MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chubut new fisheries bill contemplates long term licences

The new Chubut General Maritime Fishery Law includes extending provincial fishery permits to 4 years

Patagonian province Chubut passed a new General maritime fishing bill to regulate fishing activities which also contemplates long term fishing licences subject to development projects by the beneficiaries.

"The bill is geared to promote sustainable fisheries with a maximum social profitability, plus attracting permanent investment for the sector to help create stable, long standing and qualified jobs, in the framework of technological innovations", said Chubut's parliament president of the Commission for Economic Development, Natural Resources and Natural Environment, Oscar Gallego. Furthermore, the new law specifies that live marine resources in provincial jurisdictional waters "are property of the province of Chubut", and its authorities can decide on their exploration, exploitation, conservation, and management. One of the most important aspects of the new legislation is the possibility of extending the validity of fishing licenses to four years, instead of the annual renewal. The new legislation also establishes that in the case of operating with freezer and/or deep-sea fresh fish vessels, licenses will be granted to persons or corporations that own fish or shellfish processing plants on Chubut territory. Minimal requirements for being granted or renewing commercial fishing freezer vessels permits are: - A job post on land for every 9 square cubic meters for vessel holds of up to 600 cubic meters - A job post on land for every 8 square cubic meters for vessel holds of up to 1,300 cubic meters - A job post on land for every 7 square cubic meters for vessel holds of up to 1,300 cubic meters Regarding permits for commercial fishing with deep-sea fresh fish vessels one job post on land for every 3 cubic meters of the ship?s hold is required. The new law specifies that persons or corporations, currently holding commercial fishing licenses for freezer and deep-sea fresh fish vessels will present, to the Applications Authority, one or several projects for developing fisheries. Regarding fishing vessel fleets, the following stratification applies: - Frezer vessels: vessels that freeze their catch onboard. -Fresh fish vessels: those that land their catches in crates, refrigerated, differentiating between -a) high-sea fresh fish vessels, more than 21 meters long; b) fresh coastal or estuary, yellow fleet: vessels up to, and including, 21 meters long -Artisanal vessels less than 9.90 meters long operating fresh fish Regarding the yellow fleet, license holders must present an annual fishery project that contains: destinations of catches, technological innovation, labor skills, or others subject to Applications Authority criteria can satisfy the new law aims. Furthermore, fishing permits are not transferable, unless consent is granted by the Application Authority or mortis causa. It is mandatory to land the totality of catches in ports of Chubut and processing must take place in plants within the province's territory, except for vessels involved in inter-provincial treaties. Operations by freezer vessels under provincial jurisdiction targeting common hake (Merluccius hubbsi)will be banned. Exemptions include holders of national permits to operate as freezer and high-sea fresh fish vessels holding provincial permits that permit them to operate as deep-sea fresh fish vessels. (FIS)