MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine Squid landings exceed 42,000 tonnes over the first two months of 2006

Information provided by the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food (SAGP&A) indicates that over the two first months of 2006, landings of shortfin squid (Illex argentinus) were pegged at 42,202.1 tonnes.

This number is far above the one obtained over the same period of 2005, when 39,750.2 tonnes were caught, and also higher than the 25,460.2 tonnes registered during the first two months of 2004.

January 2006 landings totalled 7,780.4 tonnes, whereas in February, catches witnessed a significant increase, fetching 34,564.7 tonnes.

Although the results achieved over the two first months of this year are encouraging, both stakeholders within the sector and biologists are cautious regarding too optimistic forecasts.

This year's harvest began 16 January in a restricted area -between parallels 44º S and 46º 30' S and between the provincial jurisdiction limit and meridian 62º W, and then on 1 February in Argentine waters south of parallel 44º, the main area in the fishing ground for the national squid-jigger fleet.

The SAGP&A report also says that Puerto Deseado and Puerto Madryn ports concentrated most shortfin squid landings, receiving a total 36,870.5 tonnes, with 23,439.9 tonnes landed at Puerto Deseado, and 13,430.6 tonnes at Madryn.

The squid harvest has brought intense activity to the Patagonian port of Puerto Deseado where, according to port sources, 35 vessels have arrived with average landings of around 400 tonnes each.

Other Argentine ports that received squid landings included Mar del Plata, with 5,268 tonnes, and Ushuaia, with 144.7 tonnes. (FIS)