MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine: Fisheries News

Headlines:
Argentine hake quota unchanged in 380.000 tons; Toothfish TAC. 1616 tons; Squid season in common Uruguay/Argentina zone; Squid research cruise delayed.

Argentine hake quota unchanged in 380.000 tons

Hake quotas will remain unchanged until the final assessment of the latest scientific research, said Argentina's Fisheries Under Secretary Gerardo Nieto. "We have to wait for the scientific research assessments" said Mr. Nieto who insisted that the resource merluccius hubbsi is still in a process of recovery and "we have plans to keep the total catch for this season at 380.000 tons". In 2000 the total quota distributed was 110.000 tons and "now we've gradually worked up to 380.000. We must keep steady in this line of action, we don't want another crisis", highlighted Mr. Nieto. However he admitted that there could be room for additional tonnage, "but it all depends on hake's biomass and if it can tolerate further catches. The scientific research information is therefore crucial". But the Argentine fisheries industry based in Mar del Plata is complaining that the current hake total catch is insufficient to sustain activity during the whole year, and "this could lead to serious industrial and social strife". "Mar del Plata needs an additional 30.000 tons of hake", said member of Congress Juan Domingo Novero and a strong lobbyist for the local fisheries industry. Mr. Nieto admitted there could be some labour conflicts because of the lack of fish, "but much depends on how companies manage their quotas". Meantime the Joint Technical Committee of the Maritime Front which manages Argentine and Uruguayan waters in the River Plate banned until next June 30 all demersal catching activities to protect juveniles. This means that as of this week fishing hake (merluccius hubbsi) is banned in an area shared by Argentina and Uruguay according to the following: 35°35'S - 53°25'W; 35°35'S - 52°50'W; 37°00'S - 54°15'W; 38°35'S - 57°20'W y 38°35'S - 56°15'W. Other demersal species protected include grenadier (macroronus magellanicus) and pink cusk-eel (genypterus blacodes). However pelagic catching with observers on board vessels is allowed

Toothfish TAC. 1616 tons

Eight longliners have been licenced by Argentina to catch 1616.6 tons of toothfish according to the decision published in the Official Gazette. The companies involved are Estremar, 875 tons; Pesantar 208.1 tons; Pesquera de la Patagonia 213 tons and Argenova, 320.5 tons. According to the official resolution the catch volumes can be interchanged among longliners belonging to the same company.

Squid season in common Uruguay/Argentina zone

As of Saturday April 15 licenced jiggers can begin operating for Illex squid in the Joint Argentine-Uruguayan Fishing Zone following resolution 3/06 from the Joint Technical Committee. Conditions are similar to those prevailing in the 2005 season. In Patagonia Argentine jiggers operating below parallel 44 degrees south are reporting increased catches compared to last year. On March 31, a total 86.000 tons had been landed which represents a 20% increase over the same period a year ago. However it must be taken into account that this year the Illex season was advanced thirteen days.

Squid research cruise delayed

In related news the Argentine press reports that INIDEP, Argentina's Fisheries Research and Development Institute, is delayed in beginning this season's squid research cruise because of industrial strife. The programmed cruise has to assess abundance, distribution and concentration areas of squid biomass between parallels 43 and 46 South.