire national fishing grounds and will therefore improve the air surveillance that the Maritime Fisheries Department helicopters and aeroplanes already provide.

The Doñana is an Aviocar C-212-400 VP-85/3, built for the Fisheries Department in the San Pablo (Sevilla) factory, and is fully equipped with state of the art equipment to perform its fishing surveillance tasks. It possesses Forward Looking Infra-red (FLIR), night and day vision with recorder, a horizon search 360º radar and photographic camera with automated data recording, which registers time, date, latitude and altitude position, direction and height.

Among the general features of the aircraft, MAPA says the plane can reach a cruise speed of 182 knot (330 km/hour) and has a range of 1,133 nautical miles (2,000 km) with the under-wing tanks. It has and emergency door on top, for evacuation in case of landing on water, a posterior ramp that enables the launching of maritime rescue equipment, and the complete range instruments of communication, navigation and avionics equipment for IFR (Instrument Flight Rule) flights. (FIS/MP)

Chilean fishery products showcased in Europe

Several seafood companies are participating of a Chilean food and beverages exhibition that is taking place in Barcelona, London and Hamburg until June 27. The promotional and business tour "Tastes from Chile" is taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the Partnership Agreement between Chile and the European Union, which became effective from 1 February of this year.

This is the first of three trade missions organised by ProChile, aimed at promoting the country's products among importers, supermarket buyers, executives, specialised journalists and European opinion leaders.

The Association of Oyster and Scallop Producers A.G. (Apooch) General Manager Ivonne Etchepare, said the immediate objective of the exhibition in Europe is to carry out several product tasting and to meet potential clients in the three countries the delegation is visiting. The event will promote salmon in various presentations, northern scallop, canned shellfish, horse mackerel, turbot, king crab, hake, prawn and shrimp.

Chilean exhibitors will also provide tasting sessions for wine, fruits and natural juices, and will have an opportunity to hold previously scheduled bilateral meetings with European businessmen.

The fishery companies that are participating in this business trip are Comtesa, which produces king crab and sea urchin; Import y Export Promar, which produces shellfish and fish; Marine & Agriculture Export, which supplies fishery products; and Integración de Actividades Gormaz, which is also dedicated to fishery products. (FIS/MP).-

EU policy moves towards ban on discards

European Union fisheries policy moved closer towards placing a ban on the dumping of harvested fish in the sea, following a vote by Members of the European Parliament to support the ban in principle.

In voting to support the ban, however, the MEPs emphasise that the ban will not be effective without significant changes in how data is collected, the use of more selective fishing gear, financial incentives and encouragement to use the discarded fish in the production of fishmeal, reports Fishing Monthly.

A E.U. Action Plan to reduce fish discards has estimated that as much as 63 per cent of North Sea whiting was discarded over the last thirty years, and international estimates from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) indicate that they agree with this figure.

The report also estimates that the volume of fish discards is between 17.9 and 39.5 million tonnes worldwide, which far exceed total fisheries production of 7.8 million tonnes.

It also points to a clear link between the use of certain fishing gear and the percentage of discarded catch, and says that the use of more appropriate fishing gear needs to be encouraged, so that juvenile fish can escape from the nets. Niels Busk, a Danish Liberal, prepared the report for the European Parliament.

Supporting the motion Liberal Democrat fisheries spokesperson in the European Parliament Elspeth Attwooll MEP, said: "Discarding is a wasteful process that has helped to destroy the credibility of the Common Fisheries Policy. I see this vote as the first step towards a full ban. I recognise, however, that considerable changes will be needed before such a ban could be workable. I would hope for Regional Advisory Councils to be given a major role in producing an overall strategy aimed first at reducing and ultimately eliminating discards." (FIS/MP).

International whaling conference disappoints Japan

A return to commercial whaling sponsored by Japan has been blocked by anti-whaling nations, who said that more research was needed into the level of stocks before any changes to the 17 year long international ban can be considered. Two Japanese motions were defeated at the 55th International Whaling Commission Annual Meeting which opened 16 June in Berlin.

A motion for permission to take from the North Pacific 150 Bryde's whales between 2004 and 2008 was defeated by 27 to 17, and another request to take 150 minke whales starting this year was defeated 26 to 19.

US delegate Michael Tillman said: "The science is not complete yet." His country stood against the proposals, along with Britain, Australia and Korea, reports the Melbourne Herald Sun.

The pro-whaling force that includes Japan, Norway, Iceland and several Caribbean nations were knocked back after the majority voted to strengthen whale conservation efforts.

Japan legally kills hundreds of whales each year through a limited research quota, and argue that these kills allows them to monitor the impact of whale herds on fisheries stocks, as well as providing data on migration patterns and population trends. But these killings are widely criticised by the anti-whaling force as commercial whaling in disguise, as the meat is later sold to wholesalers from where it lands on restaurant menus.

The pro-whaling countries say that the real purpose of the Commission, --to work for sustainable quotas that will allow the resumption of hunting--, have been obscured by animal welfare concerns. If hunting is allowed to resume next year, Japan argues, it will provide a working example for the systematic monitoring of catches that could bring an end to the squabbling.

"We're seriously concerned because the discussions seem to be limitless," Japanese delegate Masayuki Komatsu said. "International observers would be welcome" to check on Japanese ships and processing stations. Japan also argues that a return to whale hunting is necessary to assist their traditional fishing communities.

But anti-whaling countries say that too little is known about whale stocks, and point out that the whales are in danger from ships and accidental capture by fishing vessels and coastal nets. Italy suggested that new bodies are set up to work closely with international fisheries organizations to try to prevent so-called bycatch of whales.

"It's very urgent to take action in this field," said Peter Bradhering, head of the German delegation. "It's a global challenge." (FIS/MP).-

Anticipated success of Fishing Exhibition

The World Fishing Exhibition is set to be a sell-out and it couldn't have come at a better time for Galicia, as the region step by step strengthens in the wake of the Prestige disaster, says Manuel Fraga, President of the Galician Government (Xunta). During a meeting with the exhibition's executive manager, Alfonso Paz-Andrade, President Fraga said that holding the event in Vigo for the fifth time would help to show Galicia as one of the world's greatest fishing regions

The organisers have confirmed that more than 700 companies from 50 different countries will be present in the Cotogrande trade centre from 17 to 21 September 2003.

Quoted in Faro de Vigo, Paz-Andrade said the event would show Galicia in the best possible light, and would help to "sell the region" as exhibitors and visitors alike would be able to see that Galicia was "moving on - with ambition, with faith in the future and with dynamic and innovative companies".

The World Fishing Exhibition organisers are expecting more than 60,000 visitors from 112 countries and as a result have extended the 3,000 m2 Cotogrande exhibition area. In his meeting with the Galician President, Paz-Andrade reported that virtually all of the available space at the World Fishing Exhibition has already been booked. (FIS/MP).-