Horse mackerel fishing in 2011 will drop significantly. (Photo: YouTube)

Drastic cuts to horse mackerel quota

CHILE
Friday, December 10, 2010, 22:40 (GMT + 9)

The National Fisheries Council (CNP) has approved a drastic reduction in the quota for horse mackerel (Trachurus murphy), which will go from 1.3 million tonnes set for this year, to 315,000 tonnes in 2011.

The head of the Subsecretary of Fisheries, Pablo Galilea, who had recommended the reduction in quotas on the main fishing resource of the country, said the resolution was shown "general support by the industry to ensure the preservation of horse mackerel."

Galilea added that with this measure, Chile may "lead the battle for water conservation at the next meeting of the Regional Organization for the South Pacific Fisheries (ORP), which will be held next January in Cali, Colombia.

Reducing the amount of horse mackerel is added to the quota cuts approved by the NPC for hake (13 per cent), Southern hake (8 per cent), hoki in Regions V-XII (20 per cent) and golden kingclip (22 per cent).

The decision was approved by a large majority of 19 votes in favor, 5 against and one abstentee. Those that voted against were the representatives of the fishing industries of the North, such as Asipnor and the Angelini group, and delegates from universities and the artisanal sector in the area.

The 2011 catch quota for horse mackerel is the lowest in history for this resourse, since its establishment in 2001. This year, they also recorded the lowest levels of landings, with 446,711 tonnes.

The quota for 2011 includes a "disaster" percentage, which includes an extra 31,000 tonnes for the areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami of 27 February. Without this contribution, the actual quota next year would have been 284,000 tonnes.

Rodrigo Sarquis, president of the National Fishing Society (Sonapesca), stressed the importance of reducing the fishing effort on this species, but also acknowledged that it will be "a challenge" for the industry and artisanal fisheries to operate at these levels.

Sarquis said one of the options to address the situation would be to favour human consumption in order to generate higher value added production and minimize the impact on employment.

The CNP's decision was applauded by the non-governmental organization Oceana. However, the NGO also asked the Government to strengthen some aspects of the Fisheries Act so that it prohibits the Council to set annual quotas on the numbers recommended by the Institute of Fishing Development (IFOP).

Related articles:

- Fishing quotas for 2011 defined
- Industry concerned over sharp decline in horse mackerel quota
- Lower mackerel quota to impact on employment

By Silvina Corniola
[email protected]
www.seafood.media

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