MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Fisheries News.

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Argentina establishes maximum catches; Fishery exports increase 18%; Early closure of squid season.

Argentina establishes maximum catches

Aiming at conservation, protection, and administration of live marine resources, the Argentine Federal Fisheries Commission, CFP, established maximum permissible catches (MPC) on eight commercially valuable species. CFP Resolution 10/2004 describing MPC was based reviewing data from the National Institute of Fishery Research and Development (INIDEP) involving technical data collected this year and includes anchovy, hoki, and hake Hubbsi. The remaining species have yet to be included in INIDEP technical data collecting therefore leading CFP to consider maximum permissible catches of 2003, plus contemplating the "precautionary criteria of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries." Upon fixing the maximum catch limits, the CFP opted in each case towards an alternative "closest to reconciling the needs for resource conservation with the sector's commercial sustainability," the resolution dictates. The MPC for the rest of 2004 is listed below: Hake: 330.000 tonnes Hake: 75.000 tonnes Hoki : 200.000tonnes Pink cusk: 16.000 tonnes Tadpole Codling: 5.500 tonnes Southern Hake: 5.000 tonnes Southern Blue Whiting: 55.000 tonnes

Fishery exports increase 18%

In the first tour months Argentina exported 124,723 tonnes of fishery products, representing an 18% increase over the 105,674 of the same period in 2003, according to the National Sanitary and Agro-Foods Service (SENASA). In US dollars this was equivalent to 168,78 million, 21% over last year's sales of 139,84 million. Hake continues as the main fishery product destined for the international market, totaling 58,016 tons exported. Tarpon ranked second with 13,935 tons, anchovy 9,355 tons, sunimi and kanikami 7,943 tons, while pollack reached 2,851 tons and hoki 10,993 tons. SENASAs figures reveal that there were slight changes in the destination for exports. Spain remained the main buyer of Argentina fish acquiring 21,013 tonnes between January and April 2004 equivalent to 36,76 million US dollars. Other markets were Brazil: 17,797 tons worth 24,72 million US dollars; Colombia 7,938 tons; United states 7,133 tons, Germany 6,195 tons and Italy 5,497 tons. Holland, Lithuania, Uruguay, Poland, France, Israel, Morocco, Russia, China, South Korea, Ukraine, Hungry, Jordan and Croatia, are among the other nations purchasing Argentine fisheries produce. (FIS/MP).-

Early closure of squid season

Argentina's Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture SSPA officially announced the closure of the squid (Illex argentinus) fishery north of parallel 44º S for conservation purposes. The decision became effective at zero hour on Friday June 4, as established in SSPA Resolution No. 230/2004 published in the government's Gazette. The early closure of the squid season, which normally extends until the end of August, follows recommendations from the exploratory cruise of the National Institute of Fishery Research and Development (INIDEP). "Results from the Buenos Aires North Patagonian Stock indicate a situation similar to the previous year, therefore the need to recommend closing the fishery north of 44º S earlier than scheduled to ensure adequate spawning" according to an excerpt from the INIDEP report. "The early closure of the fishery season for this species is in response to one of the main priorities of the national fishery policy closely linked to the sustainability of natural resources", said an official release from the Fisheries Undersecretary. The decision follows a similar action adopted last April south of parallel 44o because of squid absence. Despite the negative impact of the announcement for the squid industry, Mario Redini president of the Chamber of Argentine Jigger Owners (CAPA) said they would comply with all necessary conservation measures since "the priority now is to preserve the species". (FIS/MP).-