MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Fisheries: Breaking News

Headlines:
Spanish fishing fleet down 15,7% in four years; 22.000 tons of hake in a month; Argentina unifies hake 3Q and 4Q quotas; Japanese/Argentine squid research cruise;
Eco-labelling guidelines become effective.

Spanish fishing fleet down 15,7% in four years

Spain's fleet, once European Union's (EU) largest, shrank by 15,7% between 2000 and 2004. This means 2,626 vessels stopped fishing, according to the report by the Statistical Office of the European Communities (EUROSTAT). In 2000 Spain had 16,678 registered fishing vessels and four years later 14,052. EU 15 member total fleet dropped 10,3% from 95,501 to 85,709 vessels. EUROSTAT shows that the countries with the largest cuts in the four year period were: Holland 21,7%; Sweden 20.7%; Denmark 17.4% and Spain 15.7%. In 2004, EU 25 members fleet included 92,422 registered vessels, 75% of which from the eight southern members. Greece has the highest number of vessels: 18,730, representing 20% of EU total fleet; Italy 14,935, 16%; Spain 14,052, 15% and Portugal 10,098 vessels, 11%. Together with France and United Kingdom they make up 79% of the EU25 fishing fleet. EUROSTAT report also points out that until 2004, the Spanish fleet held the record of highest volume of more than 50-year-old vessels. All in all, the average age of the Spanish vessels is 25.4 years; Denmark is 26.8 years; Italy, 25.6 years and Portugal 25.7 years. Spain figures with the highest number of new vessels in 2004, 1,365 vessels, between zero and five years. This represents 21% of EU total vessels. Regarding tonnage, the EU15 fleet experienced a 6.9% decline during those four years, and the Spanish fleet 5.9%. Spain represents 23% of EU fleet's total tonnage, with 491,000 tonnes, followed by UK 12% and Italy 10%. (FIS/MP).

22.000 tons of hake in a month

Since early October November 3 Argentina's deep sea fresh fleet landed 22,175 tonnes of common hake (Merluccius hubbsi) in the port of Mar del Plata. According to Argentine Fisheries Undersecretariat statistics, Mar de Plata's landings since January totalled 160,183 tonnes of hake. The unexpected high volume activity followed several months of labour strife which kept the hake fleet moored. The bulk of the fleet apparently is now operating to the south of parallel 41º S. "Diario de Madryn" reports that lately the landings "have a significant percentage of juveniles". (FIS/MP).-

Argentina unifies hake 3Q and 4Q quotas

Argentina's Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food Secretariat (SAGPyA) decided to unify the common hake (Merluccius hubbsi) quotas allotted for the third and fourth quarter of 2005. The measure is aimed at facilitating the fleet's operations following the long labour union conflict. The proposed unification, nevertheless, does not exempt vessel owners from obligations and restrictions established in Resolution 1388/2004. Resolution 836/05, signed by the head of SAGPyA, Miguel Campos, also establishes that fresh fish vessels, which have remained moored for 20 days or more during the second half of the year due to union conflicts, will be exempt from the biological ban that is scheduled for this period. For this exemption to be effective, they will have to submit the proper certification of the Argentine Prefecture (PNA). Freezer vessels that remained moored for the same reasons, for 30 days or more, and have the PNA certification, will also be exempt from the biological ban. The Enforcement Authority argues that for the above cases the biological ban should be considered "fulfilled" since the proposed fishing effort cut "has been covered." In addition, Resolution 836 extends the biological ban for fresh fish and freezer vessels from November 30 to December 31, 2005.(FIS/MP).-

Japanese/Argentine squid research cruise

Research on the juvenile squid (Illex argentinus) populations within the summer spawning stock (SDV) and the South-Patagonian stock (SSP) undertaken jointly by Argentina's INIDEP and Japan's Development Aid ended November 4. The research was targeted to study the distribution of juvenile specimens inhabiting Argentina's continental shelf and the oceanic area adjacent to the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), between parallels 37º and 47º South. The campaign was launched September 16 onboard the scientific research vessel Kaiyo Maru, belonging to the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. The results of the research will serve as a base to understand the dynamics of the SDV and SSP stocks populations, and to gain a more accurate forecast of the recruitment rate for the next fishing season. "This research campaign provides valuable information aimed at understanding the natural causes of the resource's fluctuation, which is highly dependant on the success or failure of the recruiting procedure", said Fisheries Undersecretary Gerardo Nieto. (FIS/MP).-

Eco-labelling guidelines become effective

Albeit approved in March this year, the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), has now adopted a set of international eco-labelling guidelines for fishery products taken from marine capture fisheries. The guidelines, which are voluntary in nature, were given their final stamp of approval when COFI met for its 26th session. They apply to any public or private eco-labelling scheme certifying and promoting labelling of seafood products from well-managed and sustainable capture fisheries. After a two-year period of preparation, the guidelines were approved by COFI when committee members met in Rome from 7 to 11 March this year. Their goal is to lay down the criteria needed by governments and organisations to properly implement eco-labelling systems. In addition to defining the general principles required to properly regulate eco-labelling efforts, the guidelines set minimum requirements for fisheries wishing to become ecologically certified. They go hand in hand with the FAOs Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, which are being applied by a growing number of countries worldwide. (FIS/MP).-