Giant squid, Dosidicus gigas. (Photo: Cámara de Diputados)

Chamber of Deputies approves bill regulating giant squid capture

CHILE
Saturday, May 19, 2018, 01:10 (GMT + 9)

With a strong support and in front of a wide citizenship attendance, including representatives of the artisanal and industrial fishing sectors, the Room of the House of Representatives approved in general the bill regulating giant squid capture.

In particular, the initiative, which now returns to the Fisheries Committee for a second report due to the presentation of indications, prohibits the trawling system that predominates in the industrial sector. 

The legal proposal, ratified by 99 votes in favour, 18 against and 10 abstentions, and returned to the Fisheries Committee for the analysis of the indications presented, was the subject of a broad debate - and at times, heated ones -- where the positions clashed in favour of one or the other fishing sector.

In general, those who opposed sought to defend the activity of the industrial sector. They argued that the bill will affect a significant amount of labour by eventually reducing the catch. In addition, they emphasized that the full potential for catching giant squid is not being exploited today, so that when the issue is regulated internationally, Chile would probably have a lower fishing quota.

In contrast, those who supported the initiative advocated the defense of the conservation of the fishery resource and tried not to incur errors of the past that have led to the collapse of some fisheries. In this regard, they criticized the trawling system carried out by the industry today (which does not discriminate size and includes accompanying fauna) and declared itself in favour of the modality used by the artisanal sector, which is characterized by more selective fishing.

The bill does not alter the fishing quotas that today are 20 per cent for the industrial sector and 80 per cent for the artisanal sector, but it advances in clarifying the capture method that may be used in this fishery.

Thus, in particular, it is defined that "the species Dosidicus gigas or giant squid, can only be caught using a trap and/or hand line as gear and/or fishing gear, being prohibited any other type of gear and/or fishing gear. "

Additionally, the initiative establishes that shipowners who violate this regulation will be sanctioned with a fine of 500 monthly tributary units and confiscation of hydrobiological species and/or products derived from them.

The initiative was born in a motion promoted by the deputies Daniel Núñez (PC) and Víctor Torres (DC).

According to the data provided to the Fisheries Committee by the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP), the giant squid is a generalist and cannibalistic predator, and has large historical fluctuations of abundance associated with environmental changes.

Related articles:

- Artesanal sector calls for support to eliminate trawling in giant squid catch
- Bill regulating giant squid capture splits industrial and artisanal sectors
- Fishing association rejects use of 'inhuman line' for catching giant squid

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