MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine fisheries landings down 7% in first half of 2008

Argentine fisheries landings in the first half of 2008 totaled 536.075 tons, which is 7% less that the 574.000 tons of the same period last year. Fish and mollusks dropped 6% and crustaceans 26% between 2008 and 2007, according to the latest release from the Fisheries and Aquaculture Deputy Secretariat.

Last June fisheries landings reached 86.000 tons made up of 57.000 tons of fish; 21.000 of mollusks and 8.000 of crustaceans. June figures are 30% lower than May 2008 (123.000 tons), but 15% higher than the same month last year. Illex squid with 206.000 tons leads in tonnage landed completing 210.000 tons of mollusks when 4.000 tons of scallops are added. Hubbsi hake follows with 137.000 tons, 38.000 from the north stock and 99.000 from the south stock. In the first half of 2007, the volume was 144.000 tons, divided in 16.000 and 128.000 to the south. Hoki follows with 69.000 tons; shrimp, 20.000; ray 15.000; sea trout, 12.000; whiting, 8.000; cod, 5.000 tons plus other species below 4.000 tons. Mar del Plata was the busiest port, 225.000 tons with 47% of landings. Puerto Madryn follows with 91.000 tons; Puerto Deseado, 89.000 tons; Ushuaia, 54.000; Comodoro Rivadavia, 18.000; Caleta Paulo, 14.000; San Antonio, 8.000 and Rawson, 7.000. The jigger fleet registered the highest landings, 185.000 tons, equivalent to 34% of all landings. Fresh high sea vessels landed 126.000 tons (23%) and trawlers with freezing holds, 114.000 tones, (21%). Coastal vessels landed 45.000 tons; surimi, 31.000; shrimp vessels, 22.000 and longliners with just over one thousand tons.