Encouraging expectations for the Illex argentinus squid season appear to be fading in Argentina. Following a start with good catches and high expectations, the average daily output of squid is now only around five tons in the area between parallels 44º and 46º South Atlantic.
Falkland Islands squid, sea-bass and king-clip were among the mouth watering morsels served to guests and buyers at a prestigious exhibition in the Czech capital of Prague last month.
The March 9 earthquake and tsunami destroyed most of Japan’s profitable salmon industry, but Japan’s loss may be Chile’s gain. <br />
The catastrophe directly hit the main fishing areas in the provinces of Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki and Chiaba, destroying 20% of the salmon industry and completely shutting down fishing ports.
Uruguayan fish industry instructors, technicians and professionals concluded this week a twenty day training course sponsored by Spain’s Ministry of environment, rural and marine affairs, on board the Spanish scientific research vessel Intermares.
Following on from the appearance of what appears to have been more jiggers than normal in Stanley harbour recently, Falkland Islands Director of Natural Resources John Barton says there are some 80 Illex jiggers licensed and fishing in Falkland Islands zones at present, and 88 jigging licences have been issued.
Critically low oxygen levels have been measured in a southern Californian harbour after millions of dead fish were washed up in Redondo Beach's marina, close to Los Angeles. A local scientist, Brent Scheiwe, said he took dissolved oxygen level readings in the harbour and found them at almost zero.
Argentine fish landings during the first two months of 2011 have dropped 30.4% compared to a year ago totalling 50.749 tons against 72.819 in 2010. Of the total volume, 40.632 tons were fisheries, 5.995 tons, molluscs and 4.121 tons crustaceans, according to the country’s Under Secretariat for Fisheries and Aquaculture.
Uruguay’s leading and largest fish processing company Fripur S.A. claimed in full page ads in Montevideo’s newspapers that it is the victim of a “strong media offensive” that “irresponsibly” questions the way in which it processes products that are sold both in Uruguay and overseas.
The Spanish embassy is closely following the difficulties faced by Spanish fishing companies in the port of Montevideo, some of which have decided to stop operating in Uruguay.
The first Argentine jiggers returning to the port of Mar del Plata to land their catches are reporting good volumes of Illex Argentinus and are eager to return to sea, according to the Argentine fisheries news magazine Pescare.