MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina gets tough on hake fisheries conservation

Argentina has expanded and declared permanent the ban on common hake (Merluccius hubbsi,) fishing in the following quadrants of the South Atlantic: the northern half of 4160, 4260, 4261 and 4262.

The measure made effective by the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food (SAGP&A) was recommended last April by the National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP), after evaluating hake juvenile numbers in the area. The purpose of the ban is to ensure non-adult hake conservation measures, including spawns and one year-olds, states Resolution 243/08 published October first in the Official Bulletin. According to INIDEP experts the scientific cruise of last January offered a worrisome picture of stock numbers. "The estimated abundance of hake in reproductive stage was the lowest recorded in the period considered (2005-08)" reads INIDEP Technical Report 18/08. Regarding hake landings, --the latest report from SAG&P and covering the first nine months of 2008-- the total volume was 192.855 tons, of which 47.046 tons were fished north of parallel 41º and 145.808 tons to the south of 41. Hake landings in Mar del Plata were the highest with 120.517 tons followed by Plata, 28,817.1 tonnes in Puerto Madryn (Chubut) with 28.817; Comodoro Rivadavia (Chubut), 13.515; San Antonio Este (Rio Negro) 6.415; Caleta Olivia/Paula (Santa Cruz) 6.186 and 5.687 tons in Puerto Deseado (Santa Cruz). Fresh fish vessels landed 124.040 tons of hake in the nine-month period; the trawler fleet unloaded 46.827 tons; coastal vessels 13.415 tons ; radial vessels, 7.380 tons; freezer shrimp vessels, 1,145.3 tons; and specialized surimi vessels, 48 tons. (FIS/MP).-