Daily anchovy catch limits set

SPAIN
Wednesday, February 10, 2010, 01:00 (GMT + 9)

Representatives of the Cantabrian and Northwest fishers guilds federations fixed the maximum quota of weekly and daily anchovy captures per vessel for next season. Although initially the delegates of the ports of Biscay, Guipuzcoa, Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia had quite different opinions, they reached an agreement “benefitting all the ships and securing the best prices on the wholesale market.” Now they are limiting landings to 1,000 kilograms per crew member and week, with a maximum of 5,000 kg per day and ship in cases where the anchovy tallies less than 38 units in each kilogram. When captures correspond to smaller units, they can reach up to 5,000 kg per fisher per week, but within a maximum harvest per vessel of 2,000 kg daily, El Correo Digital reports. Of the total allowable catch (TAC) of 7,000 tonnes fixed by Brussels, Cantabria vessels boast a 5,500-tonne anchovy quota. The sector spokesmen explained that they are trying to auto-regulate themselves t... FULL STORY