MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Poor beginning for Argentine squid season: 18 jiggers

Only 18 squid jiggers are fishing for squid (Illex argentinus) in Argentine waters south of parallel 44º, since the season officially opened last February first. The rest of the fleet remains docked, revealed satellite-based information released by the Argentine Deputy Secretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture (SSP&A).

The ongoing market situation of low prices, soaring fuel costs and slower international demand are fueling uncertainty over the current fishing season, pointed out industry sources. "As the situation stands, the majority of vessel owners are waiting for more favorable conditions before setting out to sea to begin operating". The SSP&A, a branch of the Argentine Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food (SAGP&A) confirmed that squid total catch totaled 747.5 tonnes between January first and February 18 of this year. These figures highly contrast with the volume of squid landed the same period last year: 951.6 tons in January 2007 and 15.108 the following month. The average low price for squid, rising internal costs, and a relatively marked abundance of cephalopods at sea have been discouraging for the squid industry and Argentine fishing entrepreneurs continue to complain about the fierce competition from foreign vessels that operate outside mile 201. "Markets are depressed due to the amount of tons being extracted in mile 201 with scant or non-existent controls" underline sources from the Chamber of Argentine Fisheries Industries, Pescarereports. The fishery sector is also concerned that the National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) has not yet initiated its annual cruise to survey the resource and determine its current status. According to SAGP&A, squid landings until Monday February 18 totaled 527.3 tons at the Mar del Plata port; 170.2 tons at Puerto Madryn, Chubut; 30.6 tons at Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut; 11.5 tons en San Antonio Este, Rio Negro; 6.2 tons at Puerto Deseado, Santa Cruz; and 1.5 tons at the port of Rawson, Chubut. Trawler vessels landed 552.4 tons of squid; fresh fish vessels landed 186.4 tons and coastal vessels, 8.7 tons. However later press reports from Puerto Deseado indicate that on February 22 the jigger Mateo I arrived with 600 tons of squid, size S and SS, and is now docked next to Alianca Urca that will be transporting the cargo to Spain. Interviewed by Pesca & Puertos, Mateo I captain Raul Saez said that the 32 day high seas cruise begun in mile 201 and then moved to 12 hours sailing from Comodoro Rivadavia "where there was a greater concentration of squid but nothing like the previous season; we'll have to wait and see how catches evolve". (FIS/MP).-