MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina CFP set the maximum allowable catch at 2,500 tonnes for toothfish

According to the Federal Fisheries Law, no company or business grouping may exceed 35 per cent of the MAC over toothfish.

As a precautionary measure, the Fishery Federal Council (CFP) will establish a 2,500-tonnes maximum allowable catch (MAC) on toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) for the current year.

As a precautionary measure, the Fishery Federal Council (CFP) will establish a 2,500-tonnes maximum allowable catch (MAC) on toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) for the current year. CFP members agreed during a meeting held last 25 January to distribute 30 per cent of the MAC established, or 750 tonnes, to the sector targeting incidental catches, to be subject to the valid norm in the fishery of the species. While the remaining 70 per cent (1,750 tonnes) will be distributed among the fishing boats that meet a series of conditions, as indicated by Act N° 1/2007 of the CFP. One condition is that vessels should demonstrate a history of toothfish catches greater than one per cent over the species' total catches, and that during 2003 and 2004 they must have caught over three per cent of toothfish of the total catch. In order to distribute the quota catches among the vessels that meet stipulated conditions they took into account their proportional participation over the total catches comprehended between the years 1989 and 1996. According to the Federal Fisheries Law, no company or business grouping may exceed 35 per cent of the MAC over toothfish. Should the percentage be exceeded, authorities will reduce the remainder proportionate to each vessel or business group, and form part of the administration's reserve quota. It also granted catch authorisations of this species to the following: 875 tonnes to the company Estremar S.A. (35 per cent); 320.5 tonnes for Argenova S.A. (12.82 per cent); 213 tonnes for the Fishery Exploitation of Patagonia (8.52 per cent); and 208.1 tonnes for Pesantar S.A. (8.32 per cent). According to data of the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food, between 1 January and 31 December of 2006, there were 1,284.5 tonnes of toothfish, or 0.5 per cent less than the same period in 2005, when 1,289 tonnes were landed.