MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina: Trawlers landed more than 18,000 tonnes of squid so far this year

According to the statistics provided by the National Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture (DNPyA), Argentine shortfin squid (Illex argentinus) total landings so far are estimated at 136,874 tonnes.

Fourteen per cent of this total, or 18,471 tonnes, were landed by trawlers. Official figures also indicate that 13,282 tonnes were landed from freezer vessels, and another 4,783 tonnes from deep-sea fresh-fish vessels.

These figures show that so far this year, the trawler fleet catches included more than 10 per cent of the squid by-catch allowable until recently.

The members of the Federal Fishing Council (CFP) decided 7 July to set squid by?catch for trawlers at 20 per cent of catches per fishing trip, while operating on other resources, mainly common hake (Merluccius hubbsi).

They also agreed that by-catches should be constantly monitored by the Enforcement Authority and the National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP), and reported to the regulating entity for experts to regularly assess the convenience of the continuity of the adopted measure is.

The official figures reveal the squid by-catches by trawlers were up in comparison with last year, when they reached 11 per cent. Freezer vessel by-catch was higher than the fresh-fish vessels, unlike what happened during 2004.

The DNPyA report also indicates that Mar del Plata absorbed almost 50 per cent (58,763 tonnes) of the squid landing, while last year landing in Mar del Plata barely reached 20,000 tonnes.

The extended labour conflicts in the province of Chubut, specially in Puerto Madryn, had a lot to do with the increased activity in Mar del Plata, indicates some sector's sources.

Meanwhile, the squid vessels ship-owners, concerned by the situation of the resource, requested a meeting with the nation's Fisheries and Aquaculture Undersecretary, Gerardo Nieto, to analyse in greater detail the consequences a 100 per cent increase in the allowable by catch for the trawling fleet could have. (FIS)