Argentina exported 142.405 tons of fish and shellfish valued at 423 million dollars in the first five months of 2012, according to official statistics from the National Health Service and Food Quality, Senasa.
Argentina and Uruguay agreed a ban on hake catching in the shared maritime zone beginning next July first, confirmed on Thursday Uruguayan Aquatic Resources Department (Dinara) sources.
Uruguay fish exports increased 20% in volume and the average ton price 22%, with Brazil, China and Nigeria as the main markets during the twelve months of 2011, according to a release from the country’s Aquatic Resources Department, Dinara.
Argentina exported 24.479 tons of fish and shellfish valued at 81.4 million dollars in January 2012, according to the latest statistics from the National Health and Agri-food Quality Service, Senasa. This represents a fall of 13.2% in volume and 5.6% in value compared with the same month last year, 28.198 tons and 86.2 million dollars.
Argentina exported 365.372 tons of fish and shellfish valued at 1.16 billion dollars in the first ten months of 2011, according to statistics from the National Health Service and Food Quality, Senasa. Hake, shrimp and squid were the three main items in that order.
Uruguay and Argentina agreed on a three months ban for the hake fisheries in the jointly shared maritime zone with the purpose of protecting juveniles and contribute to the conservation of the resource.
The Joint Technical Commission for Maritime Front (CTMFM) ordered a 60-day winter ban on hake (Merluccius hubbsi) in the Argentina-Uruguay Common Fishing Zone (CFZ), effective August 1 until September 30.
Argentina suspended the hake season in the south of Patagonia and banned squid operations following on scientific reports of over fishing that have considerably limited catches of both species said industry sources following an official audit which questions government fisheries controls.
Argentina’s seafood exports in the first quarter of 2011 totalled 78,493 tons valued at 218 million US dollars which represents a 14.9% in volume (92.220 tons) and 3.3% in value (211 million USD), according to the latest release from the National Service for Food Health and Quality, Senada.
For 2011, the European Commission (EC) intends to maintain fishing quotas for hake in the waters of the North (Gran Sol and North Sea) and increase catches by 15 per cent in waters of the South (from the Bay of Biscay to the Gulf of Cadiz, including the coasts of Galicia and Portugal).