MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Fisheries News.

Headlines:
Vigo all decked out for World Fishing Exhibition; Chilean shipyard booming with foreign orders; Merger with Chilean group boosts fishery potential; Russia plans aggressive fishing expansion; China agrees to cooperate in jack mackerel fishery; Seafood trade barriers could disappear by 2005; Growing overseas resistance to EU fisheries policy; Japan signs agreement with Solomon Islands.

Vigo all decked out for World Fishing Exhibition

The fifth World Fishing Exhibition, WFE, the largest international fishing industry event, was launched yesterday in Vigo, Spain - Europe's leading fishing city. The opening ceremony was led Alfonso Paz-Andrade, president of the WFE Executive Committee, who said the event, and the activities taking place concurrently, are part of the "unstoppable" process of globalisation. "We've experienced great changes in an industry that has reached a high degree of sophistication, becoming a complex and modernised trans-national operation," said Mr. Paz-Andrade. The presence of Fisheries ministers from more than twenty countries demonstrated the city's tremendous drawing power, which was praised during the opening speeches. The Vigo WFE offers a unique opportunity to learn about the latest technical and technological solutions available to take the fishing industry through the new century. To meet the needs of an event of such international magnitude, the Xosé Nogueira Dalmás (IFEVI) exhibition centre in Cotogrande was specially arranged as showcase of these new products and services. Tony Salter, WFE international organisation executive director, said Vigo's importance as a fishing city made it the ideal location for such an event. This city "was the first choice to host the WFE and provides an example of how to successfully compete in a global market". With the WFE, the Minister of Fisheries Conference and the First Conference on Deep-Water Fisheries, he said the world now had "an opportunity to see in practice how global commerce can truly increase prosperity for all". Undoubtedly, Vigo was the centre of attention during the WFE opening, and Manual Fraga Iribarne, president of the Galician Government, (Xunta) called the city "the first fishing community of Europe". In the last ten years Vigo's fishing fleet has had a leading role in Europe and has also become a major centre for the seafood processing industry, said Mr. Fraga Iribarne. (FIS/MP).-

Chilean shipyard booming with foreign orders

With many Chilean vessels owners keen to have larger, more powerful and modern fishing vessels, the ASMAR (Astilleros y Maestranzas de la Armada Nacional) shipyard in Talcahuano is being kept very busy. The company's fishing vessel section has been trying to break into the international market for some time, and now it seems its efforts have paid off. The cost of refurbishing a vessel can be as much as USD 6 million. The main aim is to optimise the vessel's performance and significantly increase its hold capacity and fuel storage, making it much more competitive. But the work - mainly on purse- seiners, trawlers and tuna vessels - may also include upgrading onboard systems as well as carrying out general repairs and servicing. The Cape Aterras and the Cape Breton, belonging to the US Tri-Marine group, are currently being upgraded. The Calypso, belonging to Venezuela's Cariruban Group and the tuna vessel Casiquaire are undergoing reconstruction work and major repairs. This year, five other tuna vessels have been rebuilt or repaired at the shipyard: the Milena, owned by César Ron; the Rocio, belonging to Angel and José Díaz; the Cape Elizabeth, Tri-Marine; the Ventuari and the completely modernised Canaima, with a 70 metre length and a hold capacity of 1,520 m3, both owned by the Venezuelan company Pezatun. Beginning November the shipyard will house the Orinoco II. This was the first vessel to be serviced here, and is now returning six years later to be modernised. Venezuelan vessel owners have the advantage of being able to refuel from the shipyard's supply on Quiriquina Island. This is especially convenient because the fuel is considerably cheaper to buy here than it is in Chile. A tuna vessel can carry almost 1 million litres of fuel. Since it may be at sea for 15-20 days, it is vital that it is well-equipped and well-stocked. (FIS/MP).-

Merger with Chilean group boosts fishery potential

The El Salvador, Central America fishing company Prestomar, traditionally associated with shrimp fishing, joined forces with a Chilean investment group over a year ago to increase the exploitation of marine resources in Salvadorian waters. The new company, Pesquera del Sur, currently has 28 vessels owned by Prestomar. Company executives say the fleet has already discovered tremendous potential in the region's waters. Interviewed by "El Tiempo de Hoy", company president Marco Andrés Baldocchi said the merger has allowed the vessels to catch resources that were not previously considered commercial, such as the Chilean shrimp that is now in high demand in first world countries. So far this year the company has exported two containers to the US and Europe, and its goal is to ship another two containers before the end of the year. The company hopes to export 12-14 containers next year. Company manager Osciel Velásquez, says local waters are rich in fishery resources, but "Salvadorians ignore the potential in their sea." To overcome this disregard for fishing potential, Pesquera del Sur has undertaken a study of fish stocks throughout the coast, to reveal the extent of the country's resources and to determine how much can be harvested without affecting sustainability. For the moment, research has been focused on six species, maigre, sole and other white meat fish that are not currently exploited. Thanks to its Chilean shrimp fishery, the company has created 400 jobs and during the next few months this figure could rise to 600. (FIS/MP).-

Russia plans aggressive fishing expansion

Russia could increase its fish catch 25% or a million tonnes if only the country's existing stocks were better used. Russia is only catching 72% of the fish it is entitled to, Sergei Dyagilev, scientific chief of the State Fisheries Committee, told Interfax. Three types of squid are being under-fished in the seas off the Far East, representing a fishing shortfall of "tens of thousands of tonnes each year," Dyagilev said. Quotas for saury, "an active migrant which moves from area to area quickly" are being under-used as well. Because the saury is so restless, Russia's existing trawler fleet cannot catch enough to use up its entire quota, which is 150,000 tonnes. The same can be said of the cambala, Russian trawlers could be easily catching 20,000-30,000 tonnes. In some regions, Russia is not fishing enough Far Eastern cod or selected types of tuna and herring. Macrorus is under-fished in the 200-mile zone off the Far East, and Russia is "only just starting to fish non-traditional species such as shark and skate." And nowhere near the one million tonnes of Arctic capelin and coalfish (pollack) might it have fished at one time. Nor is Russia using up its quotas to fish further afield, particularly the Atlantic, where stocks of poutassou, herring and some seabed fish remain untouched. Leonid Kholod, Fisheries Committee's deputy chairman, said the policy was to encourage Russian trawlers to return to other countries and the open seas, particularly the central Pacific, where a Russian scientific research vessel recently claims to have discovered huge fish stocks. Mr. Kholod said agreements had been reached with Morocco, Mauritania, Angola and New Guinea to allocate fishing quotas to Russia. (FIS/MP).-

China agrees to cooperate in jack mackerel fishery

China says its vessels that fish close to Chile's maritime border will cooperate with regulations that govern the jack mackerel fishery within the EEZ. The Chinese fleet operating close to Chile's 200-mile EEZ caught 76,000 tonnes of jack mackerel last year, prompting complaints from local fishermen. They argue that foreign vessels are damaging the fishery because they target the same biomass but without having to comply with the same restrictions that the domestic fleet must observe to protect stocks. A meeting was held on September 12 between the Chinese ambassador in Chile, Chinese Ministry officials, and a Chilean delegation headed by Fisheries Undersecretary, Felipe Sandoval, in a bid to resolve the conflict. As a result of this meeting, and previous negotiations, the Chinese authorities have agreed not to increase their catch volume or the number of vessels operating in the area. They have also agreed that the vessels will cooperate with the same conservation measures that apply to the Chilean fleet. Only nine of the vessels belong to state companies and these are carefully monitored, the officials said. During the meeting, the Chilean authorities stressed the need for standardised conservation measures for the jack mackerel fishery, and a meeting was scheduled for the first half of next year in Beijing so that both parties could formulate an agreement. Cristian Jara, general manager of the National Fisheries Society (Sonapesca), said the meeting was particularly significant because it opened up a channel for mutual cooperation. Fishing companies have been deeply concerned about unfair competition from foreign vessels - Chinese, Russian and Korean - near Chile's territorial waters . These fleets operate on the border of the EEZ at the same latitude as Regions V and IX and target the same fish that migrate into Chilean waters. They do not respect regulations to safeguard sustainability and they sell their catches to the same markets as the local industry. This has greatly angered industrial fishermen who have been demanding action from the national authorities for some time. The Biobío Fishing Industry Association (Asipes) met just a few days ago to urge the government to apply the fishery regulations to foreign fleets operating near the Chilean EEZ. They specifically asked for an agreement with China regarding minimum sizes and catch certification, to regulate the activity of vessels that have been operating there for two years. (FIS/MP).-

Seafood trade barriers could disappear by 2005

The fishing industry in Nelson, New Zealand is losing an estimated NZD 60 million a year because of trade barriers to international seafood markets, according to the New Zealand Seafood Industry Council (SeaFic), but a recent deal at the recent World Trade Organisation talks in Cancun, Mexico, could soon see the situation improve. In what has been hailed as a "big deal for Nelson", a recent meeting between strong fishing nations could result in enhanced access to global markets. National Fisheries Minister, Pete Hodgson, says just the fact that the fisheries industry has received special attention was "really encouraging". The council's general manager of trade and information, Alastair Macfarlane, said that a decisive agreement had been reached between a group of influential fishing nations towards a relaxing of global trade restrictions. The fishing nations, including New Zealand, Australia, US, Canada, Chile, Norway, Iceland and Thailand, are all in agreement that tariff and non-tariff protection should be removed across the board. Although no definite agreement has been reached, Mr Macfarlane said that he was hopeful that the move towards liberalisation would begin from 2005, reports Stuff. "There's a bunch of countries who are all agreed that this is a goal we need to have in order that this is a successful negotiation. "For our sector, the fact that we have identified a group of countries for the first time who are of a similar mind to New Zealand is significant." Seafood exports generate about NZD 1.5 billion each year, while foreign tariff and subsidy protection costs the New Zealand seafood industry about NZD 60 million a year, Mr Macfarlane said. Chief executive of the New Zealand King Salmon Company, Paul Steere, said that the company's products were "seriously disadvantaged in terms of price competitiveness" by market protection in Taiwan. And the strict regulatory environment in Japan meant that to gain market access there was a "long-winded" process. The New Zealand Mussel Industrial Council said that it would welcome any reduction in tariffs, while executive officer Paul Lupi described foreign market protection as "a fact of life". "We just want a level playing field. We're a long way from our major markets that adds costs. The last thing we want is another additional barrier." SeaFIC advises Government and industry on fisheries management policies and practices. (FIS/MP).

Growing overseas resistance to EU fisheries policy

The fourth Minister of Fisheries Conference was drawn to a close September 17 with a speech from Secretary for Maritime Fishing Carmen Fraga. Delegates from 24 countries across the four continents attended the conference, which was clearly aimed at bringing Spain closer to ministers from the nations most likely to enter into fishing agreements. Galician Fisheries minister Enrique López Veiga said Spain had listened to the views of countries such as Mauritania, Morocco, Argentina, Brazil, Angola, and others, that it has long had fishing and commercial links with. Fraga and López Veiga both emphasised their disagreement with the current European Union fishing agreements policy. During her final speech, Carmen Fraga highlighted the lack of consensus among those present for the European perspective. She specifically mentioned the EU's "apparent lack of knowledge" about each countries circumstances and needs "and the unjustified elimination of models that have proved themselves valid". "[EU policy] demands a series of requirements that, in our opinion, not all third countries are able to comply with, and, in some cases, we consider it wrong to demand them as a condition for establishing a commercial and fishing relationship." The main emphasis during the closing speeches was on "the importance of private investment as the main engine for developing a fishing economy". And the message given to reporters was about the need for more action "to reinforce the commitment to sustainable development, within the framework of responsible fishing, taking into account the potential of the developed economies as a source of technology and capital". López Veiga promised delegates their views would be put to the EU authorities and he had the Secretary of Maritime Fishing's support on this. (FIS/MP).-

Japan signs agreement with Solomon Islands

Japanese authorities signed a new fishing agreement this month, which sets out the terms for Japanese tuna vessels to operate within the Solomon Islands EEZ for a year starting in October 2003. Both parties exchanged information on the current situation fishing vessels during the negotiations, which took place in Tokyo between 8 and 10 September Japan was represented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries international fisheries advisor Mr Goto and members of the fishing sector, while the delegation from Solomon Islands was led by the Marine Resources minister and vice-minister. Under the new terms and conditions, the fishing fees for longliners, purse seiners and pole-and-line vessels remain the same as in the previous agreement. Purse seiners will pay JPY 1 million in advance and 5% of the annual catch per vessel. Longliners and pole-and-line vessels will pay 5% of the annual catch. Japan hoped the ban would be lifted on the Guadalcanal and Malaita islands but did not get a concrete reply, other than a statement that this area was still subject to a national tuna protection plan. The EEZ was extended from 12 to 30 miles in 1999. From October 2002 to August 2003, 16 long-liners, 30 pole-and-line tuna vessels and 27 purse seiners from Japan fished in the Solomon Islands, catching yellow-fin tuna and skipjack tuna. In the same area there are 26 Korean purse seiners, 20 longliners and 41 purse seiners from Thailand, and three or four purse seiners from New Zealand. From October, the Solomon Islands will also define the terms and conditions that European Union vessels will have to comply with, while American vessels continue to be governed by the Micronesia agreement. (FIS/MP).-