MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Squid ban extended for the rest of the season

The Argentine Federal Fisheries Council (CFP) unanimously decided to keep the ban on squid (Illex argentinus) north of parallel 44º South for the rest of the season ”given the poor performance of the Buenos Aires-North Patagonian Stock (SBNP) cruise survey and maturity assessment”.

CFP decision comes after the Squid Fishery Follow-up Commission analysis last 24 August when the results of the survey undertaken by the National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP), titled 'Illex argentinus, Report on Northern Squid Survey, July-August 2005".

According to official figures, squid landings between January and July this year in Argentine ports reached 139,744 tonnes, almost double the volume obtained during the same period of 2004 with 70,188 tonnes. Nonetheless, this data is misleading since last year's season squid catch was the worst ever in history.

Compared to 1999, the best year in the past eight seasons, 2005 figures represent 58.1%. In the first seven months of that bounty year, 333.459 tonnes were landed.

Apparently only in the area near parallel 43º S an acceptable catch level has reportedly been registered, with daily catches exceeding 15 tonnes.

Similarly the River Plate Maritime Front Joint Technical Commission has decided that the Common Argentine-Uruguayan Fisheries Common Area (ZOCOPES) be closed as of 31 August.

Meanwhile, INIDEP technicians and scientists are getting ready to carry out a new joint research campaign with the Japanese vessel Kaiyo Maru. They will be evaluating juvenile concentrations of the summer spawning stock, and the South-Patagonian stock, with the 2006 season in mind. The survey will cover both Argentina's EEZ and the adjacent area, and is scheduled to begin September. (FIS/MP).-