Fisheries News.

Thursday, April 7th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

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Argentina and Falklands could close squid fishery earlier than anticipated; Hake fishers big and small to pay for licenses on a per-tonne basis; Moderate optimism over fisheries activity in 2005.

Argentina and Falklands could close squid fishery earlier than anticipated

Though the Argentine Government had decided that the normal squid (Illex argentinus) fishing season in South Atlantic waters was to take place between 1 February and June this year Argentine and Falklands authorities are evaluating closing the fishery earlier. This measure would replicate the one undertaken in 2004, due to a shortage in the resource. So far, neither of the two governments has taken a decision regarding the closure, and Argentine authorities have made no comments on an eventual ban for the season. However, Ministry of Fisheries Undersecretary, Gerardo Nieto, is planning to meet this Wednesday with members of the Federal Fisheries Council (CFP) to inform them on the latest findings of research carried out by the National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP). The survey involved the study over the status of squid stocks in Patagonian waters, and a measure of this nature may be brought up during this meeting. Meanwhile, the director of the Falklands Department of Fisheries, John Barton, said in a statement to the daily local paper Clarín that the islands were initially planning an early closure for last 31 March, but it was then put off until 6 April. Falklands authorities were nonetheless planning on Tuesday to postpone the closure date again. According to Councillor Richard Cockwell, they would rather await an response from Argentina, in view of the information exchange agreements under the South Atlantic Fisheries Commission, consisting of Great Britain and Argentina. "We are making our best effort to coordinate a position on this issue with the Argentine Government," stated a source from the British Embassy in Buenos Aires.

Hake fishers big and small to pay for licenses on a per-tonne basis

Large commercial fishing companies previously benefiting from a flat-rate system will now have to pay for their fishing licenses on a per-tonne basis. The new regulation announced 5 April by Environment Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk will spread the costs more fairly among small and large scale fishers. Until now, companies or individual fishers applying for permits paid a flat rate of ZAR 7,000 (USD 1,133) regardless of the volume of fish caught. This meant that large scale fishermen were being virtually subsidised by the smaller ones. As a point of comparison, the former were paying ZAR 0.13 (USD 0.02) per tonne of deepwater hake while the latter paid ZAR 18 (USD 2.91), the South African Press Associationreports. Under the new system, a large company allocated 45,000 tons will now have to fork out ZAR 2.5 million (USD 404,800) to land the allotted volume of fish. "It sounds a lot, and it is a lot, but everybody must pay the same per tonne of fish," said Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk, who added that the ministry's ZAR 30 million (USD 4.9 million) in processing costs would now be distributed fairly across the board. Van Schalkwyk said that licenses for some small-scale traditional fishermen will drop from ZAR 7,000 (USD 1,133) to ZAR 400 (USD 65) under the new system. These fishers will be subject to a per-tonne fee plus ZAR 204 (USD 33) for each crew member. Additionally, the minister announced that 10 per cent of the ZAR 280 million (USD 45.3 million) per-year hake fishery will be reserved for small fishing businesses, and another 10 per cent of the fishery will be used for transformation purposes. As part of the fishing industry's overhaul, those applying for fishing quotas will have to be approved by their own communities. In the past, fishing quotas were held not only by fishers but by people outside the industry, such as teachers and other professionals. Henry Mentoor of the Fisheries Development Unit said that the change was long overdue. "I just feel for the last 10 years, we as small businesses have suffered because of the big business not wanting to share the rights with us. And I just feel the time is right for the minister to make this decision," he said.

Moderate optimism over fisheries activity in 2005

After having registered an increase exceeding 21 per cent in 2004, the Chilean fisheries sector's positive performance is estimated to continue throughout the year, although at a lower rate. "I do not think we will experience such a marked growth as last year," said Felipe Sandoval, Ministry of Fisheries undersecretary, when consulted over his view regarding the industry's performance this year. Sandoval believes, however, that fisheries activity will be above the total Gross National Product (GNP), estimated between 5.5 per cent and 6.5 per cent in 2005. According to the official, "in fisheries there are still many uncertainties that will prevent expansion from reaching the 21 per cent growth rate registered in 2004." However, he pointed out that "growing by 21per cent in one sector is no slight detail," and that "employment generated in the fisheries industry has reached 10 per cent, a far higher rate than the rest of the economic sectors," according to Diario Financiero. Meanwhile Sandoval said that "last year's robust increase is due to the fact that it was a period of good prices in general, especially in fishmeal." He also pointed out that fishmeal reached an average price of USD 673 in international markets, over USD 634 the previous year. Moreover, he clarified that although catches dropped from last year, "the current rules provide an incentive to increase human consumption, and moreover, uncertainty in fisheries activity has diminished." General manager for the National Fisheries Association (SONAPESCA), Cristian Jara, stressed that due to changes in fisheries legislation, maximum catch limits were now set, currently allowing a catch of 1.5 million tonnes (the previous limit was 4.4 million). "The legislation gave way for companies to re-direct their investments from sea to the land, building frozen-food plants and canneries, and betting on higher value-added products," he added. Jara also said that the change in the sector "has been huge", and that the fisheries currently exports more than 600 different products, while companies seek access to new markets. "Extraction is no longer the crux of fishing, now it is processing," said Jara, pointing out that in January, employment in the fisheries industry recovered by 13.4 per cent for the fact that investments in plants require more labour. "This hearty increase in employment is the clearest evidence of success of the new fisheries management system," concluded SONAPESCAs general manager. (FIS)

Categories: Mercosur.

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