MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Following survey Argentina rotates hake ban areas

The banned hake fishing area around parallel 41 will be modified in the days to come.

Argentina’s Federal Fisheries Council (FFC) has advised opening the 4160 North statistical quadrant of the common hake (Merluccius hubbsi) fishery, while closing the 4764 South quadrant, on the basis of findings from the last commercial hake survey

within the next few days, Act N° 11/2009 of the CFP mandates.

“The measure is expected to maintain the effectiveness of conservation measures aimed at protecting a portion of the juvenile stock” and was decided after provincial representatives met with the inspector of the National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP), Oscar Lascano.

During the meeting, both parties assessed the results of last month’s survey and other fishery data provided by INIDEP researchers.

The northern half of quadrant 4160 had been incorporated in October as part of a general extension of the ban, which currently covers 180.000 square kilometres.

However, the expanded area under protection is complicating the operational activities of vessels - particularly those docked in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires - due to the great distance separating these from the fishing zone, according to sources quoted by Pescare.

According to local vessel owners the ban must be monitored constantly so that management measures balance biological and commercial interests in some way.

Argentine maritime ports received 47.005 tons of hake between January first and March 20, according to Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food Secretariat statistics.

Of total landings, 46.695 tons were fished south of parallel 41º, while 310 tons to the north. This compares to the 64.096 tons landed between January and March 2008, of which 62.889 tons south of parallel 41º and 1.207 tons to the north.

Landings totalled 28.555 tons in the port of Mar del Plata; 6.789 tons in Madryn Port, Chubut; 2.888 tons in Rawson, Chubut; 2.539 tons in San Antonio Este, Rio Negro; and 2.455 tons in C. Paula, Santa Cruz, among other port harbours, SAGP&A indicates.

Fresh fish vessels landed 28.019 tons of hake through 20 March; the trawler fleet landed 11.438 tons; coastal vessels, 4.282 tons; radaria vessels landed 3,150 tonnes; surimi vessels unloaded 92 tons; and shrimp vessels landed 24 tons. (FIS).-