MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falklands Fishery Director confirms good squid catches
Speaking at the Falkland Islands Government Fisheries Committee meeting of April 7th, the Director of Fisheries, John Barton, reported much improved catch levels for both major squid species in March.
The loligo catch in March was the 3rd highest recorded since 1991, with around 18000MT being taken, predominately from the southern part of the fishery. He also reported that oceanographic conditions appeared to be ?back to normal' with projections indicating the biomass target would be achieved before the season reached its planned end in mid-April..
The Committee was told that the catch price for loligo had reduced over the last month with small squid, which are normal in the first season, being less valuable than larger squid which were more abundant in the second season.
The Director of Fisheries indicated that the total Illex catch to date was 35000MT which showed a reasonable abundance in the Southern Patagonian stock of Illex squid. Again, oceanographic conditions had improved. On some nights catches of 50-55MT were being achieved.
Although it was inevitable that some vessels would be more successful than others, Barton estimated that the average catch would be around 1000 MT per vessel). A record catch of 140MT in a 24 hour period had already been recorded by one vessel.
As an indication of good catch rates, trans-shipment activity from catching vessels to larger refrigerated ships or 'reefers' was also reported to be good. The Committee were told that there there were currently around ten reefers and tankers in Berkeley Sound.
On this basis, Barton declared that the Illex fishery, which has been curtailed in recent years, should continue for some weeks.
Asked about the prospects for future seasons, the Director of Fisheries said that as there had been no joint scientific cruise with scientists from the Argentine Fisheries department this year, the state of the stock was rather less certain.
Falklands Legislative Councillor, The Hon. Richard Cockwell, who chaired the meeting wished to record the Committee's disappointment that no joint cruise had taken place this year, and deplored the reduction in scientific co-operation.
This reduction in what had hitherto been an apparently cooperative and mutually beneficial working arrangement between British and Falkland Islands fisheries scientists and the Argentine Fisheries Research and Development Institute, INIDEP, appears to follow pressure on the latter from the Argentine Government. (See Mercopress 18th March 2006)
Argentina and Great Britain in the framework of the South Atlantic Fisheries Committee, agreed in 1990, have regularly exchanged fisheries scientific information and organized alternatively scientific research cruises.
John Fowler (Mercopress) Stanley
Top Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesCommenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!