MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Earlier squid season proposed in Argentina

Argentina's Fishing Industry Chamber, CIPA, has requested the Fisheries Federal Council to advance the next squid season beginning January 2006, instead of the traditional month of February.

It's not the first time that CIPA makes this kind of request and there's also a proposal for permanent squid assessments and mobile bans, basically eliminating the current "rigid" calendar.

Argentina, in coordination with Falkland Islands, this year also advanced the end of the squid season because of the low catches.

"In January good catches could be possible, we therefore believe some changes are needed in the calendar", indicated Mr. Francisco Romano, president of CIPA.

"So far the argument has been that opening the season in January is too premature, however this year good quality adult squid was caught. That's why we are requesting that the 2006 season begins earlier so as to assess volumes and sizes", added Mr. Romano.