Argentina’s catch increases, squid up 15%

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Fisheries landings at Argentine ports totalled 594,950 tonnes in the first 10 months of 2010, which is 3.1% higher than in the same period of 2009, when landings reached 576,624 tonnes. The increase was due largely to improved catches of squid (Illex argentinus).

Landings comprised 451,193 tonnes of fish, 82.969 tonnes of molluscs and 60,788 tonnes of crustaceans, according to statistics released by the Sub Secretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

The main catch was hake (Merluccius hubbsi) with 227,406 tonnes, which represents a rise of 9.7% over the 207,173 tonnes landed in the period up to 30 October 2009. Hake was followed by squid with 75,832 tonnes, 14.9% more than in the first 10 months of 2009, when landings totalled 65,983 tonnes.

Other significant landings include: hoki (Macruronus magellanicus) 62,058 tonnes; haddock (Genypterus blacodes) 4,354 tonnes; stingray (Potamotrygon brachyura) 13,871 tonnes; and croaker (Micropogonias furnieri) 12,661 tonnes.

Long-tail hake (Cynoscion striatus) catches were 10,818 tonnes, while there were 6,397 tonnes of smooth-hound (Mustelus schmitti), 5,644 tonnes of southern cod (Salilota australis); 5,155 tonnes of flounder (Paralichthys patagonicus) and 4,044 tonnes of porgy (Pagrus pagrus).

Regarding shellfish, 6,665 tonnes of scallops (Zygochlamys patagonica) were landed, along with 60,510 tonnes of shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri).

Mar del Plata (Buenos Aires province) continues to retain leadership in Argentine fisheries landings with 343,789 tonnes in the 10-month period. Puerto Madryn (Chubut) ranked second, with 92,918 tonnes; Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego), with 72,812 tonnes; Puerto Deseado (Santa Cruz), 33,901 tonnes; San Antonio East (Río Negro), 11,798 tonnes, and Caleta Olivia/Paula (Santa Cruz), 9,097 tonnes.

The fleet with the highest level of catch in the 10-month period was that of fresh fish vessels with 204,501 tonnes. Ranked behind were trawlers with 159,382 tonnes; coastal vessels with 68,292 tonnes; Argentine flagged jiggers with 65,506 tonnes and beam trawler vessels with 49,865 tonnes, among others.

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