MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina: Hake landings the lowest in the last four years

Of the 15,780 tonnes of hake landed in January 2007, only 113 tonnes were caught north of parallel 41º S

From 1 to 31 January, 15,780.7 tonnes of common hake (Merluccius hubbsi) were landed, and is the lowest number registered since 2003, according to the Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food Secretariat (SAGPyA) statistics. Last year, during the same month, landings of this species totalled 21,281.3 tonnes, while the average output registered in January during the last four years was about 23,000 tonnes.

Most of the landings came from the stock located south of parallel 41º S, while only 113.5 tonnes of hake were caught north of that area. Provisional data provided by the Fishery Undersecretariat shows that 9,097 tonnes of common hake were landed at the Mar del Plata port (Buenos Aires), while 3,337.8 tonnes were landed in Comodoro Rivadavia (Chubut) and 2,264.3 in Madryn (Chubut). Meanwhile, 400.3 and 291.8 tonnes were landed in the Patagonian ports of Puerto Deseado (Santa Cruz) and San Antonio Este (Río Negro), respectively. Most of the 13,726.6 tonnes of hake harvested was caught by the fresh fish fleet. Trawling vessels landed 1,396.3 tonnes; the coastal fleet, 379.5; and the estuary fleet, 278.3 tonnes. It seems that the reduction in the catch quota set by national authorities prompted some vessel owners to target alternative species, such as pink cusk-eel (Genypterus blacodes) and hoki (Macruronus magellanicus) among others, just to "take care" of their quotas, according to the Pescarewebsite. Among landing figures registered: 19,953.7 tonnes of fish, crustacean and shellfish were landed at the Mar del Plata port. Of this total, 9,097 tonnes corresponded to common hake and the remaining 10,838.7 tonnes to other species. The most significant landings include: â€Ã‚¢ whitemouth croaker (Micropogonias furnieri)- 1,386.6 tonnes â€Ã‚¢ skate (Potamotrygon brachyuran)- 1,248.5 tonnes â€Ã‚¢ pink cusk-eel (Genypterus blacodes)- 1,156.3 tonnes, â€Ã‚¢ striped weakfish (Cynoscion striatus) - 1,059.7 tonnes â€Ã‚¢ hoki - 552.6 tonnes â€Ã‚¢ Patagonian flounder (Paralichthys patagonicus)- 642.9 tonnes (FIS)