MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Shrimp saves the day for Argentine seafood exports in first four months

Shrimp sales with 20,482 tons, were up 88.3% over a year ago, 10,877 tons.

Argentina seafood exports totaled 116,738 tons during the first four months of the year, which shows an increase of 2.9% over the same 2013 period in 2013, when 113,419 tons were shipped abroad. Strong shrimp exports helped offset lower volumes of fish.

 According to statistics from the National Health and Food Quality Service, (SENASA) in the first four months of this year 65,078 tons of fish were exported, 8.9% less than a year ago, 71,374 tons.

Besides, 51,660 tons of seafood were exported, 22.8% more than in the same period last year were, 42,045 tons. The largest volumes were those of hake (Merluccius hubbsi), with 32,572 tons, down 2.6% compared to 33,425 tons in the first four months of 2013.

Squid (Illex argentinus) was the second item: 27,171 tons, 3.1% less than in the first four months of last year (28,013 tons), and shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri), with 20,482 tons, 88.3% up over a year ago, 10,877 tons.

Among resources with increased shipments is Patagonian scallop (Zygochlamys patagonica), with sales up 7.2%, from 2,264 tons between January and April 2013 to 2,429 tons in the same period of 2014.

Patagonian anchovy (Engraulis anchoita) exports registered a slight improvement from 4,563 to 4,610 tons (1%); and fin rays (Potamotrygon brachyura) rose from 1,254 tons to 1,889 tons (50.6%).

The species that recorded declines when comparing the first four months of 2014 to the same period last year were: Whitemouth croaker (Micropogonias furnieri): 17% (from 7,155 to 5,941 tons); Hoki: 43.5%, from 4, 885 to 2,762 tons; Weakfish (Cynoscion striatus): 30.2%, from 3,760 to 2,625 tons); Kingklip, 22.9% from 913 to 704 tons. (FIS).