MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina establishes TAC quotas for Patagonian scallop

Argentina's Federal Fisheries Council (CFP) has fixed the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for whole and commercial-sized Patagonian scallops (Zygochlamys patagonica) in a number of Southern Sector Management Units.

The quotas were established working on the findings of the latest National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) assessment report on the sector's fishery biomass. The INIDEP report recommended opening the fisheries of Management Units 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 on the basis of the whole and commercial-sized scallop biomass consisting of 40% of the lower limit of the estimated average biomass. The Institute also proposed keeping the fisheries of Management Units 4, 11, 12 and 13 open and to establish a precautionary catch limit of 1.000 tonnes of whole, commercial-sized scallops in each. The CFP established TAC for whole and commercial-sized Patagonian scallops of the Southern Sector's Management United along INIDEP's recommendations in the following amounts and areas through 30 June 2009: • 993 tonnes for Management Unit 3; • 1,000 tonnes for Management Unit 4; • 7,734 tonnes for Management Unit 5; • 2,288 tonnes for Management Unit 6; • 4,179 tonnes for Management Unit 7; • 10,130 tonnes for Management Unit 8; • 11,729 tonnes for Management Unit 9; • 2,233 tonnes for Management Unit 10; • 1,000 tonnes for Management Unit 11; • 1,000 tonnes for Management Unit 12; • 1,000 tonnes for Management Unit 13. According to provisional figures released by the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food (SAGP&A), clean meat scallop landings amounted to 232.2 tons between 1 January and 5 February - significantly more than the 123.4 tons landed in the first month of 2008. Mar del Plata concentrated all scallop landings; trawler vessels were also responsible for landing all the scallops harvested through 5 February. Meanwhile, in December, 432.2 tons of frozen clean meat scallops with a FOB value of more 2.2 million US dollars were exported, according to Customs Administration. This represents a 19% drop in volume and 30% in FOB value compared to November 2008 exports. An estimated 5,381.8 tonnes of frozen scallops with a FOB value of almost 30.7 million US dollars were exported between January and December of last year. (FIS).-