Spain's Agriculture, Fisheries and Food minister Luis Planas admitted the fishing industry could suffer dramatic consequences with a no-deal Brexit, one of several options after this week's parliament events in London. Minister Planas had revealed that in the case of a hard-Brexit, all Spanish fishing vessels will have to immediately abandon United Kingdom waters immediately.
Argentina's National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development, INIDEP, has started a scientific survey aimed at assessing the Southern king crab (Lithodes santolla) in its central Patagonian distribution area. This is the third consecutive year in which the survey is carried out and includes the San Jorge Gulf and platform waters, between 43° 30 'and 48° South latitude, in jurisdictions of the Nation, and Chubut and Santa Cruz provinces.
The Peruvian Ministry of Production has established the maximum allowable catch of the Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) resource for the current year at 161 tones. According to ministerial Resolution 007/2019, the quota may be modified if the Institute of the Sea Peru has proven evidence of greater availability of the resource, for which purpose it shall remit the recommendation with the corresponding measures to the Production ministry.
On 1 January, the wasteful practice of throwing fish discards overboard became illegal in waters of the European Union. Scientists believe the policy will lead to more efficient fisheries and eventually boost stocks.
China's “insatiable appetite” for seafood is straining the limited abilities of South American countries to enforce their maritime boundaries, according to an article in Dialogo, a website run by US Southern Command. Countries on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts have been affected, and most of the illicit fishing activity in those areas is done by Chinese vessels.
Growing numbers of bluefin tuna are being seen in the waters around the UK because of the warming impact of a long-term ocean current say researchers. These large, speedy fish are a globally endangered species and almost disappeared from the UK around 40 years ago.
Galicia's Rampesca and the Falkland Islands RBC have ordered a new 63.7 meters long and 1.500 gross tonnage freezer trawler from Nodosa Shipyard, according to shipbuilding sources in Vigo. The new vessel is expected to replace the Castelao, and construction will begin this January. It will replicate much of the recently delivered Monteferro.
New European Union rules on fishing quotas could have a grave impact on the UK's fishing industry, a House of Lords committee has said - just a day before the new policy is introduced. Under previous rules, crews often discarded, into the sea, fish that took them over their quota for that species. But under the new policy, fishers must bring the full haul back to shore. This change is to stop fish being wasted.
Argentina has appointed an auditor/administrator for the National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP), former R/Admiral Marcelo Lobbosco, who was head of Buenos Aires province ports. During his 180-day term (with a possible extension of another 180 days), and according to Decree 1127, Lobbosco must try to overcome the staff disputes which have impeded the normal activity of research cruises.
Chile's National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (SERNAPESCA) has established zoning areas following the detection and outbreak of the ISA virus, Infectious Salmon Anemia at Rowlett 749 center in the Patagonia Aysén Region.