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Squid jigger vessel. (Photo: Pesquera Madryn)
Squid fishing in national waters started
ARGENTINA
Friday, February 03, 2012, 23:50 (GMT + 9)
Since 1 February, Argentine jiggers are authorized to fish for squid (Illex argentinus) in national waters.
While in the past three seasons squid catches were low, the sector is cautiously waiting the results of this harvest, which will be marked by high operating costs and a shrinking market.
According to satellite data provided by the National Undersecretary of Fisheries, there were only 23 boats in operation south of 44th parallel shortly after the fishery was opened.
Most jiggers are in the quadrants 46° 63' and 46° 62', within the Area of Permanent Hake (Merluccius hubbsi) Ban.
Several of these boats were working at mile 201 with 100 other foreign vessels. There, their daily catch was about eight tonnes of squid, Pescare portal reports.
In addition to the fleet data on the evolution of the fishery, the campaign of the National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) will also be key to assess the status of the species.
The study will be conducted in the coming days, in order to estimate the biomass and the real number of South Patagonic pre-recruits with the distribution and areas of concentration of the other stocks.
The study will last about 26 days and will cover the area lying between the 45th and 51st parallels south, and 50m and 400m isobaths, Revista Puerto reported.
Over the past three seasons, jiggers caught:
- 72,603.9 tonnes in 2009;
- 85,987.9 tonnes in 2010;
- 74,277.3 tonnes in 2011.
The fisheries sector this year aims to reverse the negative trend, characterized by low catches, high costs to move the ships, and the European market crisis.
The Undersecretariat of Fisheries reported that between 1 January and 2 February 2012, 946.2 tonnes of squid were landed.
After analyzing the current situation of squid, the Undersecretary of Fisheries, Nestor Miguel Bustamante, announced in Chubut that he will work with the sector for the implementation of a series of actions to improve its situation.
"Recently, the sector reiterated drawbacks for lack of regularity in the conduct of research campaigns and called me to deepen the study of the resource", the undersecretary said.
"[...] I suggested an issue that matters to the Department, as it is to discuss the capture of the resource at mile 200, as a strategic and political issue, and also to mark our presence in that area", Bustamante added.
Related article:
- Undersecretary promises joint action with the main sectors
By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
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