Since 2010, and following INIDEP recommendations , the Federal Fisheries Council has implemented increasingly strict catch limits for this fishery, along with closed areas in breeding zones. In this context, Argentine trawler owners have repeatedly requested the national government to investigate the biological behaviour, health and yields of this species. However, unfortunately, to date, the response of the various national governments, also following INIDEP recommendations, has been an excessively precautionary approach.

 

 

 

The consultations carried out by CAPEAR ALFA since its creation, as well as by many other shipowners and fishermen in previous years, have not had significant responses or repercussions on this fishery. This situation has persisted, since kingclip is not among the main resources of exploitation.

The organization revealed that it has requested "commercial surveys based on biological foundations that would have contributed to creating a solid database on this species. However, we regret that these surveys have been poorly developed. After nine attempts in different years and times, planned and recommended by the INIDEP technical team, we have been verbally informed that the results are not relevant and that they contribute little to the data they need . "

 

In this context, they argue that "to date, no research campaign has been carried out on the kingclip species (Genypterus blacodes). Each year, they have limited themselves to evaluating landing statistics, the results of which have shown a constant decrease in catches. This is evidently due to the increasing restrictions imposed on this fishery. However, INIDEP concluded that, since landings were decreasing, the resource was in crisis. As a consequence, more restrictions, closed areas and more severe landing limits were implemented, reaching a representation of only 3% of the accompanying species," they explained regarding the evolution of the approaches before the competent authority.

 

 

The Mar del Plata-based CAPEAR ALFA has presented a detailed summary of the different requests made to the Federal Fisheries Council, which have not been met. "Over the years, private actors have made numerous efforts and surveys to obtain updated information on kingclip. In 2013, we requested a survey in specific areas, highlighting the importance of this species as an alternative for fishing. In 2016, we reported on extraordinary catches of kingclip and asked for justification for the greater incidental catch due to fortuitous conditions ," they said.

 

 

 

 

In this context, they warn that "the presence of foreign fleets operating in the Adjacent Zone and unloading in Montevideo, declaring their catches as originating in Spain, has increased unfair competition. These fleets caught 25,600 tons of kingclip (known as 'pink' in the Iberian Peninsula) , as of October 31, 2020, while in Argentina only 2,877 tons were caught in the same year."

 

“Today, after 13 years of bans and disincentives, the situation has reached a critical point. There is so much kingclip that the boats, as soon as they approach the dock, catch between 30 and 40 tons. However, they cannot bring it to port and, if they do, they face heavy fines , ” they conclude, describing the process of handling this species and not just the final photo of its arrival at the dock . Nelson points out that this situation is pending a debate.