MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina established a TAC of 312.000 tons of hake for the current year

Toothfish quota fixed at 3.500 tons; last year the total catch was 3.121 tons

Argentina's National Fisheries Coordination Agency reported that the Federal Fisheries Council (CFP) established fishing quotas for hake (Merluccius hubbsi) for the current year: 277,000 tons for the south area (south of parallel 41°SL) and 35,000 tons for the north area (north of parallel 41°SL).

In addition, the authority set the catch quota for each vessel during 2013. The estimate was made working on a Total Allowable Catch (312,000 tons), reallocations and social reserves, as indicated by Resolution 22/12.

The report also indicates that those interested can visit the official document detailing the list of vessels, percentages and distributed tons.

Likewise, the CFP set the Individual Transferable Catch Quota (CITC) of three other species of hake:

• Hoki (Macruronus magellanicus): 94,000 tons;
• Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides): 3,500 tons;
• Southern blue whiting (Micromesistius australis): 33,000 tons.

Although one of the objectives of the establishment of individual catch quotas is to provide greater legal certainty to industry members, a vessel owner consulted by Pescare said it is “insignificant” when it comes to meeting the high cost of fuel for boats.

That view is shared by most members of the fishing industry, so they are working on finding ways to reduce operating costs

According to data provided by Argentina's Under Secretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture, which is under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MINAGRI), last year between January first and 31 December 2012, a total of 255,771.4 tons of common hake were landed; 58,573.1 tons of hoki; 7,080.1 tons of southern blue whiting, and 3,121.4 tons of toothfish.(FIS).-