MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Fisheries News

Brazil seeks investors in South Korea; Chile claims Spain is over catching swordfish; Koreans, world's main consumers of seafood; Online auctions in Galicia by 2005.

Brazil seeks investors in South Korea
José Fritsch, Brazil's head of the Aquaculture and Fishery Department (Seap) met this week in Seoul with his South Korean counterpart to assess the possibility of a joint fishing agreement. Before leaving for Asia, Mr. Fritsch highlighted the government's intention to develop the whole potential of Brazilian fisheries. This would mean increasing fishing production in a sustainable way, with a modern fleet and an organized chain of production. South Korea is one of the most developed countries in the world in fishing industry including aquaculture. Mr. Fritsch believes Korean businessmen are interested in establish contracts with Brazilian fishing companies. A Seap press release indicated that the Seoul meetings have the support of the Brazilian Foreign Office which is trying to speed up discussions between the two countries so as to reach agreement quickly.

"Our intention is to organize a national fishing fleet which allows us to fulfil international quotas, while at the same time, promoting selective catching so as to ensure the recovery and conservation of species," said Mr. Fritsch. Spain is already negotiating with local companies over a deep-draft vessel building contract, and hopes to invest further in Brazil's fishing industry. The government is hoping that Korea will develop a similar interest.

The delegation, headed by Fritsch, will also be visiting aquaculture stations and shipyards to familiarize themselves with Korea's activities. According to Seap, these shipyards are responsible for the construction of some of the largest and most reliable vessels in the world. (FIS/MP).

Chile claims Spain is over catching swordfish
Chilean vessel owners claim that Spain's unilateral decision not to carry inspectors/observers on board vessels that are taking part in the swordfish research fishery is "clear evidence of bad faith."

According to the standing Chilean-Spanish agreement, four vessels from each party were authorised to catch 1,000 tonnes each and an observer from the opposing party had to be present onboard in order to ensure compliance with this condition. A strong Spanish presence of no less than 10 vessels, owned by European Union companies is operating off the Coquimbo coast and close to San Félix and San Ambrosio islands. Their fishing effort is similar to that of Chile with the exception that they refuse to comply with conservation rules, such as minimum sizes, claim Chilean fishing companies.

The conflict has been focused in the North Chilean waters known as the Cordillera de Nazca - the area where swordfish reproduces and apparently Spanish vessels work avidly, putting at risk the conservation of the species since many juveniles are being caught in the process. This is a key issue for Chile, as swordfish is very important to both the artisanal sector and some industrial fleets, in local as well as international waters. "The situation has not changed and inequity prevails," argue Chilean vessel owners. "Everything we catch is deducted from the general fishery quota, we have to comply with the minimum size ruling of 103 cm and we pay taxes, licences and satellite surveillance."

Spain has a further advantage over the Chileans with their factory vessels, enabling them to save tremendous amounts of money in transportation. This type of vessel has been forbidden in Chile for many years because of their impact in local employment. Chilean businessmen and workers have joined in warning authorities, urging them to demand compliance with the agreed regulations as well as an increase in the surveillance of swordfish fisheries. (FIS/MP).-

Koreans, world's main consumers of seafood
South Korea has become the world's top consumer of seafood per capita, even overtaking Japan. Figures released this week by the Korea Rural Economic Institute show that Koreans consumed 66.9 kilograms of seafood per person in 2001, just 100 grams more per capita than the Japanese, who in 2000 consumed 66.8 kilograms, the highest consumption rate ever.

However according to Chosun Ilbo, if only edible parts are included in the statistics, the average Korean consumes 2.74 kilograms more than his Japanese neighbours each year. The third largest consumer is Taiwan at 40.3 kilograms per person per year, followed by France at 31.3 kilograms per person per year, and then Sweden at 30.9 kilograms.

According to the institute the survey was conducted using a sample of 889 households. When asked why they preferred seafood, 51% of respondents in the survey said that they chose the dish because of "good taste", while 35.2% chose seafood because it's a "healthy" option. Another 59.9% said that fish was a healthier choice than meat.

The most popular fish consumed is anchovies with 14.99 grams per person per day, followed by Alaskan Pollack with 9.12 grams, mackerel 7.57 grams, squid 14.83 grams and finally shrimp 5.36 grams. The consumption of raw fish has also gone up by 5.3%. One of the researchers on the project, Lee Gye-im, pointed to the recent rise in incomes as one of the reasons for the change in diet. "Our country is surrounded by the ocean on three sides, so our people like seafood; and with rising incomes, more people are buying fish and shellfish instead of meat," he said.

Compared to 25 years ago, meat consumption in South Korea has gone up by four times and milk is 10 times higher, while rice has dropped by 25%, and barley which was a common cheap alternative to rice, is now only 5% of what it once was. (FIS/MP).-

Online auctions in Galicia by 2005
Spanish Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister Miguel Arias Cañete reached an agreement with the Galician government to finance the installation of a computer network for all of Galicia's fish markets. This project, which forms part of Galicia's regeneration plan, will allow all Galician fish markets to auction their products over the internet.

Arias Cañete and Galicia's Fisheries minister, Enrique López Veiga, signed the agreement October 17 and pledged contributions of EUR 858,000 from central government and EUR 8,500 from the Galician government. The money will be used to fund the development of new technology in fisheries and aquaculture, and will help to promote the Technological Platform for the Management of Galician Marine Products - a Fisheries Department initiative aimed at optimising sales of coastal fishing products.

According to the Galician authorities, this initiative will enable the centralisation of all Galician fish and seafood auction information thus facilitating the management of sales and distribution.

The transmission of all market information via one server should provide more accurate statistics, as the system will be able to output specific data on production and sales. It should also enable more effective management of fishing licences according to the available information.

Both administrations believe that the system will be available by the end of 2005, when the Technological Platform will permit online sales of Galician fish and seafood through the internet.

According to López Veiga, the project will "firmly establish the basis for the modernisation of the industry." But he added that virtual operations would only begin when the sector was ready to handle the change. (FIS/MP).-