MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Government defines procedures to ensure onshore squid processing

The Argentine Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture has established a series of control procedures for companies holding squid (Illex argentinus) licences to fish in the Argentine fishing ground, chiefly aimed at ensuring a minimum onshore processing of the resource.

According to Resolution 73/2005, squid-jiggers must land and carry out onshore processing of 10 per cent of their annual catch, or 20 per cent of their total catches over three tides, according to previous resolutions issued in 2001 and 2002.

In order to verify compliance with these percentages, fisheries authorities will monitor landings, activities at processing facilities, and the product trade.

Thus, companies are required to give a 96-hour advance report to the National Directorate of Fisheries Coordination on transhipments and landings, while also maintaining sanitary, trade, customs, or any type of documents in order that are necessary for operating in Argentine waters.

Meanwhile, requisites to land squid for processing include that vessel owners request a verification form, specifying the amount of raw material landed and details on its destination (processing plants and/or storage chambers).

"Onshore squid processing must be considered as a physiochemical transformation of the specimen, aimed at obtaining a value-added product which will necessarily require the employment of more workforce," according to the text issued by the Undersecretariat of Fisheries, signed by its maximum authority, Gerardo Nieto.

Stakeholders will, later on, have to submit the invoices that prove the marketing of the processed products.

In the event of any irregularities in procedures, that is to say, total or partial non-compliance, the corresponding authority may preventively suspend a fishing licence, or even it.(FIS)