Loligo squid catches by tonnes. (Photo: Department of Fisheries of the Government of the Falkland Islands)

Fish catches drop in July

FALKLAND ISLANDS
Friday, August 10, 2012, 04:20 (GMT + 9)

The Department of Fisheries of the Government of the Falkland Islands reported that in July 2012 about 12,991 tonnes of fishery resources were captured, a figure which shows a decrease of 15.8 per cent over the same period in 2011, when 15,420 tonnes were obtained.

According to the Monthly Statistics Report issued by Fisheries authorities between January and July this year about 194,670 tonnes of fisheries resources were caught, that is to say, 13.5 per cent more than in the same period of 2011 (171,367 tonnes).

The document specifies that in July 6,361 tonnes of Loligo squid were caught, 10.1 per cent less than in the same month of 2011 (7,075 tonnes).

Meanwhile, 3,674 tonnes of rock cod (Patagonotothen ramsayi) and 945 tonnes of hake (Merluccius hubbsi and Merluccius australis) were caught in July 2012 compared to 858 tonnes in the same month of 2011.

In the seventh month of 2012 about 826 tonnes of hoki (Macruronus magellanicus) were caught, 70 per cent less than in July 2011 (2,775 tonnes), and 150 tonnes of red cod (Salilota australis), down 51 per cent year-on-year, among other resources.

Out of total catches in July, 8,254 tonnes were caught by the Falkland Islands fleet, 4,126 tonnes were captured by ships from Spain, and 611 tonnes were obtained by Korean vessels.

The Fisheries Department statistics also show that between January and July this year 87,019 tonnes of Illex squid were caught, that is to say, 9.6 per cent over the same period in 2011 (79,384 tonnes).

Furthermore, 45,643 tonnes of rock cod were caught in the first seven months of 2012, 41,357 tonnes of Loligo squid, 7,463 tonnes of hoki and 5,933 tonnes of hake, among other species.

By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com

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