MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Drastic measures in Chile for common hake conservation

Chile decided the implementation of a conservation and recovery plan for (hubbsi) common hake following a survey which warns about the species “conservation high risk” and particularly the threat to “future renewal” in the country's main fisheries.

The survey from Chile's Fisheries Under-Secretariat also points out the social relevance of common hake for coastal fishermen, domestic consumption and as a source of employment in processing plants. According to official data landings in 2003 totaled over 120.000 tons but have since been falling having barely reached 40.000 tons in 2006. The survey also shows that the size of common hake caught has diminished considerably plus a considerable reduction in the age structure which makes up the adult population with abundance of juveniles immature for reproduction. The poor catches results are evidence that "the resource faces a conservation high risk situation, particularly regarding its future renewal". Based on this situation plus the social and economic relevance of the hake fisheries, Under Secretary Carlos Hernandez has instructed the implementation of all the necessary technical and administrative resources to ensure a conservation and recovery plan for the common hake fisheries. A first step in the coordination of private and government sectors involved in the common hake fisheries for a round of consultation and advising with the purpose of achieving an overall assessment. The second step is scientific advising. In practical terms this means reduced catch quotas with the purpose of protecting the biological and maturing process of juveniles with specific times and areas bans plus a stricter monitoring of catches and hake related activities. According to the Chilean press some of these measures are already in process.