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President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner presenting the fisheries regulation law. (Photo: Casarosada.gov.ar)
Individual catch quota law regulated
ARGENTINA
Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 23:20 (GMT + 9)
The President of Argentina announced Tuesday the regulation of the Fisheries Law that stipulates individual transferable catch quotas (ITQs) of common hake (Merluccius hubbsi) for 15 years, as of 2010. The measure also governs another three species: hoki (Macruronus magellanicus), Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) and southern blue whiting (Micromesistius australis).
The objective of this regulation is to offer predictability to companies and workers.
President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner emphasised that acceding to the quota required a company to “comply with one's duty before the Federal Administration of Public Income (AFIP) and the National Administration of Social Security (ANSES), and re-negotiate collective work agreements every two years.”
Companies that do not fulfill these requirements can be sanctioned by the Federal Fisheries Council (CFP) with a penalty as severe as “losing their fishing quota,” she added.
The CFP will be the entity in charge of determining the percentage of maximum catch allowed per species in an effort to avoid monopolistic concentrations.
“When all the sectors put their best foot forward and do not politicise the search for agreements, these achievements are reached,” the President indicated during the act attended by governmental authorities of Buenos Aires, Tierra del Fuego, Rio Negro, Santa Cruz and Chubut. Unions, the trade sector, seafood industry and production were also represented, and joined by Cabinet Head Anibal Fernandez, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fishing , Julian Dominguez; and the Fisheries and Aquaculture Subsecretary, Norberto Yahuar, among other officials.
Fernandez de Kirchner recalled that the Fisheries Law was sanctioned in January 1998 but was not regulated because “there were many interests.”
“We waited 12 years, but it was finally done,” she added.
A total of 226,726.6 tonnes of hake were landed between 1 January and 13 November of this year in Argentine maritime ports, reveal data furnished by the Subsecretariat of Fisheries and Agriculture. This volume represents a 3.3 per cent drop compared to the 234,387.8 tonnes landed in the same period in 2008.
The port of Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires received 152,751.1 tonnes of hake; Madryn Port, Chubut, 31,779.4 tonnes; and Caleta Paula, Santa Cruz, 10,647.1 tonnes.
They were followed by the port Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut, where 7,450.4 tonnes were unloaded; and the port terminal of San Antonio Este, Rio Negro, with 6,764.7 tonnes; among others.
According to official data, fresh fish vessels unloaded 143,903.5 tonnes of common hake, and trawlers, 55,179.8 tonnes. Coastal vessels, meanwhile, landed 16,530.9 tonnes and those of rada/ria, 10,269.1 tonnes, among other fishing vessels.
Related articles:
- Revision of hake-fixing process ends
- 15-yr quotas fixed for three fish species
By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
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