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Fish canning factory. (Photo: Asipes- Revista El Pescador)
'El Nino' could benefit fishing for direct human consumption
PERU
Friday, July 20, 2012, 03:40 (GMT + 9)
Scotiabank expects that the possible presence of a mild El Niño phenomenon in 2013 would contribute to boosting fishing for direct human consumption (DHC).
Besides, it would benefit the increase of water level in reservoirs of the north coast of the country, said the senior analyst of the above mentioned bank, Pablo Nano.
If "El Niño" is weak to moderate, during the summer of the following year there will be a shift in anchovy towards the south.
In addition, this small pelagic fish will seek deeper water, making it difficult for fishermen to capture it and increasing the operating costs of fishing enterprises.
Nano also anticipates that it "could also generate a potential delay in the spawning period, which could delay the start of the first fishing season of 2013."
However, the analyst noted that warm water species, such as tuna, dolphinfish and bonito, will appear, which would allow an increase in catches for DHC, Andina agency reports.
Meanwhile, Patricia Majluf, former Fisheries Minister, warned that fishing activity fell by 7.63 per cent in May and she added that it could decline much more because of "El Niño" phenomenon.
Besides, she stressed that although climate changes affect the sector, the free capture of species should not be allowed because it would jeopardize the biomass.
"Such measures are taken in a hurry, as they only offer a temporary relief in a crisis, but there may be serious consequences," Majluf told the newspaper La República.
On the other hand, Juan Carlos Sueiro, an expert on fisheries issues, stated that in 2012 the sector recorded a normal behavior, with the capture of about six million tonnes of anchovy.
"It is a sector which varies a lot, since it is closely associated with the weather. The main aspect in this activity is the capture of anchovy for the fishmeal industry and what has happened this year is that it was difficult to capture the species due to climatic factors," he concluded.
Related article:
- Anchovy moving towards the south
By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
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