A severe crisis in Argentina's shrimp fishing industry, described as the worst in its history, has left 113 freezer vessels idle, 5,000 workers unemployed, and caused over US$200 million in export losses. The conflict stems from a dispute between fishing companies and unions (SOMU and Simape) over adjusting the Collective Labor Agreement, which ties workers' production bonuses to a 2005 shrimp price of US$12 per kilo.
Add your comment!At the age of 99, the documentary film-maker David Attenborough has achieved his greatest triumph. With a single film clip, he has signed the death warrant for one of the world’s most destructive industries: bottom trawling. The companies and countries that do it will go down fighting and it will take time, but they will go down.
Bottom trawling – a fishing method that involves dragging large nets along the sea floor – could be banned across more vulnerable areas of English seas. The government is committed to protecting UK oceans and has outlined plans to ban the destructive practice in more Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The measures would help protect rare marine animals, as well as the delicate sea-beds on which they rely, from indiscriminate and potentially irreversible damage.
Sue Gregory has worked as the GSGSSI Senior Marine & Fisheries Manager for the past 8 years. Prior to that Sue worked as a fisheries ecologist on the South Georgia Project at the British Antarctic Survey for many years, including overwintering on South Georgia, conducting research surveys and acting as a scientific observer on Southern Ocean commercial fishing vessels In the following GSGGSSI Newsletter, Sue relates her experience.
Tristan da Cunha, the world’s most remote inhabited island, has awarded its prized lobster concession to Fortuna Ltd, a British Overseas Territory-based company with global seafood operations.
British fishing and coastal communities will benefit from £360 million investment to drive growth and boost the sector for the future as the Government launches its Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund.
The reporting of fisheries statistics for illex and loligo and varieties of finfish in 2025 are considered perfectly standard, although sensitive, but almost a century ago the reporting of whaling statistics in Antarctica was the norm too even when the large numbers caused some dismay.
The global cephalopods market is under increasing strain as tight supply continues in early 2025. Reduced landings in key producing regions, adverse weather, and extra tariff barriers are contributing to upward pressure on cephalopod prices across major international markets, reports FAO’s Mohamed Hammi.
The Government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) is seeking expressions of interest for the Time Charter of a UK-flagged Fisheries Patrol Vessel (FPV).
The Falkland Islands Fishing Companies Association (FIFCA) and its Spanish associates said that following the early closure of the first Loligo season, (March first/27 April) given the scientific reports, and with total catches close to 38,000 tons, it was a relatively good season.