MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Name change could increase market value of Loligo

FALKLANDS squid is not reaching its full market potential because of its name, the Fisheries Committee has heard.

The squid, loligo gahi, is of superior quality to other products sold under the same name, Stuart Wallace of Fortuna Ltd told the committee.

He said loligo caught in Falklands waters can obtain prices 50% higher than current market prices if it could be marketed as loligo patagonica, "...calling it gahi does not help us," he said.

Mr Wallace reported that Falkland's loligo had been called patagonica in the past, a point confirmed by Cheryl Roberts of Beauchene Fishing, who added that the issue had been raised on numerous occasions.

Director of Fisheries John Barton said that loligo caught from Peru down to the Falklands is referred to as gahi, adding that there is some confusion between the two which could require a study up the Pacific coast of Chile to determine where the breeds change. Mr Barton said if there is a sound case to call the squid sold from the Falklands patagonica, "something could be done about it."

The committee agreed that the fishing industry should "take the science and marketing forward" with assistance from the Fisheries Department.

Kingclip experiment

A proposal from Consolidated Fisheries Ltd (CFL) to undertake an exploratory longline fishery for kingclip from September 1 to December 31 was approved after some discussion.

Mr Barton said kingclip can be very valuable if caught in its own right, adding that only £1.5 market value of the product is currently taken from Falklands waters. He said longlined kingclip could produce a better product.

Lewis Clifton of Byron Marine said that kingclip makes up a small but valuable part of the industry, that he was not sure where the proposal sat and that he thought it should await the outcome of ITQs, "...don't let's change the parameters before the ITQ is awarded."

Other committee members supported the proposal as it could build up information on what Councillor Richard Cockwell described as "pretty much an unknown entity."

The committee agreed that bird mortality levels would be strictly monitored and that, as it is likely exploratory costs will exceed revenue, a retrospective licence fee intended to achieve a 10% fee/revenue ratio could be applied. It is a general condition attached to all licenses for exploratory fisheries which allows for the activity to be stopped if it is having an unexpected or harmful impact. Penguin News