Outrigger trawler. (Photo: CaPeCA)

CaPeCa requests INIDEP to expand the shrimp exploration area to the north

ARGENTINA
Friday, September 22, 2017, 21:10 (GMT + 9)

During the meeting of the Federal Fisheries Council held on Thursday, the INIDEP Shrimp Program reports on the performance of the fleet selected for prospecting the area between the parallels 44º S and 43º S and the longitudes 61º 30 'W and 64° W.

The report of the Hake and By-Catch Fauna Program was also received on the incidental catch of hake obtained by the shrimp fleet from August 12 to September 1, 2017.

During the survey of shrimp, 10 outrigger boats were operated with observers on board, exploring the area divided into two subareas. The first one between the parallels 44° and 43° 30' S, and the meridians 61° 30' and 64° W, which showed average daily yields per vessel of 5,890 kilos per hour, with a proportion of 8 per cent of shrimp.

In Subarea II the average was 3,600 kilos per hour with a by-catch rate of 16 per cent. The sizes of the specimens in both zones are 90 per cent of L1 and L2.

On the basis of these data and although there was a proportion of hake higher than that permitted by fisheries legislation and fisheries management models, fishing was authorised in both areas. The decision to sacrifice a percentage of hake for the shrimp fishery appears to be already naturalized.

These data correspond to the catches made up to September 12 and the dynamics of the fishery lead to the constant evaluation of other areas, either due to falling yields or to increased proportion of hake, which becomes an annoying species for those who have another goal.

In that context, CaPeCA's request can be understood, which is already asking for the expansion of the prospecting area that was entered this week for evaluation by the Council.

They call for a half-degree opening to the east and a half degree to the west, "by virtue of the yields obtained by the freezer outrigger fleet". The Council took note of the complaint and asked INIDEP for its technical opinion on the possibility of extending the prospecting of shrimp north of the 43° S parallel and defining whether in view of the situation of the fishery between the parallels 44° and 45° S, the area should be left open to fishing or proceed to the closure.

On the other hand, the councilors also took note of the report of the Hake and By-Catch Fishery Program, in which it was announced that the proportion of hake in the catch of the shrimp fleet that operated between the parallels 44º and 45º S from August 12 to September 1, was between 3 per cent and 20 per cent.

Obviously the discussion that comes is what will be the percentage of accompanying hake that will be admitted because more than 10 per cent is not allowed and therefore, work is being carried out outside the rules; and to cling to them there are only two possible ways, to respect or change them.

Source: Karina Fernández /Revista Puerto

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