MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Patagonian toothfish fishery suspended

The Fisheries and Aquaculture Undersecretary has suspended the fishery of Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) as a target species in national waters, after this year's 4,800 tonne TAC was fulfilled.

According to Regulation 185/2003, dated 15 December, authorities established a Patagonian toothfish ban extending from the publication of the measure in the Boletín Oficial until 31 December 2003, for Argentine flagged vessels.

On 18 December, the Federal Fishing Council (CFP) decided to set a temporary TAC of 1,200 tonnes for Patagonian toothfish for the first three months of 2004.

In the new ruling, the CFP highlights that the method of setting maximum catches every three months is the best way of managing the fishery. It also states that the National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (Inidep) recommended that the TAC for the first three months of 2004 should be similar to that established every three months in 2003.

Source FIS