Authors: L. B. Prenski, M. Morales-Yokobori (OIA) J. Bridi, M.A. Gasalla y C. Minte-Vera (Invited Assessment Team Experts)
Argentinean Bonaerense Anchovy (Engraulis anchoita) Industrial Semi-pelagic Mid-water Trawl Net Fishery
Assessment against MSC Principles and Criteria
FINAL PUBLIC REPORT
Certification Body: Client Group (contact): Organización Internacional Agropecuaria (OIA) G.P. Carlos Rodríguez Av. Santa Fe 830 – Acassuso - (B1641ABN) CENTAURO S.A. Buenos Aires – Argentina Diagonal Garibaldi 4825 Tel/Fax: (54-11) 4798-9084 / 4793-4340 (7600) Mar del Plata – Argentina http://www.oia.com.ar Tel/Fax: (54-223) 480-6979 / 489-7220
G.G. Martin Di Scala DELICIAS S.A. San Salvador 3235 Mar del Plata – Argentina Tel: (54-223) 489-2814
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
Acknowledgements
To Lic. Carolina Medina Foucher and Miss Ma. Laura Laco for their collaboration with the Public Draft Report
2
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
Index
Acknowledgements ...... 2 Index ...... 3 1 Summary ...... 6 2 Introduction ...... 7 2.1 The Fishery Proposed for Assessment ...... 7 2.2 Certification and Assessment Process Applied ...... 8 3 Glossary of Acronyms Used in the Report ...... 10 4 Background to the Fishery ...... 12 4.1 Introduction ...... 12 4.2 Anchovy Biology ...... 12 4.3 History of the Argentine Anchovy Fishery ...... 16 4.4 Anchovy Landings ...... 17 4.4.1 2008 Annual Catch – Bonaerense Management Unit ...... 20 4.4.2 2009 Annual Catch – Bonaerense Management Unit ...... 21 4.5 Fleet Description ...... 22 4.6 Operational Area Description ...... 24 4.7 Fishing Gear ...... 27 5 Legal and management framework ...... 29 5.1 Institutions Dealing with the Fisheries and Ecosystem Management, Control and Enforcement at International Level ...... 29 5.1.1 Technical Commission of Rio de la Plata River and it Maritime Front Treaty29 5.2 Institutions Dealing with the Fisheries and Ecosystem Management, Control and Enforcement at Federal Level ...... 31 5.2.1 Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MINAGRI) ...... 31 5.2.2 Animal Health and Food Sanitary Service (SENASA) ...... 39 5.2.3 Federal Fisheries Council (FFC) ...... 40 5.2.4 Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Development (SAyDS) ...... 44 5.3 Fisheries Research Institutions ...... 44 5.3.1 National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) ...... 44 5.3.2 Research Centre for Fishing Technology and Regional Foods (CITEP) ..... 47 5.4 Institutions Dealing with Fisheries Monitoring and Enforcement ...... 47 5.4.1 Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MINAGRI) ...... 47 5.4.2 Coast Guard (PNA) ...... 48 5.4.3 Argentine Navy (AA) ...... 48
3
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
5.5 Foreign Affairs and Fisheries ...... 49 5.5.1 Ministry of Foreign, International Trade and Religious Affairs ...... 49
6 Stock Assessment ...... 51 6.1 Assessment and Stock Status ...... 51 6.2 Distribution, Acoustic evaluation and Population Structure of Argentine anchovy...... 58 6.3 Management Advice ...... 59 7 Ecosystem characteristics ...... 64 7.1 Introduction ...... 64 7.2 Incidental capture. Retained and bycatch species ...... 66 7.2.1 Overview ...... 66 7.2.2 Retained and By-Catch species ...... 66 7.3 ETP Species ...... 71 7.3.1 Summary ...... 71 7.3.2 Marine Birds ...... 71 7.3.3 Marine Mammals ...... 72 7.3.4 Chondrichthyes ...... 73 7.4 Habitat ...... 73 7.5 Ecosystem impacts...... 74 7.5.1 Fishing Ecosystem ...... 74 7.5.2 Food Chain ...... 75 7.5.3 Competition: Inter and Intraspecific ...... 76 7.5.4 Predation ...... 78 7.6 Perspectives on sustainable exploitation and captures in Brazil with an ecosystem perspective ...... 83 8 Legal and Political Frameworks ...... 84 8.1 Legal Framework ...... 84 8.1.1 Constitution and Environmental Norms ...... 84 8.1.2 Background to the Federal Fisheries Law ...... 85 8.1.3 Specific Regulations of Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery ...... 88 8.1.4 Monitoring, Control and Surveillance of Fishing and Marketing of Fisheries Products ...... 90 8.1.5 Monitoring Systems, Control and Surveillance of Anchovy Fishery ...... 92 8.1.6 Synthesis of Management Legal Framework for the Argentinean Anchovy Fishery ...... 92
9 Other Fisheries Relevant to this Assessment ...... 98 10 Background to the Evaluation ...... 99 10.1 Standard Used ...... 99
4
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
10.2 Assessment Team and Peer Reviewers ...... 101 10.3 Previous Certification Evaluations ...... 103 11 Stakeholder Consultation ...... 104 12 Scoring ...... 106 12.1 Introduction to Scoring Methodology ...... 106 12.2 Scoring Tables ...... 106 13 Assessment results ...... 108 13.1 Achieved scores on MSC Principles ...... 108 13.2 Achieved scores on MSC Performance Indicators ...... 109 Principle 1 ...... 109 Principle 2 ...... 131 Principle 3 ...... 170
14 Action Plan ...... 196 14.1 Certification Eligibility Date ...... 196 14.2 Steps followed by the Clients ...... 196 14.3 Conditions Established by the OIA Assessment Team ...... 198 14.2.1. Principle 1 ...... 198 14.2.2. Principle 2 ...... 201
15 Evaluation Results...... 205 15.1 Determination ...... 205 15.2 Tracking and Tracing Fish and Fish Products ...... 205 15.2.1. Federal regulations supporting tracking and tracing systems ...... 205 15.2.2. Tracking and tracing system in the Bonaerense anchovy fishery ...... 207
16 Peer Review and Assessment Team responses ...... 211 16.1 First Peer Reviewer comments and Assessment Team responses ...... 211 16.2 Second Peer Reviewer comments and Assessment Team responses ...... 227 16.3 Final considerations ...... 242 Appendix I: Stakeholders Consultation...... 243 Stakeholders comments ...... 243 Letter from Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina (FVSA) ...... 249 Appendix II: Relevant catch data associated to the Bonaerense anchovy fishery ...... 251 References ...... 255
5
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
1 Summary
Delicias S.A. and Centauro S.A. requested Organización Internacional Agropecuaria (OIA) to carry out the Full-Assessment of the Bonaerense anchovy (Engraulis anchoita) fishery. No Pre-Assessment was done as the companies considered highly likely to meet the MSC Principles and Criteria as catch developed by the fishery is considerably lower than the TAC established by fishery authorities, based on a BAC recommended by the scientific authority. Additionally, anchovy catch values on this fishery are of minimal impact in relation to stock biomass and consumption by main predators while this fishery has an existence of more than sixty years in Argentina. Therefore, it was decided to conduct the Full-Assessment. Both Delicias S.A. and Centauro S.A. are licensed by the Federal Fisheries Council (FFC) to fish anchovy in Argentina. The Argentine anchovy (Engraulis anchoita) fishery, Management Unit Bonaerense, Industrial Semi-pelagic Mid-water Trawl Net Fishery operates in the area of the Mix Technical Commission of the Maritime Front (CTMFM) and in the area North of 41ºS in the Argentine Sea. The OIA Assessment Team decided to apply the MSC Risk Based Framework on the Outcome Status Performance Indicators for retained, bycatch, habitat and ecosystem components while for the rest of the MSC Performance Indicators to use the MSC Default Assessment Tree. Stakeholders were given the opportunity to make submissions, following the current MSC procedures. The Assessment Team scored the fishery on the MSC Principles as follows:
Principle Description Score
1 Outcome status and Harvest strategy 85.00
2 Fishing impact on ecosystem components 82.00
Governance and Policy and Fishery-specific 3 91.88 Management System
The OIA Assessment Team has recommended the certification of the Argentine anchovy (Engraulis anchoita) fishery, Management Unit Bonaerense, Industrial Semi-pelagic Mid-water Trawl Net Fishery with conditions on Principle 1 and 2. Organización Internacional Agropecuaria will make the final determination on certification.
6
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
2 Introduction
This report provides the results of the assessment of the Argentine Anchovy Bonaerense (Engraulis anchoita) fishery considered for certification against the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Fisheries.
2.1 The Fishery Proposed for Assessment
The MSC Guidelines to Certifies specify that the U nit of Certification (UoC) is “The fishery or fish stock (=biologically distinct unit) combined with the fishing method/gear and practice (=vessel(s) pursuing the fish of that stock) and management framework”.
The fishery considered for certification is therefore defined as:
Species Common Name: Anchoíta (Argentina), Argentine anchovy (English) Species Latin Name: Engraulis anchoita Anchovy (Engraulis anchoita) -Management Unit Unit of Certification: Bonaerense- Semi-pelagic Mid-water Trawl Net Fishery The distribution area spans from southern Brazil to 41ºS in the South American cone in Atlantic waters, basically on the Argentine and Uruguay continental platform and the Stock region: associated slopes, to a range of 450 miles from the coast. The main area covered is under the administration of the joint Commission from Argentina and Uruguay (CTMFM), and Argentinean Federal waters. Common name of the South West Atlantic (Argentine and Uruguay seas). body of water where fishery occurs:
FAO Statistical Area: 41 There are two management units in Argentine Federal waters: North (Bonaerense) and South (Patagónico) 41º S. Local Fisheries The management area in consideration for this assessment Management Areas: is the Bonaerense stock involving the administration of the Mix Technical Commission of Maritime Front (CTMFM) and Argentina waters until 41º S.
Fishing season: August to November
7
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
Fishery Application Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MinAgri) Authority - Sub-secretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (SSPyA) Mix Technical Commission of Maritime Front (CTMFM, Fishery Management Argentina-Uruguay) and Federal Fishery Council (CFP, Authority Argentina) Client Group: Delicias S.A. and Centauro S.A.
Contact details from Clients:
Mr Martin Di Scala Mr Carlos Rodríguez DELICIAS S.A. CENTAURO S.A. San Salvador 3235 Dg. J. Garibaldi 4825 Mar del Plata – Buenos Aires Mar del Plata – Buenos Aires Argentina Argentina Tel: (54-223) 489 2814 Tel: (54-223) 489 0361
Both clients have between 15 to 20% of the catch of the Bonaerense anchovy stock. Their vessels, licensed as part of the unit of certification, are:
Catch in tonnes Code Name HP Length (m) Group Company 2008 2009 6224 RAFFAELA 624 26.5 DELICIAS S.A 936 640 6194 ATREVIDO 900 32.5 High Sea CENTAURO S.A 1211 1969 Ice-chilling 6305 ARGENTINO 1000 34.8 CENTAURO S.A 2189 0 Vessel 6222 SFIDA 624 26.5 CENTAURO S.A 580 1054 6491 CENTAURO 1300 35.5 CENTAURO S.A 0 0
2.2 Certification and Assessment Process Applied
The aim of the assessment is to determine the degree of compliance of the fishery with the MSC Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Fishing. The process applied has followed the MSC Fisheries Certification Methodology, with attention to: (1) Compliance of the fishery with regulations for federally managed fisheries in Argentina. (2) Management of the fishery. (3) The adequacy of the research programme and outcome applications to the fishery.
8
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
(4) Control of fishing pressure and actions to maintain the sustainability of the resource. (5) The impact of the fishery on the ecosystem, including endangered, threatened or protected species. (6) The level of understanding of the species physiology, population dynamics, recruitment dynamics, fishing and natural mortalities, and its application to fishery management.
The assessment follows the Risk Based Framework on the Outcome Indicators for retained, bycatch, habitat and ecosystem components while the MSC Default Performance Indicators (PIs) and Scoring Guideposts (SGs) for the rest of the indicators (MSC FAM Version 2.1).
This assessment was concerned only with the fishery defined above. This report includes:
The background of the fishery proposed for assessment;
Lists of the literature and information sources considered by the assessment team;
Key aspects considered in the full assessment;
The standard (MSC Principles and Criteria) used to evaluate the fishery against;
The qualifications and experience of the team undertaking the assessment (curriculum vitae were obtained from scientists with experience in anchovy and pelagic fisheries and/or fisheries management for evaluation and consideration);
Names of the Peer Reviewers (curriculum vitae were obtained from scientists with experience in anchovy and pelagic fisheries and/or fisheries management for evaluation and consideration);
The consultative process carried out with stakeholders, including all parties with a legitimate interest in the management of the fishery, including fishers, management authorities, scientists and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). Opportunity for inputs was provided during all stages of the assessment process to ensure fairness and transparency, either or not required by MSC procedures;
Stakeholder concerns in relation to the assessment of the fishery;
The application of the Risk Based Framework to Outcome Indicators of retained, bycatch, habitat and ecosystem components, following MSC methodologies;
The methodology used to assess and score the fishery against the MSC Standard, including scoring indicators and guideposts, together with the assigned scores and the respective rationales.
9
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
3 Glossary of Acronyms Used in the Report
AA Argentine Navy AEEZ Argentine Economic Exclusive Zone AFIP Federal Administration of Public Revenue BRL Reproductive Individuals Biomass CBA CCAMLR Convention for the Conservation of Antartic Marine Living Resources CENADAC National Aquaculture Development Centre CINCOPE Integrated Control Centre for Fishing Activities CITEP Research Centre for Fisheries Technology and Regional Food CITES Convention International Trade in Endangered Species Fauna and Flora CONICET Advisory Centre of Scientific and Technological Research CONVEMAR Convention for the Sea Rights CTMFM Mix Technical Commission of Maritime Front DGS Customer General Directorate EEC Economic European Community FAO Food and Agriculture Organization FFC Federal Fisheries Council FONAPE National Fisheries Found INIDEP National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development INTI National Institute of Industrial Technology IPOA Incidental Catch of Marine Birds in Fisheries ITQs Individual Transferable Quotas IUU Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency MINAGRI Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries MSC Marine Stewardship Council NGO Non-Governmental Organization OIA Organización Internacional Agropecuaria PAN National Action Plan PIs Performance Indicators PNA Coast Guard SAGPyA Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries SAyDS Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Development SENASA Animal Health and Food Safety Service SGs Scoring Guideposts SSPyA Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture TAC Total Allowable Catch TG Technical Groups UNCLOS United Nations Conventions on the Law of the Sea UoC Unit of Certification VMS Vessel Monitoring System
10
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
ZCPAU Argentine-Uruguayan Common Fishing Zone
11
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
4 Background to the Fishery
4.1 Introduction
The Argentine anchovy (Engraulis anchoita) is a small pelagic fish occurring in the Argentine Sea and is the most important pelagic fishing resource. It is found at the intermediate or higher water layers, keeping its independence from the bottom, down to the continental slope. It is remarkable their capacity to form schools during the diurnal cycle and their dispersal at night, forming layers near the surface (Angelescu, 1982; Hansen & Madirolas, 1996; Castello, 1997); their migration and their high-lipid content (Pastous Madureira et al. 2009). It is important to mention that about half of the world fishing production coming from the fishing of pelagic resources it is not destined to the human consumption but to fishmeal (Bailey, 1992).
The Argentine anchovy belongs to the same taxonomic family that provides, in other parts of the world, the sustenance to high-volume production fisheries, such as the Peruvian Anchovy (Engraulis ringens) and, to a lesser extent, E. mordaz at the North Pacific, E. encrasicolus in Europe, E. japonicus in Japan, and E. capensis in southern Africa. On the other hand, the anchovy resource is by itself the basic food for a large number of other fishing resources.
The largest quantity of anchovy landed in Argentina occurs in the port of Mar del Plata, with a volume of 20,000 to 30,000 tons a year. This stock neither has suffered any collapse nor has been indicated any risks of overexploitation. Below, it is summarized the available knowledge on the species and the fishery under assessment.
4.2 Anchovy Biology
The Argentine anchovy occurs from southern Brazil (24º S) to Patagonian Waters (48º S), from shallow waters to beyond the continental slope, found even at a distance of 450 miles offshore. Evidence suggests the existence of three anchovy subpopulations, located on the following zones (see Figure 1): i) “Patagonia”, between 47º S and 41º S; ii) “Bonaerense”, between 41º S to southern Brazil, and iii) “Brasilera”, between the Santa Maria Grande Cape (29º S) and Vitória Cape (20º S) (Pastous Madureira et al. 2009)
12
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
Figure 1: Spatial distribution of anchovy specie on Argentine coasts, Uruguay and Brasil. Source: FAO 2009, Technical Paper 518, pag 269
In fact, on the region located at the south of 34º S, it has been determined the existence of at least two different management units: the Bonaerense and the Patagonic (Brandhorst et al., 1974; Hansen et al., 1984; Sánchez and Martos, 1989). Both are located very close to each other by the end of the spring and the beginning of the summer. In winter, the adult fraction of the bonaerence anchovy stock concentrates in the northern Argentine-Uruguayan Common Fishing Zone (ZCPAU), at the same time when adult schools can be recorded in Península Valdés (42º 30‟ S) or even higher latitudes. Both groups are separated by a distance around 500 nm. The anchovy bonaerence population is the biggest fish community in the area, with total biomass estimation between 1 and over 5 million tons (Ciechomski and Sánchez, 1988; Hansen y Madirolas, 1997). The Argentine anchovy tolerates a wide salinity range (14–35 ups) and a wide temperature range (8-25ºC). Places with larger gradients on these two factors would be particularly favorable for the occurrence of larger anchovy concentrations. Like other pelagic species, anchovies form compact schools at different depths during the day while they disperse at night, forming layers for feeding near the surface. During summer anchovy schools swim through the thermocline, where temperatures differ from 6 to 8ºC between both layers, twice a day (Angelescu, 1982). The northern population anchovy biology is better known than the southern. The maximum size is smaller than 200 mm (total length) and the highest weight barely reaches 43g. By otoliths analysis, it has been estimated the average maximum age around 6 to 7 years old, although 8 or 9 years specimens were found.
13
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
The anchovy eggs and the larvae are usual members of the marine planktonic fish community during the entire year and, although at a different time, their distribution coincides with adults and juveniles, except to the south beyond Golfo San Jorge, where never have been evidence of the presence of eggs and larvae. Anchovies are nearly exclusively zooplanktonphagues. Larvae and juveniles mainly feed on tiny copepod larvae in its different development stages. Adults feed basically on planktonic crustaceans such as cladocerans, copepods, amphipodes, hyperiids, euphausiids and sergestes, amongst others. Fitoplanktonic species are only consumed as a secondary or eventual choice (Angelescu, 1982). Between the periods of 1993-1996, there have been eight cruises to study the anchovy diet during the spawning period. It has been established that on the coastal area, copepods are the predominant group of food with a maximum density of 41,000 individuals/ m2, being this value smaller than the ones estimated on the external shelf (Pájaro, 2002). Other food groups like appendicularians, cladocerans, post-larvae crustacean, amphipodes, chaetognaths and euphausiids did not reach significant densities. The number and distribution of identified preys on stomach contents were associated with the distribution and abundance of the organisms in the plankton. Copepods were the most frequent group, and were identified mostly on the Patagonic zone and the shelf. On both populations, more than 70% of the examined stomachs were empty or nearly empty, as a consequence of the lower density of organisms available on the reproductive zone, and the number of hours that schools spend on reproduction when the feeding rhythm decreases or stop. The minimum value calculated for feeding was 11 to 13 hours a day, from 03:30/ 06:00 AM to about 5:00 PM with a clear peak between 4:00 and 5:00 PM. This means that E. anchoita schools are practically search for food during all day on the reproductive area, making short trophic migrations towards the shelf zone and back to the coastal area to continue with spawning (Pájaro, 2002). On the Bonaerense region, copepods were the most frequent group found on the planktonic samples with over 95% percentage. This abundance is usually low at the front of the Province of Buenos Aires coastal areas -taking values of about 15,000 individuals/m2 and exceptionally 50,000 individuals/m2 (Ramírez et al., 1990) which generates a strong embryo cannibalism by juveniles and adults. On the external shelf, this number increases to over 500,000 specimens/m2, although in 1993 and 1995 the mean density did not even reach half of these values (Pájaro, 2002). Cladocerans, appendicularians and post-larvae crustacean were the second most important food group. Macrozooplankton and chaetognaths were also frequently identified, followed by amphipodes and euphausiids. As regards to the jelly plankton, ctenophores and coelenterates were the most common organisms found (Pájaro, 2002). The Bonaerence and Patagonic population units spawn during spring and early summer, on the coastal and intermediate shelf of the Argentina Sea, between the 34-41º S and 41- 48º S respectively. The size of the spawning area reaches its maximum in November with 265,000 nm2 and the minimum in September with 34,400 nm2.
14
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
During this last month, 80% of the spawn takes place at the north of 36º S, with a main center along the Uruguay coast at 34º 30‟ S. Between October and November, the reproductive activity expands to the south of Argentina, including the Patagonian sites; while in December the spawning reaches Golfo San Jorge (47º S) and expands to the shelf and the continental slope. There is no spawning to the north beyond Peninsula Valdes during summer, where we can find jelly plankton -mainly ctenophores-; but there is a progression in the reproductive activity to the north from April to August, when there have not been registered spawns at higher latitudes beyond 41º S. From above, we notice that the larvae would be exposed to different conditions of drift and stay according to the site and the time of the year (Sánchez y Ciechomski, 1989: Sánchez y Martos, 1989). As regards the post-larvae born during the spring and the beginning of the summer in front of the Province of Buenos Aires, they stay in situ, with a latitudinal change in the size frequency distribution due to the warm water‟s Forehand and Backhand on the continental shelf. It seems that part of the larvae born during the autumn and winter goes to lower latitudes, helped by the increase in the density of the sub-Antarctic waters and the flow of the “Rio de la Plata” river, to the southern Brazilian coasts. Meanwhile, at the south of 41º S, the existence of eggs and larvae is related to the frontal systems (one tide front at the latitude of Península Valdés, and another hydro biologic to the south of Golfo San Jorge). However, the post-larvae and juveniles stay in situ, even after this tide front is gone at the end of the summer. The observed tendencies in the period 1993-2008 for the Bonaerense anchovy stock show predominance of females (Dr. Marcelo Pájaro, personal comment). Castello (1997) indicates that in southern Brazil, the reproductive season extends up to the spring, although it is in winter when it reaches the peak. Besides, he points to some reasons that may help to the holding and larvae development in situ, such as the Ekman transportation to the coast, the existence of frontal systems and an stable column of water while it is important the food availability too. Concerning to the migrations, the Northern group carries out an annual cycle (see Figure 2): during the winter -and secondarily during spring-, a variable portion of the group can be found in the southern Brazilian waters, while in August and September, the schools coming from the NE arrive to the coastal waters, at the same time as the ones offshore move to the Argentine intermediate shelf. The presence of these is massive during the peak of the reproductive season (October-November) when the superficial sea temperature reaches 13-16ºC. As long as the season goes by, the schools leave the coastal waters towards the intermediate and external shelf, where they get their food from December to May. By the end of the fall, anchovies move away from the Province of Buenos Aires coastal areas, reaching the external shelf and even the continental slope –between 33ºS and 37ºS-, where they remain during the rest of the winter. A secondary anchovy school arrives to the Mar del Plata fishing area usually during winter (May to July).
15
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
35° 35° Invierno Primavera 36° 36°
37° 37°
38° 38°
39° 39°
40° 40°
41° 41°
62° 61° 60° 59° 58° 57° 56° 55° 54° 53° 62° 61° 60° 59° 58° 57° 56° 55° 54° 53°
35° 35° Verano Otoño 36° 36°
37° 37°
38° 38°
39° 39°
40° 40°
41° 41°
62° 61° 60° 59° 58° 57° 56° 55° 54° 53° 62° 61° 60° 59° 58° 57° 56° 55° 54° 53° Figure 2: Seasonal situation of the biggest concentration of bonaerence adult anchovy.
There‟s no many information about the southern population, from is presumed that the migration movement is a more restricted. In fact, adult schools can be found between 42º S and 43º S, up to50 or 80 meters deep. However, by the end of the spring and the beginning of the summer, their distribution seems to expand and we can find schools in different zones between 41º S and 47º S, mainly around the reproductive center of Isla Escondida (43º 30‟ S). Other sources indicate a nearly permanent presence of juveniles and small adults inside Golfo san Matías, and a periodic entry of adults inside Golfo Nuevo during July and August.
4.3 History of the Argentine Anchovy Fishery
Over Brazil and Uruguay, Argentina is the pioneer in the exploitation and manufacture of Argentine anchovy and the main manufacturer of products for human consumption. Commercialization started with salted raw material before the First World War, opening new perspectives to fishery exploitation (FAO Technical Paper Nº518).
16
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
At the beginning of the commercial exploitation and even up to five years ago, anchovies were traditionally caught by the usually called “Yellow Fleet”, which was characterized by having small vessels up to 200 HP, denominated “Rada o Ria”. This 120 purse seine fishing vessels fleet, caught their target species in coastal waters (30 miles around Mar del Plata city), increasing their effort during the reproductive peak (between the ends of September and the beginning of December).
From 1985 and until now, bigger vessels denominated “Coastal ice-chilling vessels” and “Long range chilled vessels” have been also dealing with the fishery, due to a seasonal base where the schools moved to the Bonaerense coast from the intermediate shelf, and motivated by the favorable environmental conditions for feeding and reproduction. This way, the resource remains periodically and subsequently within reach of the vessels action radio, developing the fishing between September and November. (See section 4.5)
Unlike the first fishing gears used on this fishery, these last ones use mid-water trawling nets, an art that appeared to be very efficient on the anchovy catch, and which does not generate large impacts in other species, habitat or the ecosystem.
4.4 Anchovy Landings
Most of the fish captured are landed in the port of Mar del Plata, and secondarily in Quequén. From 1997, Patagonian anchovy has been commercialized in the ports of San Antonio Oeste and Puerto Madryn. There have also been recorded landings in Bahia Blanca, Puerto Deseado and Rawson.
From 2007 to nowadays, there have not been significant anchovy catches recorded on Uruguay (see Figure 3), that may contribute to the competition in the fishing and economic activity. It happen the same with Brazil. Related to this last, most recent anchovy biomass estimation on southern Brazilian waters indicate a mean of 675,000 tons (CONICET, personal communication, 2007). However, this estimation doesn‟t cover the complete anchovy distribution area.
17
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
Figure 3: Catching curves (in tons) by the Argentine and Uruguayan fleet, over the north management unit 41 LS. Source: Produced by the Assessment Team using information provided by the SSPyA
On the other hand, the increasing of the fleet number has not meant a variation of the seasonally aspect of the exploitation. The number of landings remains almost zero from January to July, it grows until it reached his maximum between September and October, and tends to decrease during November and December, repeating this cycle year after year. However, on 1990 it‟s been reported a change in the percentage of the different anchovy catching fleet strata participation, where the group of coastal fishing vessels and “Rada” vessels that were responsible of the 85-90% of the landings, reduced into a 15- 30% to 1994 and 1995. As far as the long range chilled vessels, their participation has been remaining constant from 1992 (see Figure 4 and Tables I-II).
Figure 4: Anchovy catching curves (in tons), fished by the different fleets of the Bonaerense stock. Source: Produced by the Assessment Team using information provided by the SSPyA
18
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
Table I: Coastal ice-chilling fleet catching by anchovy specie over the Bonaerense stock.
Source: Produced by the Assessment Team using information provided by the SSPyA
19
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
Table II: Long range chilled fleet catching by anchovy specie over the Bonaerense stock.
Source: Produced by the Assessment Team using information provided by the SSPyA
4.4.1 2008 Annual Catch – Bonaerense Management Unit
Garciana and Hansen (2008b) studied the anchovy exploitation during year 2008, and revealed the following aspects: (1) The Argentine fleet was responsible for the total catch of 22,805 tons. Like year 2007, the Uruguayan fleet didn‟t take place on the capture. (2) More than 85% of the total landed anchovy provided from the north of 41° S, by fishing vessels operated from the port of Mar del Plata. (3) About 40% of the landings came from the ZCPAU, and the rest from the AEEZ. (4) The harvest occurred principally during winter and spring, reaching its maximum on October.
20
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
(5) Fifty seven vessels participated on the fishery, operating a total of 601 fishing trips, of which 66% of the catches were practically pure. (6) Sixty two percent of the total catch was obtained by the long range chilled vessels, while the “Rada” fleet only caught about 1% of the harvest. (7) The size gradient between 160mm and 170mm, and the age of three predominated in the landings.
Besides the interest showed by many of the Argentinean commercial fishing vessel ship- owners, and the suitable conditions for the resource exploitation in view of the total prohibition for the anchovy fishing on the Cantabric, the scale of the last year national landings positioned between the minors registered during the current decade. (Hansen y Garciarena, 2002 et seq.; Hansen et al., 2006 et seq.. Technical Report, INIDEP 12/2009).
4.4.2 2009 Annual Catch – Bonaerense Management Unit
Bonaerense anchovy national landings are still clearly below the annual catch limit recommendations in the past decade (Hansen y Garciarena, 2002 et seq.; Hansen et al., 2006 et seq.). In relation to the last commercial fishing open season, which did not differ substantially from the previous season, Garciarena y Hansen (Technical report, INIDEP 05/2010) have recently remarked on the following points: (1) This year stock landings were reported nearly exclusively by the Argentine fleet reaching a total catch of 27,695 tons, while only 400kg were informed by the Uruguayan fishing vessels (2) .The catches took place mainly in the ZCPAU, by coastal vessels and long range chilled vessel, operating from the port of Mar del Plata (see Figure 5). (3) The harvest occurred principally during winter and spring, reaching its maximum between September and November. (4) Fifty five vessels participated on the fishery, operating a total of 558 fishing trips, of which a quarter of the catches were practically pure (the target specie represented more than the 90% of each trip). (5) Once again, they emphasized the poor “Rada” fleet participation on the harvest, as long as long range chilled vessels obtained sixty eight percent of the total catch. (6) This time, the size gradient was between 150mm and 165mm, and the aging groups of two and three predominated in the landings.
21
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
Figure 5: Geographic distribution of the Bonaerense anchovy fishing areas, on 2009. Source: Produced by the Assessment Team using information provided by theSSPyA
4.5 Fleet Description
From 1985 and until now, bigger vessels denominated “Coastal ice-chilling vessels” and “Long range chilled vessels” have been dealing with the anchovy fishery.
The Argentine Coastal Ice-chilling fleet operates on an intermediate range between the “Rio o Rada” fleet, and the Long range chilled fleet, and is composed by a total number of 115 units; whose structural characteristics are resumed below (see Figure 6):
- overall length: between 9.2 and 27.0 m - engine power: between 60 and 830 HP - GRT: between 4 and 107 tons - Beam: between 5 and 215 m3
According to the coastal fleet fishing effort, available information for 2008 indicated that this fleet performed a mean of 54 trips per vessel. The average travel time for all trips is about 3.14 days. This means that each unit operated in average, 170 days a year.
22
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
Figure 6: Structural characterization of the coastal ice-chilling fleet. Source: FFC RES2/2010. Anexo Pan Aves
The Long Range Chilled Fleet is composed by 143 units that show a wide range of variation on its structural variables (see Figure 7):
- overall length: between 20.1 and 71.7 m - engine power: between 330 and 2700 HP - GRT: between 64 and 914 tons - Beam: between 50 and 1227 m3
On 2008, the long range chilled fleet operated a total of 3320 trips. Along the year, each vessel made a mean of 24.1 trips of a mean length of 9.1 days. This means that each unit operated in the sea during an average of 218.2 days.
Figure 7: Structural characterization of the long range ice-chilling fleet. Source: FFC RES2/2010. Anexo Pan Aves
On Table III are shown the number of vessels by fleet (Coastal Ice-chilling fleet and Long Range Chilled Fleet) for 2008 and 2009, with their respective characteristics. These data were obtained from one only trip.
23
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
Table III: Registered vessels on 2008 and 2009, from the total ice-chilling fleet (coastal and long range).
Year 2008 Chilled Number MeanLenght Mean Engine Fleets of vessels (m) Power (HP) Coastal 21 20 443 Long Range 23 28 690
Year 2009 Chilled Number MeanLenght Mean Engine Fleets of vessels (m) Power (HP) Coastal 12 21 467 Long Range 20 28 706
4.6 Operational Area Description
The coastal ice-chilling fleet operates mainly on the Bonaerense and ZCPAU “variado costero” region and the Patagonic Chubutence littoral zone (see Figures 8 and 9)
Figure 8: Geographic distribution of the catching made by the coastal chilled fleet on 2008. The color scale indicates the accumulated catches, in tons, by each spatial 5‟x5‟ information unit. Source: FFC RES3/2010. Anexo Pan Aves Self
24
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
Figure 9: Seasonal location of the fishing effort of the coastal ice-chilling fleet. The color scale indicated the number of positions reported to the satellite monitoring system, whose characteristics are a parameter of the fishing activity. References: A) Summer, B) Autumn, C) Winter and D) Spring. Source: FFC RES3/2010. Anexo Pan Aves
Unlike the coastal ice-chilling fleet, long range chilled vessel fleet performs as much on the northern region as on the south (37° to 47° S) (see Figures 10 and 11).
25
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
Figure 10: Geographic distribution of the catching captured by the long range chilled fleet on 2008. The color scale indicates the accumulated catches, in tons, by each spatial 5‟x5‟ information unit. Source: FFC RES2/2010. Anexo Pan Aves.
26
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
Figure 11: Seasonal location of the fishing effort of the long range ice-chilling fleet. The color scale indicated the number of positions reported to the satellite monitoring system, whose characteristics are a parameter of the fishing activity. References: A) Summer, B) Autumn, C) Winter and D) Spring. Source: FFC RES3/2010. Anexo Pan Aves.
4.7 Fishing Gear
In 1983, INIDEP analyzed the most suitable anchovy fishing net, with French and Japanese models. Both were tested on the BIP Holmberg and conclusions are shown in the INIDEP Boletin Informativo Nº10/83. It was concluded that the Japanese-made net was the most suitable for this kind of fishery due to the positive factors of the four-faces, and the fact that begins with bigger mesh size, allowing a most efficient trawl. Current gear used consists on a semi-pelagic mid-water trawling net, fitted out to the power and the characteristics of the fishing vessels. This net is made of 4 mm diameter nylon, starting with the net body of a mesh size netting of 400 mm and four smaller pieces of decreasing mesh size netting 220, 160, 130, 90 mm and 50 mm on the sleeve. Mesh size netting is 90mm; ending up in 50mm. The Pezzale has a 20mm mesh size netting with a 30 to 36 nylon, covered by a 400mm mesh size netting that protects it
27
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery from a loading breakage. The total length of the net is between 60 to 70 m, and it has a 29m superior limit with 10m vertical openings and 15m horizontal ones (see Figure 12) with a mesh size of 35 mm. Their floatability is guaranteed by 60 buoys; and their aperture by 60kg inferior ballast. (Information provided by Eng. Roberto Ricci from Pesquera Veraz S.A.).
Figure 12: Superior and inferior wings of a semi-pelagic net, used in anchovy fishery.
28
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
5 Legal and management framework
5.1 Institutions Dealing with the Fisheries and Ecosystem Management, Control and Enforcement at International Level
5.1.1 Technical Commission of Rio de la Plata River and it Maritime Front Treaty
The Rio de la Plata River and it Maritime Front Treaty creates in its article 73° an Uruguayan - Argentinean Common Fishing Zone (ZCPAU), delineated by two curve lines traced at 200 nautical miles from both parts of Rio de la Plata river mouth, excluding 12 nautical miles from the coast in each country (Territorial Sea) (see Figure 13). The decision making authority (Administrative Authority) is the Mix Technical Commission of Maritime Front (CTMFM)created by Treaty‟s article 80°, while Enforcement Authorities are different national administration offices of each country, depending on what it is concerned (fishing, navigation, contamination, trade, etc.).
Figure 13: Extracted from CTMFM web page. Source: http://ctmfm.org/ with access April 10, 2011
29
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
The CTMFM is responsible for establishing all fisheries regulation in the ZCPAU and is integrated by 5 members and 3 advisor of each country, being in Argentinean case members of Ministry of Foreign, International Trade and Religious Affairs and fisheries administration. Argentinean advisor includes a representative of fisheries private sector. The CTMFM has its own Internal Rules of Functioning. Treaty ARTICLE 82º states their functions as: a) Set TAC by species and distribute them among the Parties, in accordance with the provisions in article 74, as well as set them periodically; b) To promote joint participation in studies and research of a scientific nature, particularly within the area of common interest, with special reference to the assessment, conservation and preservation of the marine living resources and their rational exploitation and to the prevention and elimination of pollution and other harmful effects that may result from the use, exploration and exploitation of the marine environment; c) Make recommendations and present projects aimed at ensuring the maintenance of the value and balance in the bio-ecological systems; d) To perform plans for preservation, conservation and development of the living resources in the area of common interest, which will be submitted for consideration by the respective Governments; e) Promote studies and submit projects on the harmonization of the laws of the respective Parties to the materials that are the subject of the role of the Commission; f) Transmit expeditiously to the Parties the communications, consultations and information interchanged, in accordance with the provisions of Part 2 of the Treaty; g) Meet the other functions that the Parties assigned to it in its Statute, or by means of an exchange of letters or other forms of agreement. The statute of the CTMFM assigned the following additional functions: (a) Designate the Administrative and Technical Secretariats in accordance with articles 16 and 18 and removal in the cases laid down in its Rules. (b) Designate its technical, administrative and service staff at the proposal of the Technical Secretary or Administrative Secretaries as appropriate, making efforts to have equal number of nationals of both Parties. (c) Approve annual budget and work plan. (d) Establish its Rules of Procedure. (e) Authorize its President to exercise the legal representation of the Commission in the special cases that provided for in the Rules of Procedure. (f) Play the other functions that the Parties assigned by common agreement.
30
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
The Technical Groups (TG) recommendations are primarily concerned with the establishment of management measures, such as the determination of the total allowable catch, restricted areas of fishing activities, minimum landing sizes of priority species, regulations on fishing gear, measures for the prevention of pollution, etc. To date meet regularly the following TGs in the field of Living Resources: (a) Integral System of Fisheries Information (SIIP); (b) Cartilaginous fishes (Chondrichthyes); (c) Hake; (d) Evaluation of Coastal Resources; (e) Anchovy; (f) Multidisciplinary specialists in fishery resources (croaker). Functions of Anchovy Technical Group Anchovy: (a) To participate in the layout of the joint research campaigns of anchovy and its by catch. (b) To analyze the anchovy resource status in the area of the Treaty and TAC recommendation. (c) To recommend appropriate management measures for this species.
5.2 Institutions Dealing with the Fisheries and Ecosystem Management, Control and Enforcement at Federal Level
5.2.1 Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MINAGRI)
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MINAGRI) is the national fishing agency of the Argentine Government and is responsible for the implementation of the national fishing legislation and resolutions emitted by the FFC. Some of its responsibilities as specified in the Law 24.922 are (Article 7º of the Law) are:
ARTICLE 7º:
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries shall: Conduct and execute the national fishing policy, regulating the exploitation, control and research; Conduct and execute the objectives respecting the technical and scientific investigation of the fishing resources;
31
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
Control the maximum licensed catch by species established by the Federal Fishing Council and issue the quotas of annual catch per vessel, per species, per fishing zone and per type of fleet, pursuant to being granted by the Federal Fishing Council; Issue the licenses for fishing, with prior authorization of the Federal Fishing Council; Calculate the available surplus and establish with the prior approval of the Federal Fishing Council the restrictions with respect to closed areas or seasons; Establish with prior authorization of the Federal Fishing Council the requirements or conditions that vessels and fishing companies must fulfill in order to conduct the fishing activity approved; Establish the methods and techniques of catching, and specification of prohibited equipment and nets, etc., with the advice of the National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) and according to the fishing policy established by the Federal Fishing Council; Impose sanctions, pursuant to the rules of infractions and create a record of transgressors within the prescriptions of the present Act and, inform the Federal Fishing Council of the sanctions applied; Work on and develop statistical systems for the fishing activity; Intervene in bilateral or multilateral international negotiations related to the fishing activity pursuant to the national fishing policy; Establish regulations of the fishing record created by this Act; Collect the catching fees established by the Federal Fishing Council; Intervene in the granting of the benefits that come from promotion per sector granted or to be granted to the fishing sector; Intervene in the plans of investment that require or count on specific international financing entities and/or that have been granted or to be granted to the Argentine Republic, pursuant to the criteria that it should determine together with the Federal Fishing Council; Issue authorization for experimental fishing with prior approval of the Federal Fishing Council; Establish and implement necessary and sufficient control systems to really determine the catch in the territorial sea and the exclusive economic zone and the catch unloaded in authorized Argentine ports and the fulfillment and truthfulness of the affidavits of catching; Carry out national campaigns of promotion for the consumption of live resources of the sea and missions abroad to promote the commercialization of the products of the national fishing industry; Exercise all the faculties and responsibilities that the Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture is hereby granted.
To meet its mission MINAGRI includes the SAGPyA and the SSPyA, agencies on which it has delegated same of its functions. The SSPyA acts by means a National Direction for Fisheries Coordination, a National Direction of Fisheries Planning, a Direction of Fisheries Regulations and an Aquaculture Direction, all of them with several Departments. MINAGRI also includes two operating decentralized agencies that also deal with fisheries: the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (INIDEP) and National Health Service and Food Quality (SENASA).
32
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
For the control of the fisheries activity MINAGRI receives support from the Navy and Costal Guard, and has cooperative agreements with both entities. The National Fishing Fund (FONAPE) gives financial support to the Army and Navy, who control the fishing activities within the argentine EEZ (see Figure 14).
Figure 14: MINAGRI organization chart.
5.2.1.1 SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE LIVESTOCK AND FISHERIES (SAGPYA)
Under the new federal fisheries law, SAGPyA, through its Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture, is responsible for conducting and executing national fisheries policy established by the Federal Fisheries Council. SAGPyA is required to conduct and execute scientific and technical research objectives and needs, control total allowable catches (TAC) by species, issue quotas according to the guidelines set by the Council, collect royalties determined by the Council, establish and implement control systems to determine catches in the territorial sea, EEZ, monitor landings in authorized ports, set sanctions and create an infraction regime, check the accuracy of fishing reports and promote the consumption of national seafood products both domestically and internationally.
The Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture has an executive agency: The National Directorate of Fisheries Coordination, to which the Aquaculture Division and the Fisheries Administration and Surveillance Division reports. The Fisheries Administration and Surveillance Division is in charge of fisheries management and regulation, surveillance, monitoring and enforcement. The National Fisheries Planning
33
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
Directorate, which deals with statistics, sectorial analysis, and seafood promotions, and the Aquaculture Division, with a staff of five people directly involve, is responsible for promoting the sustainable development of aquaculture, designing guidelines and policies and providing legal and technical advice.
The SSPyA has a permanent staff of 155 people and a contracted staff of 102 people, without counting on board inspectors and observers, who provide most of the technical expertise (see Figure 15).
Since 1997 it was implemented an on board controls inspectors programme in charge of monitoring compliance with all fishing regulations.
Figure 15: SAGPyA organization chart. Source: Administrative Decision N° 175/2010
DECREE 571/2008: Develop and implement plans, programs and policies for the production, marketing, technology, quality and health in agriculture, fisheries, forestry and agribusiness, coordinating and reconciling the interests of national government, provinces and various subsectors. Promote the use and conservation of natural resources for agricultural production, fruit and vegetable, livestock, forestry and fisheries in order to increase the country's productive capital and economic development of the sector. Track production, national and international markets and programs, projects and activities under their purview. To monitor the actions of the decentralized sector agencies in order to assess their performance and provide feedback processes of policy formulation and decision making. Define the policies regarding the development, promotion, product quality and health, industrial or not, food consumption of animal or vegetable. Coordinate activities with the different regions of the country to decentralize the implementation of the policies of the jurisdiction and facilitate integration with different sectors of agricultural endeavour, agro-forestry, food, fisheries and aquaculture.
34
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
Understanding on the implementation of policies for promotion, development and financing of agricultural activities, livestock and forestry, ensuring the sustainability of natural resources. Monitor programs, projects and activities of the National Agricultural Technology Institute, the National Seeds Institute, the National Research Institute and Fisheries Development, the National Health Service and Food Quality, the National Wine Institute and the NATIONAL BOARD OF TRADE CONTROL AGRICULTURAL and evaluate their performance. Understand the proposal and implementation of policy development and regulation of fisheries and aquaculture, as well as industrialization, commercialization and transportation of their products. Understanding on bilateral agreements and/or multilateral agreements that enable better management, conservation and resource management, including high seas and take part in international negotiations in which topics of interest for the activity. Understand by the study of the factors affecting the development of food production, their trends, both, national and international by proposing those global or sector measures, which drive the development that allow such activity. Understand the design and implementation of policies for development, promotion, product quality and bio safety for food consumption, animal and/or vegetable, industrialized or not.
5.2.1.1.1 UNDERSECRETARY OF FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE (SSPYA)
Within SAGPyA, the Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture (SSPyA) that has three main dependant offices created by Decree 373/2007: National Direction for Fisheries Coordination, National Direction of Fisheries Planning, Direction of Fisheries Regulations and Direction of Aquaculture (see Figure 16).
Figure 16: SSPyA organization chart. Source Resolution MINAGRI 395/2010
DECREE 373/2007:
35
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
Propose and implement, within the framework of Law No. 24,922, its amendments and supplementary national fisheries policy for the effective protection of national interests related to marine fisheries and the sustainability of fisheries activities in pursuit of maximum development compatible with the rational use of living marine resources. Propose and implement policies to manage inland fisheries. Promote the development of aquaculture as farming activity and exploitation of aquatic species. Coordinate with national and provincial authorities for the management actions, protection and cultivation of living aquatic resources, aimed at their conservation in the long term. Assist in the provision of benefits from sectorial promotion or grant awarded to fisheries and aquaculture. Intervene in all matters relating to health policy relating to fishing. Participate in negotiations on setting the tax and customs policies and foreign trade linked to the fisheries sector, in coordination with relevant agencies. Coordination of work relating to the operation of the Register of Fisheries, in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 24,922 and other records of the area. Attending, with approval of the Federal Fisheries Council, in granting fishing permits. Assist in approving the transfer of licenses between vessels fishing within the framework of established norms. Propose or provide, as appropriate, the suspension of fishing permits, the immediate arrival in port and any other action deemed necessary where the law defines as serious violations and penalties resulting from infringement proceedings concerning current regulations. Propose the approval of the Federal Fisheries Council, closed areas or seasons and/or reservations and delimitation of fishing areas based on specific technical reports. Propose the requirements and conditions to be met by ships and companies to develop marine fisheries, including capture methods and techniques, as well as equipment and fishing gear use and which are prohibited, with the advice of the INIDEP. Assisting in controlling the allowable catch by species and the issuing of annual catch quotas for vessels, by species, fishing areas and fleet type, as approved by the Federal Fisheries Council. Attend to the Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food in international negotiations in which topics of interest to the theme of the sector, working on efforts related to the expansion of areas of activity for the national fishing fleet and improved management of living aquatic resources, including offshore. Propose measures to regulate the exploitation activities, culture, monitoring and research carried out on living aquatic resources in all subject areas under national jurisdiction and on the marine resources of migratory species in the area adjacent to the Exclusive Economic Zone or resources that belong to the same population or populations of species associated with the Exclusive Economic Zone. Involved in review of the development of environmentally sound industrial processes that promote the maximization of value added and increased use of labour in Argentina. Propose and implement measures to regulate the transport and documentation requirements for the transit of fisheries and aquaculture.
36
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
Propose policy adjustments on fisheries and aquaculture, which are necessary to better manage them. Approve and propose the dissemination of information produced in the area, through means deemed appropriate. Attend to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries in the coordination of relations between the INIDEP and the Federal Administration.
5.2.1.1.1.1 NATIONAL DIRECTION OF FISHERIES COORDINATION: PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY
DECREE 373/2007: Understand in the control and management of fishing activities within the framework of the existing legislation and managing the Registry of Fisheries.
Actions: To oversee the commercial fishing activities at the national level. Driving the action of the fishing districts. Coordinate the actions of organization and updating of the Register of Fishing. Raise the proposed issuance of fishing permits. Raise the proposed transfer of fishing permits and/or catch quotas by species. Assessing requests for authorization to make changes in the vessels registered in the Register of Fishing. Analyze the requests made on fishing permits, fishing vessels and fishing related activities. Involved in the management of requests for authorization for experimental fishing projects. Coordinate the tasks of monitoring and control of compliance with the allowable catch by species, established by the Federal Fishing Council, as well as for Individual Transferable Quotas Capture, capture authorizations and catch quotas for species assigned to each ship. Oversee the preparation and development of data systems of marine fisheries, coordinating its sanctions with the National Fisheries Planning directorate. Monitor follow-up accreditation of fines, tariffs, duties and payment plans, and intimate in case of default. Coordinate with the bodies of the security forces and the armed forces who collaborate with the Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture in the control and monitoring tasks. Evaluate the alleged violations of rules governing fishing activities in order to substantiate relevant summaries and propose the measures that are applicable in each case. Monitor compliance with the sanctions that had been decided to apply to citizens. Propose the dissemination of information on fishing activities in national jurisdiction.
5.2.1.1.1.2 NATIONAL DIRECTION OF FISHERIES: PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY
37
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
DECREE 373/2007: Integrating scientific and technical information to facilitate decision-making for management measures, management and expansion of the sector, to implement in the short, medium and long term, developing permanent fishing statistical systems.
Actions: Coordinate analysis of financial projections and estimates for predicting possible future scenarios for the design of policies in the area. Coordinate the preparation of periodic reports and situation of fisheries and aquaculture in the local and international and economic activities linked. Coordinate analysis of information on fishing activities developed by the National Fisheries Coordination and scientific and technical information provided by the INIDEP to project all those management measures to facilitate the receipt of fishing resources. Supervise the work of reconciling the information analysed and the instruments proposed, based on these design models and future scenarios indicating the financial and budgetary requirements for effective compliance. Understanding the development and proposed management measures aimed at strengthening the sustainable use of marine fishing resources and their habitats. Coordinate actions with related areas of provincial governments in order to promote joint actions with respect to inland fisheries. Relationships for the exchange of technical information with public or private, national or international issue related to the sector and advise on the country's position in the various technical forums. Understand the proposed plans, programs and projects developed on the basis of analysis of socio-economic data obtained in order to minimize undesirable effects and/or ensure the efficient implementation of national policies on fisheries and aquaculture. Advise on the desirability of carrying out programs and/or research projects for the development of fisheries and aquaculture. Understood in the context of integrated management of the fisheries in the development and proposed management measures for the conservation of biological diversity at different levels, as a contribution to the maintenance of essential processes in the fisheries ecosystems. Coordinate the activities carried out in the National Aquaculture Development Centre (CENADAC) and other centres run by the Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture. Promote relations with international institutions associated with fisheries management (Joint Technical Commission of the waterfront, Atlantic Fisheries Commission of Southern Organization of the United Nations Food and Agriculture, International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, Oceanographic Commission International Commission for the Management of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna, NGOs, etc.) for which there are agreements and/or arrangements. Participate in advisory committees on the operation of specific fisheries. Promote relations with other units of the National State-related issues of interest to the area.
38
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
Process the information produced in the area and proposing its dissemination through means deemed appropriate.
5.2.1.1.1.3 DIRECTION OF FISHERIES MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS: PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY
DECREE 373/2007: Assist in everything related to the harmonization, alignment and implementation of the regulations governing fishing and aquaculture, proposing appropriate action.
Actions: Advising on the regulatory body that regulates the activities of the Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture. Develop and propose policy instruments to facilitate the effective implementation of institutional goals Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture. Organizing and implementing the Fisheries Regulations Digest and meet constantly updated. Organize and implement the International Fisheries Law File and serve its updating. Develop and propose policy adjustments in fishing activities that are necessary to better manage them and if appropriate, suggest the intervention of the Federal Fisheries Council. Propose actions that are necessary to safeguard the interests of the State with regard to fishing. Prepare technical reports, proposals trades answering and administrative acts which are relevant.
5.2.2 Animal Health and Food Sanitary Service (SENASA)
SENASA is an autonomous body responsible for the supervision and control of animal products and health control. Its objectives are: To understand the activities of inspection, certification and registration of food products of animal and plant, overseeing the health, hygiene and quality of the data, making both domestic consumption, as in foreign trade operations , harmonizing and verifying compliance with the rules and terms of agreements concluded by the SENASA with third countries in this regard, it shall adhere to the recommendations of international bodies, and other official services of international prestige. In the fisheries sector, SENASA supervises compliance with hygienic sanitation procedures for packaging, manufacturing, transportation and marketing of products for domestic consumption and export. It also ensures the quality of food products of marine origin.
39
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
5.2.3 Federal Fisheries Council (FFC)
The FFC is a Federal Entity which is not dependent on either the Federal Government or the Provincial Governments and, in accord with Law 24.922, is integrated as follows (Article 8º of the Law):
ARTICLE 8º:
The Federal Fisheries Council is hereby created, and shall be composed of: One representative by every province with maritime coast; The Secretary of Fisheries (actual MINAGRI); One representative for the Secretary of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development; One representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Culture; Two representatives designated by the National Executive Power;
The Secretary of Fisheries shall be the President.
All the members of the Council shall have only one vote. A qualified majority shall adopt the resolutions.
The primary responsibilities of the FFC are (Article 9º of the Law):
ARTICLE 9º:
The Federal Fishing Council shall: Establish the national fisheries policy; Establish the fisheries research policy; Establish the maximum licensed catch per species, bearing in mind the maximum sustainable production of each one of them according to data provided by the National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP). Furthermore, establish the quotas of annual catch per vessel, per species, per fishing zones and per type of fleet; Approve the licenses of commercial and experimental fishing; Advise the Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture in matters of international negotiation; Plan the national fishing development; Fix the guidelines of co-participation in the National Fishing Fund (FONAPE); Pronounce on experimental fishing; Establish the catching fees and fix canons for the practice of fishing; Modify the distribution percentages of the National Fishing Fund (FONAPE) established in the sub section e) of section 45 of the present Act; Rule on the practice of the artisanal fleet establishing a reserve of the fishing quota for the different species assigned to this sector; Establish the items to be considered by the Federal Fishing Council that require a qualified majority in the voting of its members; Promulgate its own functioning regulations, which shall be approved with the affirmative vote of the two third parts of the total of its members.
40
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
In addition to the responsibilities mentioned above, the FFC shares several others with the Management Authority (SAGPyA), which are specified in most of the articles of the Law 24.922. The FFC has an Advisory Commission integrated by all the fishing unions and labor forces.
The new federal fisheries law establishes the Federal Fisheries Council as the main body governing national fisheries policy. The ex Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food holding the presidency of the Council delegated this function on the Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture (ex SAGPyA Resolution N° 27/2003). The Council also has an advisory commission composed of representatives of all the fishing unions and labor forces (Federal Fishing Law, Article 10°).
5.2.3.1 FFC Internal Rules: Resolution FFC N°16/2009
The Federal Fisheries Council, established by Article 8º of Law No. 24.922, is authorized to issue its own rules of operation.
5.2.3.1.1 FACULTIES OF THE FEDERAL FISHING COUNCIL TO REGULATE FISHING OPERATIONS
CHAPTER I: Duties and Incumbencies
SECTIONS 1 - The incumbencies of the Federal Fisheries Council are under Law Nº 24.922
They must also be submitted to the vote of the Council: The adoption of the budget prior to the start of the annual budgetary exercise; The amendments to these rules and issues that arise regarding its interpretation; Matters raised by the President of the Council for the Enforcement Authority or by the members it comprises; The creation of technical and administrative bodies, advisory, working committees and the appointment and removal of its members, a task that may be delegated to the President; The approval of its meeting schedule; Any other matter on the Agenda; and The monitoring and control measures relating to budgetary and administrative management of the Council.
5.2.3.1.2 About the Presidency
ARTICLE 2º:
41
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
In accordance with Article 8 of Law No. 24.922 and Decree No. 214, dated February 23, 1998, the ex SAGPyA holds the Presidency of the Council.
ARTICLE 3º:
The assignations and duties of the FFC‟s President: Chair meetings of the Council. Shall delegate its exercise to another member in case of absence or disability. In the absence of delegation, Council members will elect a Chair ad hoc; Call and summon the meetings, communicating the Agenda; Open, manage and close the meetings of the Council in accordance with this Regulation, or move to adjourn; Cast a vote and announce the results of the vote; Put to the Council by the inclusion of topics on the agenda, by itself or at the request of Council members; To authenticate with his signature all acts, instructions and procedures of the Federal Fisheries Council, may delegate it to his replacement; Provide regarding the operation of technical and administrative organizational structure of the Council and have, within the budget approved by the Panel, the funds allocated; Appoint and remove, in accordance with decisions reached by the Council, the members of the technical and administrative organs of the Council; Prepare the annual budget and administer the FFC; and To submit for consideration by the FFC the results of the administrative and financial management of funds at the end of each year.
5.2.3.1.3 About the Members
ARTICLE 4º:
The members have the following duties and assignations: Attend meetings of the Council participating in the discussion of the agenda and casting their vote; To negotiate on behalf of the FFC and with the parties represented, and timely provision of information, records, data and other required documents to the Council; and Seek the assistance of a deputy when he is prevented from attending meetings.
ARTICLE 5º: Each member of the FFC will adopt the necessary measures to ensure the normal functioning of the Council and carry out the functions assigned by Law No. 24.922.
ARTICLE 6º: Integration of the FFC members shall take effect from the date of submission of the relevant legal instrument of appointment issued by the competent authorities under Article 8 of Law No. 24.922.
42
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
For the purpose of enabling the continued presence of members of the Council in all its meetings, they may have up to TWO (2) alternates appointed by the same authority.
The appointment of members will remain valid until the Council has received certified notice of revocation and/or modification. Each member may have during the session for consultation with partners, who have neither voice nor vote.
ARTICLE 7º: The exercise of the roles that they are members of the FFC, shall become "pro bono." However, members may receive travel expenses, per diem and/or compensation in the exercise of its functions in accordance with rules established by the current.
CHAPTER II: Address
ARTICLE 8º: The headquarters of the FFC is at Avenida Paseo Colón N ° 922, First Floor, Room 102, Federal Capital.
CHAPTER III: About the Federal Fisheries Council meetings
ARTICLE 9º: The Council shall meet valid with the presence of seven (7) members, at the time stipulated in the notice of the meeting. After an hour, it can operate validly in the presence of SIX (6) of its members. If not will tell with that number, through its President, or at least three members present, set a new date for the meeting.
ARTICLE 10º: The FFC express its will through resolutions or through their records, when the affirmative vote of its members is mandatory for the issuance of a legal act by the Enforcement Authority.
ARTICLE 11º:
Require an affirmative vote of TWO-THIRDS (2/3) of all its members the adoption or amendment: The internal regulations of the FFC; The budget and balance; The matters governed by Article 27 of Law 24.922 (ITQs); and Fisheries projects.
Other decisions to be taken by the Board shall be valid by the affirmative vote of TWO- THIRDS (2/3) of the members present.
ARTICLE 12º:
43
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
The Board will make at least twelve (12) regular or special meetings per year. Special sessions will be held when convened by its President, or at the request of at least two (2) of its members.
Council meetings may be conducted at its headquarters or any of the provinces with the coastline, should be aware of it in the respective call.
ARTICLE 13º: Will be communicated reliably to all members with four (4) calendar days prior to regular meetings, and five (5) days for the extraordinary. The call is accompanied by the agenda and copies of materials that may be necessary.
5.2.4 Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Development (SAyDS)
The Secretariat mandate is to assist the Argentine President in all areas concerning the preservation and restoration of environment and conservation of renewable resources as to achieve a healthy environment apt for human development as mandated by Article 41 of the Argentine Constitution. The Secretariat has four Sub-secretariats: Undersecretary of Coordination and Environment Policies, Undersecretary of Planning and Environment Policies, Undersecretary of Promotion and Sustainable Development, Undersecretary of Control and Environmental Control and Pollution Prevention. Within the Undersecretary of Promotion and Sustainable Development, the Division of Fish and Aquaculture Resources is primarily involved in marine fisheries issues.
The SAyDS has an important formal role in setting fisheries‟ policy as it sits on the FFC. In addition to their participation in fisheries conservation management issues with the FFC, the SAyDS is involved in in-land fisheries, coastal zone, biodiversity and wetland issues. One of the areas of main interest within their biodiversity initiative is the preservation of marine fauna, in particular birds and marine mammals. The SAyDS is working on reduce the incidental catch of marine birds by fishing gear, especially long lines.
5.3 Fisheries Research Institutions
5.3.1 National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP)
INIDEP is a decentralized body under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food, created by Law N°. 21.673 of October 21, 1977, whose roles and functions in the field of research were set forth in the Act, defining institutional objectives and
44
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery responsibilities and actions essential to each of its directorates by Decree N° 1.187, dated June 20, 1991, as amended by similar N° 2.837 of December 29, 1992, Decree N°. 1.458 of 13 December, 1996 and Law No. 24.922 (Federal Fishing Act) of 12 January, 1998.
Under current legislation the INIDEP's research program generates and adapts knowledge, information, methods and technology for development, utilization and conservation of fisheries in Argentina. INIDEP is the only organization in the country that fully embraces the scientific, technological and economic indispensable for the implementation and development of national policy in the field of fisheries. INIDEP has recently adjusted its goals and activities to adapt its actions to the profound changes in the fisheries sector and its legal context and to prepare strategically to changes, it is anticipated, will occur in the near future. Therefore, it has carried out intense activity in both the aspects related to fisheries research, as relations with institutions and countries which are related to fact or law to renewable resources of the South Atlantic.
Regarding demand, the situation currently involved crossing several of our most important resource ever makes it necessary to obtain the best estimates of their abundance, to explore possible alternatives for trawling and ensuring that all sectors involved in responsibly custody and operation of existing information available with the immediacy that the present circumstances demand, particularly from changes in the legal context, both at the national (Federal Fishing Act, creation of the Federal Fishing Council and legal change in the resource management) and international (Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, fishing straddling and highly migratory species; Delineating the outer edge of the continental rise) regarding fisheries creating huge demands for knowledge.
INIDEP provides a set of goods and services. As a result of the above in last years there has been a significant increase of the requirements of institutional advice by following institutions: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Federal Fishing Council, Undersecretary for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Joint Technical Committee Maritime Front and Advisory Committees to the Rio del Plata and Uruguay River, Department of Malvinas and South Atlantic, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Honourable Chamber of Deputies, National Food Safety and Quality, International Commission Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, Argentina Naval Prefecture, business chambers and companies in the sector.
The Institute coordinates the implementation of the Programme Board Observer. It depends directly on the conduct of SAGPyA and participates in meetings of the FFC but without voting.
Institutional objectives and goals: To generate and adapt knowledge, information, methods and technology for the development, utilization and conservation of the Argentine fisheries in coastal, continental shelf, oceanic (mile 201) and continental waters;
45
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
To establish economic technical bases which permit their conservation and sustainable management and contribute to increase the benefits obtained from the aquatic living resources; and To adapt it‟s functioning to the deep changes which have occurred in the fishing sector and its legal context, and to satisfy the increased demand of scientific and technical knowledge required for the sustainable management and use of Argentine fishing resources and those shared with other countries.
The fundamental basis to meet the objectives mentioned above has been the oceanographic-fishing research surveys carried out with the three national research vessels belonging to INIDEP. The sustained use of these vessels (each with unique characteristics) in Argentina since 1993 has permitted, adequate and timely prospecting of the Argentine Continental Shelf and Slope, including the surrounding waters of the Malvinas Islands and South Georgia Islands.
In hierarchical order, the lines of action to meet the goals are:
- Re-equipment and preparation of the research vessels to guarantee them fully operative and available, and increase its research capacities in deep oceanic and sub-Antarctic waters; - Annual evaluation of the status of all fishing resources (freshwater, coastal, continental shelf and adjacent oceanic resources) and their associated environments; - Prediction of the future tendencies in the evolution of the resources and interpretation of the causes for fluctuations in them based on the results of the annual evaluations; - To adequately advise and report scientific information in a timely manner with associated uncertainty levels, to management authorities, the fishing sector, other users and clients; - Encourage research to develop alternative fisheries in order to compensate for the decreases in capture from traditional resources; - Improvement and development of the fishing methods, fishing gears and new products and technological processes; - Development and adaptation of aquaculture technologies for marine and freshwater organisms of commercial interest; - Purchase information and knowledge to economically evaluate the fisheries, fishing resources and coastal marine biodiversity: - To increase the number of studies which permit the identification of management units; - To provide technical support in order to implement Individual Transferable Quota management systems; - To strengthen the activity of the On Board Observer Program on commercial vessels and sampling of landings, in order to fulfill the new fishing requirements; and - To establish INIDEP as a regional training center for oceanographic and fishing research, thus creating opportunity for participation and interchange of
46
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
knowledge between the various scientific-technological sectors in Latin America who deal with fishing resource assessment problems, through a Seminar on Methods for the Assessment and Monitoring of Fishing Resources, with the technical cooperation of Japan and the assistance of JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency).
INIDEP has five main research areas: demersal resources program, inland water program, pelagic and invertebrate fisheries program, marine environment program and the technology and information program. The demersal program assesses the health of many commercially important stocks (hake, croaker, stripped white fish, hoki, southern blue whiting and kingclip, among others) and provides scientific advice for their conservation and management. The inland waters program studies the impact of damming activities, primarily in the Río de la Plata basin. The pelagic and invertebrate fisheries program assesses the state of squid, shrimp, king and soft shell crab and anchovy stocks to provide timely management information and advice. The marine environment program focuses on red tides and understanding the coupling between environmental fluctuations and population changes. Lastly, the technology and information program conducts research on acoustic technology, gear selectivity and snapper aquaculture and conducts dockside and open-sea sampling (i.e., size and age structure). INIDEP also has a small economic unit, which works closely with the National University of Mar del Plata, among other institutions.
5.3.2 Research Centre for Fishing Technology and Regional Foods (CITEP)
CITEP was created in 1975 by an agreement between the National Institute of Industrial Technology (INTI), the Scientific Research Commission of the Province of Buenos Aires (CIC) and the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET). CITEP is mainly devoted to the post-harvest aspects of fish utilization. The goal of CITEP is to improve the quality of foodstuffs and the efficiency and competitiveness of the production processes. CITEP‟s research is funded by several provincial, national and international organizations, including CIC, CONICET, FAO and the European Union.
5.4 Institutions Dealing with Fisheries Monitoring and Enforcement
5.4.1 Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MINAGRI)
Within the Under-secretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (SSPyA), the Fisheries Administration and Surveillance Division is responsible for monitoring and enforcement. There are approximately 85 active inspectors, although 419 people have been trained to be inspectors. Under agreements with the Coast Guard and the Navy, SSPyA trains their personnel as inspectors and then hires them as required. The trained personnel, however, remain part of their original institution. The Federal Fishing Found also provides funds
47
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery to the Coast Guard and Navy to conduct aerial and marine monitoring and surveillance, including boarding at sea. Since 1997 there has been an on board inspector program that controls the accuracy of fishing reports, monitors the compliance of closed areas and minimum fish size and mesh size regulations and monitors discards and other resolutions. Since the inception of the program, 57.1% of the inspectors came from the Coast Guard, 34.4% were contracted, 6.6% came from National Direction of Fisheries Coordination and the rest came from the Navy. Most of the inspector on board program efforts (measured in days of effective monitoring) have been devoted to the hake, costal and red shrimp fisheries. In addition to performing on board inspections, the Fisheries Administration and Surveillance Division conducts port inspections where they monitor landings, holds and transhipments; measure fish; and monitor fishing gears.
SSPyA satellite-based vessel monitoring system (VMS) is working since 2004 (SSPyA Resolution N°2/2003) which uses vessel mounted transponders and global positioning system to track and monitor the activity of the fishing fleet. In addition to SSPyA, the provincial administrations, the Navy, Coast Guard and INIDEP receive on time information generated by the system. Currently, the system is used in almost all the Argentinean fishing vessels who reports with hour frequency data as position, speed, direction, and same vessels also report oceanographic condition.
The VMS is being updated with optical devices and fishing gear openness and oceanographic sensors. In March 2011 fishing activity control by on board cameras has been implemented (SSPyA N°206/2010 and 1/2011).
5.4.2 Coast Guard (PNA)
The Coast Guard is housed in the Ministry of Interior having a staff of approximately 13,000 people. It is responsible for ensuring that fishing vessels meet navigation safety requirements; certifying crews; monitoring and enforcing fisheries regulations (e.g. closed areas, fishing gear regulations); monitoring and controlling the departure of boats; controlling, surveillance, and apprehending domestic and foreign vessels; and conducting oil response and search and rescue operations. Coast guard officials also act as Inspectors and on board observers and provide policing support to SSPyA officials in port. The Coast Guard has collaborative agreements with coastal provinces, which provide financial support to expand the Coast Guard‟s policing activities.
5.4.3 Argentine Navy (AA)
The Argentine Navy is under the Ministry of Defence. The Navy‟s responsibilities in the fisheries sector include aerial surveillance, sea patrolling, surveillance and apprehension of foreign vessels. The Navy has about 29,000 people under its command. An important part of the naval air force and fleet are involved to some extent in the fisheries sector.
48
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
One of the most important challenges for the Navy and the Coast Guard alike is monitoring and enforcing regulations against foreign vessels that illegally operate in or near the Argentina‟s EEZ. Although the exact extent of this activity is unknown, a navy plane reported that during the squid season it had sighted 161 foreign fishing vessels operating illegally in Argentina‟s EEZ. In addition, many intruder ships are painted red to look like Argentine fishing vessels; it is believed some are “twins” of other licensed Argentine vessels.
5.5 Foreign Affairs and Fisheries
5.5.1 Ministry of Foreign, International Trade and Religious Affairs
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs fulfils two major roles in the fisheries sector. It is responsible for developing foreign policy in Argentina‟s EEZ and adjoining regions and for fostering the fisheries sector through international economic relationships. In the foreign policy arena, the Undersecretary for Foreign Policy, the Malvinas Bureau and the Legal Advisory Office play an instrumental role in developing policies that promote the interests of the fisheries sector. For instance, under the sovereignty “umbrella,” Argentina and the United Kingdom advanced the protection of South Atlantic marine living resources by establishing the South Atlantic Fisheries Commission in 1990. The Ministry also participates in many international discussions and negotiations. Recently it has participated in the United Nations Conference of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks and the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas. The Ministry also acts in the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).
Argentina is part of two international commissions related to the conservation and wise use of fisheries resources: the Joint Technical Commission for Maritime Front (CTMFM) and the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).
The CTMFM is a Argentine-Uruguayan commission, with powers relating to the conservation of fishing resources in the waters of the Common Fishing Zone between Argentina and Uruguay (AUCFZ), established by the Treaty of Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front including, inter alia, establish the volumes of catches by species, promote the conduct of joint studies and research, establish standards and measures for the rational exploitation of species in the area of common interest, etc.
Argentina as party to the CCAMLR implements the decisions of the Commission through the mechanisms established by Law No. 25.263, which sets the Collection System Marine Living Resources in the Area of Implementation of the Convention. The scheme provides for a system of penalties for violation of the law. In this context,
49
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
Argentina has adopted since 2000 the Catch Documentation Scheme to monitor landings and trade of tooth fish.
In addition to participation in the committees mentioned above, Argentina is part of various intergovernmental treaties: • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES). Approved by Argentina through Law 22.344 (1982). • Convention on Migratory Species, also known as CMS or Bonn Convention. Approved by Argentina through Law 23.918 (1991) • Convention on Wetlands of International Importance. Approved by Law 23.919 (1991). • International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships. Approved by Law 24.089 (1992). • Convention on Biological Diversity. Approved by Law 24.375 (1994). • United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Approved by Law 24.543 (1995). • Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas (Compliance Agreement). Approved by Law 24.608 (1996). • Agreement on the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Development of the Sea –10 December 1982-, relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks. Approved by Law 25.290 (2000) • Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels. Approved by Law 26.107 (2006).
With regard to non-binding international instruments, Argentina endorsed the Code of Responsible Fisheries conduct and adopted a National Action Plan to prevent, deter and eliminate the illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU PAN), the National Action Plan for the Conservation and Management of Chondrichthyes (Res FFC N 6/2009) and the National Action Plan for the Conservation and Management of the Bird in Argentina (RES FFC N 15/2010).
50
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
6 Stock Assessment
6.1 Assessment and Stock Status
Researches on pelagic fishes started in Argentina more than 50 years ago, with many projects that included direct and systematic evaluation assessments of the populations. The INIDEP, through its Research Programs and particularly the “Pelagic Fisheries Program” (PPEL), updates and transfers in a periodic way, knowledge about distribution, abundance, renewal potential and fishing potential of the main pelagic fishes of commercial interest. The main aims are to suggest, from a biologic point of view, levels, modalities and exploitation patterns –when it can be done- for the most important commercial fisheries. The Federal Fishing Council (FFC) is one of the most important interested parties on this information.
Assessments prior to the year 2000 were made using research surveys, designed to estimate the total numbers, total mortality rates, mean weight-at-age and biomass-at-age by population. Like most of the small pelagic fishes, both the Bonaerense population of anchovy and the Patagonic one present a high embrionary and larvae mortality, generating big annual fluctuations in recruitments.
The stock of bonaerensis anchovy is assessed using a cohort analysis modified by Mertz and Myers (1996) to accommodate seasonal catches (Hansen et al. 2010), as the catches are taken only during four month of the year. The cohort analysis is tuned to data from fisheries independent acoustic surveys following the ADAPT method of Gavaris (1988). The acoustic surveys are performed almost annually. The problems that may prevent the execution of a survey every year may be maritime workers union problems, mechanical problems with the research vessels or unavailability of the vessel due to research on other species (e.g. hake) (Dr. Marcelo Pájaro personal communication to the Assessment Team). Daily egg-production methods are applied to independently estimate spawning biomass (Pájaro, Macchi, Leonarduzzi, & Hansen, 2009) but currently are not used in the stock assessment process, although it might be in the future (Dr. Marcelo Pájaro personal communication to the Assessment Team).
The acoustic survey design is described in Hansen & Madirolas (1996):
A stratified random sampling is implemented, with six strata established according to historical data on Bonaerense anchovy distribution. A mid-water trawl net is used to sample the schools and determine the population age-structure. It is reported that 27 hauls are done during the surveys (at least in the 1993 survey). 160 fish are randomly sample for each haul, length, weight; sex and gonadal development are recorded. For the first 80 fish of each haul, otolith are also taken and the age is determined on board
51
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
An SIMRAD EK-400 ecosound is used The target strength (TS) -length relationship adopted was a general one for clupeids (Foote, 1987) and corroborated by Madirolas (1991) for the species.
The basic data used in the assessment are (Hansen et al. 2010): Total catches from Argentina and Uruguay Numbers-at-age in the catch estimated by port sampling from landings in Mar del Plata and corrected for discards. Weight-at-age in the catch estimate by port sampling Fisheries independent estimates of total biomass using acoustic surveys that took place in October on the years 1993, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2008 used to tune the assessment model Numbers-at-age in the population estimated using fisheries independent acoustic surveys coupled with trawling for estimation of catch composition at age for the same surveys as stated above and from May-June surveys on 1994, 1996, 1997 and 1998. The numbers-at-age 1 and 3 for both surveys relative to the values of 1993 are also used to tune de model.
The assumptions made in the stock assessment are (Hansen et al. 2010): Correction factors for discards-at-age (for 2005 the correction factor was 1.0024 for all ages and for 1990-2004 the correction factors at age were D1= 1.20; D2=1.10; D3= 1.05; D4= 1.00; D5= 1.00; D6+= 1.00, those factors were estimated by unpublished on board observations made by INIDEP scientists Constant natural mortality (M= 1.02) Weight-at-age in the population by year for January 1st, June 1st, October 15th Maturity-at-age in the reproductive season (from Hansen & Madirolas, 1999, assumed to be 0.52 for age 1 and 1 for ages 2 on)
The last available public document regarding the stock assessment was the 2010 assessment report (Hansen et al. 2010). This report does not contain graphs or tables with time-series of estimated total biomass, spawning biomass and fisheries harvest rate that could be used to assess the stock status. The values reported below were requested by the Assessment Team to INIDEP and correspond to estimates for the 2011 stock assessment that were provided to the Assessment Team by the head of INIDEP stock assessment unit for anchovy (Dr. Marcelo Pájaro) by email interviews. The Assessment Team compiled, reviewed, and analyzed these and other information necessary to assess the stock status. The 2011 stock assessment report (INIDEP 12/2011) will be made public only upon approval by the FFC.
Both the vital cycle and the individual size of Patagonic anchovy are similar to Bonaerense population, but there are evidences of smaller minor sizes and weights by age. The size gradient at first-maturation was estimated between 93 and 116mm (one- year-old) for the Bonaerense group and between 119 and 132mm length for the Patagonic (see Figure 17). On the other hand, there would not be differences between both groups in the relative fecundity (574 against 605 oocytes / g female weight without gonads); nor the reproductive frequency that is 7.9 and 6.5 days, respectively.
52
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
Figure 17: Maturity ojiva of the anchovy (% of mature individuals of each total length class), estimated with data from the 1993 and 1996 surveys. The Bonaerense anchovy population (squares) is mature at smaller sizes (L50% = 97.3mm) than the Patagonic population, represented by triangles to the right (L50%=119.7mm).
The average SSB over the 21 years time-frame of the stock assessment is 1.45 million t (see Figure 18), the minimum SSB is 0.41 million t (for 1990), the maximum SSB is 2.52 million t (for 1996). In 2010 the SSB was estimated to be 1.50 million t, close to the historical average.
3000
2500
2000
1500
SSB '000SSB t 1000
500
0
1991 1992 1993 1994 1996 1997 1999 2000 2001 2002 2004 2005 2007 2008 2009 2010 1990 1995 1998 2003 2006 year
Figure 18: Spawning stock biomass of Bonaerense anchovy (1990-2010). Source: data obtained from Dr. Marcelo Pájaro (INIDEP) by personal communication to the Assessment Team.
The average recruitment for 1990-2009 was estimated to be 185 billion age 1 fish (see Figure 19). The lowest recruitment was 51 billion fish (for year 2004) and the highest recruitment was 412 billion fish (for year 2003). For the year 2009, the recruitment was estimated to be 132 billion fish, below average but not close to the historical minimum. As the fisheries targets mainly ages 3 to 6, the current catches may be profiting on the abundant 2007 year class that had a recruitment of 310 billion fish.
53
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
Recruitment in billion Recruitment billion in s 100
50
-
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 years Figure 19: Recruitment of age-1 fish of Bonaerense anchovy (1990-2010). Source: data obtained from Dr. Marcelo Pájaro (INIDEP) by personal communication to the Assessment Team.
While most of the population is composed in numbers by age 1 and 2 fish (as estimated from the acoustic surveys), the catches are dominated by ages 3 to 5 as shown by the average selection pattern for the fisheries (see Figure 20).
Figure 20: Average selection pattern at age for the Bonaerense anchovy fishery. Source: Hansen et al 2010
The average fishing mortality (for ages 3-5) was 0.058, the lowest was 0.010 (for year 1990) and the highest was 0.178 (for year 1992) (see Figure 21). Those values are relatively low compared to the assumed natural mortality of M=1.02. The current fishing mortality for ages 3-5 is 0.03, which is below average and close to the historical minimum for the stock. The harvest rates for the Bonaerense anchovy fishery are very low and range from 0.5% to 3.5% of the total biomass. The current harvest rate is 1.19%.
54
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
0,2
5) 0,18 - 0,16 0,14 0,12 0,1 0,08 0,06 0,04
Annual fishing fishing Annual mortality ( F ages 3 0,02 0 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 year
Figure 21: Annual fishing mortality (F) (weighted average for ages 3-5) of Bonaerense anchovy (1990- 2010). Source: data obtained from Dr. Marcelo Pájaro (INIDEP) by personal communication to the Assessment Team.
In Figure 22 is it possible to depict the tuning of the stock assessment model to the acoustic survey estimates. One acoustic estimate was not used in the tuning because it was considered to be an anomalous situation leading to an unusually high estimate of total biomass (for the year 1996, Dr. Marcelo Pájaro, personal communication by email to the Assessment Team). The Daily Egg Production Method (DEPM) estimates (not used to tune the stock assessment model), are shown in Figure 23 and are similar to the acoustic estimated for the same years (Pájaro, Macchi, Leonarduzzi, & Hansen, 2009).
55
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
6000
5000
4000
ADAPT 3000 Surveys 2000 Lower CI Survey
Total Biomass Biomass Total (''000 t) Upper CI Survey 1000
0 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Year
Figure 22: Total biomass („000 t) estimated by the assessment model (ADAPT) and by the acoustic fisheries independent surveys of Bonaerense anchovy (1990-2010). Source: data obtained from Dr. Marcelo Pájaro (INIDEP) by personal communication to the Assessment Team.
Figure 23: Biomass estimated by the Daily Egg Production Method (DEPM) and by the acoustic method (AM) for the period of 1996 to 2004. Source: Pájaro et al 2009.
56
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
The estimate of abundance from the Acoustic Method and from the Daily Egg Production Method ranged from 1.6 million t to 5.4 million for the Bonaerense anchovy and between 0.4 million t and 2 million t for the Patagonic population (Sanchez et al., 1996; Hansen, 2006; Pájaro et al., 2006). Figure 24 shows the spatial distribution of anchovy eggs of Bonaerense anchovy.
Figure 24: Spatial distribution of anchovy eggs densities (10m2), considering all data from the period 1996-2006.
The lowest SSB in 21 years (1990) was 0.41 million t and produced a year class of 65.9 billion fish, above the historical minimum of 51 billion fish (Figure 25). The minimum recruitment was produced by a SSB of 1.84 million t, well above the average SSB of 1.45 million t. The SSB that produced the maximum recruitment of 412 billion fish was 1.30 million t (year 2003). There is no indication that in any of the SSB levels estimated for 1990-2010 the recruitment would be impaired.
57
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
450 2003 400 1995 1993 350
300 2007
250 1994 1999 200 1992 1997 2008 2001
Recruits (Billions) 150 1996 2009 2002 2000 100 1991 2006 1998 2005 50 1990 2004
- 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
Spawner Biomass ( '000 t) Milhares
Figure 25: Stock-recruitment relationship of Bonaerense anchovy, each dot is identified by year (1990- 2009), data obtained from Dr. Marcelo Pájaro (INIDEP) by personal communication to the Assessment Team.
Other differences between both management units are the first-year old length, number of radii of the dorsal fins and number of vertebra, growth and mortality on larval stages and adults.
Generally speaking, Patagonic anchovy would represent less than 30% of the anchovy total biomass, according to the most recent acoustic biomass estimations, which discriminate the different ages of the fishes. On both population groups, younger ages (up to two-years-old) constituted the largest proportion of the total abundance, as number as weight.
6.2 Distribution, Acoustic evaluation and Population Structure of Argentine anchovy.
On 1993, two research campaigns were dedicated to the study of Argentine anchovy, where it‟s been covered the distribution area of the Bonaerense anchovy in October (34º- 41ºS), and the Patagonic one in November-December (34º- 45º30‟ S). Random pre- stratified designs, in two stages, were used for the acoustic sampling by echo integration. A mid water trawl net has been used to sample the fishes (Hansen y Madirolas, 1996).
The Northern population biomass was acoustically estimated in above 1.45 million tons (CV=7.4%), while the Southern one barely reached 740,000 tones (CV= 13.1%). Individuals up to two years old explained, for both groups, most of the abundance numbers (78% and 75% respectively). Moreover, it also were estimated the constants of the weight-length relationship, first maturation size gradient (L50%), instant rates for total and natural mortality, and the Von-Bertalanffy functions for length growth. All the results agree with previous estimations, except that in this time, first maturity size has
58
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery been lower, especially for the Bonaerense population (92.5mm total length) but also for the southern one (124.7 mm).
That year‟s biomass estimated value was perhaps the lowest observed since the 60‟s, but this decrease could not be explained by the commercial exploitation, not either a bigger predation pressure action by hake. If this has happened, it should have been reflected as in an increase of the consumed anchovy biomass, as bigger estimations in natural mortality. Since none of this has happened, it may be considered that this value is included inside the expected parameters of the annual variation biomass. (Hansen & Madirolas, 1996).
On the other hand, during the period 1995-2004, seven campaigns were made to evaluate the Bonaerense stock. It‟s been created a database containing information about shape, size and energetic characteristics of more than 18000 schools. This would allow performing studies about biological and behavioral aspects of the anchovy, such as aggregation patters, spatial distribution and inter-annual changes observations.
On the other hand, analysis between the average retro dispersion coefficient (Svp) and the schools depth (Zc) clearly shows a gradual decrease in the echo intensity in the position of the column of water. Deeper, between 40m to 60m it can be observed dispersion in the Svp vs depth relationship probably because of resonance phenomenon that may occur in a very small volume gas bladder. Beyond 70m, Svp value becomes independent from depth and the curve tends to be asymptotic, and the reason may be the collapse of the same gas bladder.
Bonaerense stock data shows that during the observed period, a significant annual variation was observed, probably because of oceanic variations or changes in the distribution of anchovy-related species.
6.3 Management Advice
As the biomass estimation by indirect methods (hydroacoustic or those based on egg census and plankton larvae) as the results of the statistic and landed based methods, suggest a possibility of expansion of the current fishery (see Figure 26). However, this has not been done until now, mostly because of economic difficulties such as the production and commercialization cost, market shortage, existence of alternatives, among other; than limitations of the biologic potential.
59
File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11
Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery
Figure 26: Total anchovy catches (in tons), and catches for the Patagonic stock (Southern LS management unit) and Bonaerense stock (Northern 41 LS management unit). Source: Data provided by the SSPyA 1935-2010 and processed by the Assessment Team.
Recommendations for management are not based on MSY or BMSY but are rather done by taking into account a BRL (Biological Reference Limit). The BRL is defined as 33% of the maximum historical SSB. The MSC Fisheries Assessment Methodology (FAM) comment # 6.2.19 (a) considers that in the case where neither BMSY nor BLim are analytically determined, the following default reference points may be appropriate depending on the species: Limit Reference Point LRP=BLim= 20%B0 and Target Reference Point TRP=BMSY = 40%B0. As no estimate of B0 (virgin spawning biomass) is made in the current stock assessment model, SSBMax could be considered to be a proxy for B0 since the fishing mortality is low and the stock could be considered to attain its maximum biological potential. This 33% SSBMax may be considered to be a precautionary limit reference point as it is above 20%B0.
The BRL is not used as a de facto limit reference point as no comparison of current SSB is made with the BRL to take any kind of management action, and there is no safety rule in place that will command a management action in case the current SSB is below BRL. Rather, the BRL is used to set the annual ABC (Acceptable Biological Catch) using projections into the future. The annual ABC is calculated using projections into the future (16 years). The population is projected from the vector of numbers-at-age estimated from the cohort analysis for the last year of the stock assessment. Alternative scenarios of increasing values of fishing mortality (F) are used o project the population. A fishing mortality such that P (SSB In much earlier reports, the recommendations were based solely on yield per recruit models. The TAC – Total Allowable catch is set at or below the ABC. For 2010 for 60 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery example, the ABC was stated to be 145000 t and the TAC was set to be 120000 t to be consistent with past TACs, that have been at 120000 since it was proposed in 1994 (Hansen, 2004). No explicit target reference point is stated for the stock. However, an implicit target reference point would be that in the case the TAC would be fully fished consistently over the years it is expected that the stock would fluctuate around an unknown SSB value. This level of SSB is an implicit target reference point. As the TAC has not been reached, and rather a much lower value is caught every year due to current market dynamics and constraints, it is expected that the SSB would fluctuate well above this implied target reference point. For 2010, the TAC was 120000 t and the actual catches were 21 682 t, which represents 18% of the TAC. While it‟s considered that higher levels of exploitation may be biologically bearable, the TAC recommended by the National Institute of Investigation and Fishing Development (INIDEP) for Bonaerense and Patagonic stocks of anchovy have been modified just two times since they were initially proposed on 1994. Most of the time the TAC has been 120000 t with the exception of 2007 when it was set as 124000 t, followed by a decrease to 82000 t and return to 120000 t again in 2009. The TAC are maintained at lower levels because there are uncertainties about the magnitude of the discards and about the effect that a more intensive fishing could have on the species and its predators, therefore the precautionary approach of the fishing management postulated by the FAO is kept in mind (Hansen 2004). Hansen (2004) points out that if new markets wants to be explored that would require landings that are substantially higher than current ones, important investments would have to be considered, both for the improvement of the fish handling on board, and for the conservation of the raw material. Olsen (1992 cited in Hansen 2004) has indicated that investments in these concepts are smaller than those needed to produce higher captures at a lower cost. He considers that this last policy may not return the expected profits, especially when there are quota systems or catching quota. According to discards, there are not studies that may rectify this situation on “rada” vessels‟ board, in which in the action is a minimum. However, it‟s not the same with larger vessels that execute this procedure when they catch non-commercial-size individuals. Even though, the by-catch capture is very incidental and it only reaches about 1% of the total biomass (Hansen J., 2005) (see Tables IV and V). 61 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Table IV: Percentages of the different commercial-value species caught by the coastal ice-chilling fleet targeted to the Bonaerense anchovy-stock. Langos- Pez Len- Merluza Abadejo Calamar tino Salmon Tiburon Brotola Gallo Mero guado Corvina 1999 1,44 0 0 0 0,06 0 0,49 0 0,749 2,691 24,01 2000 0,02 0 0,01 0 0,02 0,05 0 0 0 0 0 2001 0 0 0 0,01 0 0,00 0,00 8E-04 0,008 0,003 0,84 2002 0,00 0 0 0 0,00 0,05 0,02 0 0,009 0,734 0,15 2003 0,57 0 0 0 0,12 0,02 0,04 0,004 0,252 0,725 1,64 2004 0,00 0 0 0 0,01 0,03 0 0 0,156 0,047 0,39 2005 0,01 0 0,00 0 0,01 0,01 0 0 0,032 0,021 0,32 2006 0 0 0 0 0,00 0,01 0 0,008 0,008 0,029 0,76 2007 0,00 0,00 0,00 0 0,01 0,02 0 0,002 0,018 0,006 0,68 2008 0,00 0 0 0 0,01 0 0 0,01 0,017 0,052 0,22 2009 0 0 0 0 0,00 0 0 0 0,011 0 0 Pez Pez Pesca- Casta-Calama- Otros Captura Gatuzo Angel Palo Rayas Caballa dilla Otros ñeta rete Anchoíta Peces Tot en T 1999 9,39 2,91 2,278 1,234 0,02 8,93 4,22 0 0 41,6 0 346,2 2000 0 0 0,004 0 0,00 0 0,11 0 0 99,8 0,011 921,5 2001 0,08 0,00 0,003 0,022 0,03 0,16 0,06 0 0,002 98,5 0,290 2618,4 2002 0,30 0,17 0,55 0,232 0 0,19 0,13 0,001 0 97,4 0,035 4143,6 2003 1,66 0,40 0,42 0,892 0,02 0,69 0,62 0,004 0 91,9 0,001 11562,2 2004 0,28 0,03 0,039 0,116 0,00 0,09 0,20 0 0 98,6 0 9434,4 2005 0,07 0,02 0,016 0,044 0,05 0,41 0,06 0,018 0 98,9 0,002 15984,0 2006 0,18 0,01 0,007 0,015 0,01 0,47 0,61 0 0 97,9 0 10096,0 2007 0,11 0,01 0,016 0,013 4,04 0,22 0,05 0,01 0 94,8 0,004 9598,2 2008 0,10 0,06 0,078 0,1 2,71 0,15 0,38 0 0 96,1 0,001 9352,5 2009 0 0 0 0 0,03 0 0,03 0 0 99,9 0 8525,9 Source: Produced by the Assessment Team using information provided by theSSPyA 1935-2009 Table V: Percentages of the different commercial-value species caught by the Long range chilled fleet targeted to the Bonaerense anchovy-stock. Merluza Abadejo Calamar Salmon Tiburon Brotola Gallo Mero Lenguado Corvina Gatuzo 1999 0,046 0,000 0,000 0,009 0,005 0,000 0,000 0,006 0,000 0,000 0,017 2000 0,030 0,000 0,007 0,011 0,031 0,000 0,001 0,004 0,000 0,000 0,010 2001 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,002 0,000 0,004 0,000 0,000 0,001 2002 1,124 0,000 0,000 0,002 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,002 0,000 0,000 0,004 2003 0,252 0,000 0,010 0,073 0,003 0,010 0,005 0,070 0,161 0,091 0,405 2004 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,015 0,000 0,000 0,001 2005 0,094 0,000 0,002 0,036 0,122 0,000 0,035 0,092 0,039 0,000 0,173 2006 0,429 0,014 0,005 0,002 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,002 0,003 0,000 0,000 2007 0,089 0,000 0,026 0,004 0,003 0,000 0,001 0,032 0,002 0,000 0,004 2008 0,152 0,003 0,000 0,019 0,013 0,000 0,030 0,040 0,007 0,000 0,005 2009 0,001 0,000 0,000 0,005 0,001 0,000 0,000 0,017 0,002 0,000 0,000 62 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Pez Pesca- Casta- Calama- Otros Captura Palo Rayas Caballa dilla Otros ñeta rete Savorin Pampano Anchoíta Peces Tot en T 1999 0,002 0,009 0,003 0,095 0,072 0,001 0,001 0,008 0,011 99,671 0,044 9010,6 2000 0,011 0,013 0,090 0,059 0,129 0,011 0,000 0,002 0,005 99,552 0,027 10254,9 2001 0,004 0,000 0,611 0,017 0,130 0,000 0,002 0,000 0,021 99,197 0,012 8588,6 2002 0,001 0,003 0,193 0,001 0,125 0,001 0,000 0,000 0,000 98,543 0,000 11235,1 2003 0,138 0,352 0,136 0,090 0,542 0,000 0,000 0,006 0,000 97,497 0,000 14871,9 2004 0,002 0,006 0,000 0,003 0,071 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,000 99,899 0,001 26044,1 2005 0,041 0,037 0,783 0,004 0,120 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,000 98,396 0,018 16536,6 2006 0,000 0,019 0,008 0,037 0,404 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,000 99,072 0,004 21213,3 2007 0,002 0,007 4,553 0,023 0,164 0,000 0,000 0,004 0,000 95,083 0,001 19074,0 2008 0,018 0,057 8,402 0,013 0,093 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,000 91,132 0,008 14698,7 2009 0,002 0,001 5,283 0,000 0,029 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,000 94,661 0,000 19917,5 Source: Produced by the Assessment Team from the statistic data provided by the SSPyA 63 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery 7 Ecosystem characteristics 7.1 Introduction The environment where it‟s developed the anchovy life cycle, together with the squid, hoki and other natural species, is composed by a group of environmental variables, water masses and the currents of Malvinas and Brazil. The flow of the superficial waters on the continental shelf is NNE (see Figure 26). This transport is induced by the wind friction and it doesn‟t represent a seasonal variability. Moreover, San Jorge, Nuevo, San Jose and San Matías gulfs, by the geometry of their mouths, reduced the exchange with open sea and their waters appear to be sensitive to local variations (heat exchange with the atmosphere). Figure 26: Circulation scheme of water masses over the continental shelf. Green arrows indicate the existence of continental discharges; blue arrows indicate the sense of circulation of the cold currents (Antarctic Circumpolar Current and Malvinas Current); and red arrows make reference to warm currents (Brazilian Current). Source: Guerrero & Martos. INIDEP Report 2000. High productivity Systems are marked by 4 fronts: Peninsula Valdés tide front; oceanic front between the Malvinas and Brazil Currents, the friction between the Malvinas current with the continental slope which causes an upwelling phenomenon, and the Rio de la Plata that generates an estuarine zone (a transition zone subjected to both marine and riverine influences).There are three factors that characterize this environment: 1. Concentration of particles material (convergence zone) (see Figure 27) 64 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Figure 27: Front of the slope diagram represented by a transversal cut of the water masses. En grey it is represented the bottom of the continental shelf, while the crossed circle indicates that the Malvinas Current moves to the north (like penetrating in the paper) 2. Upwelling‟s or elevations of deeper waters (cold rich-nutrient waters) to superficial strata, where they are exposed to a higher luminous intensity and consequently they rise their temperature 3. Stratification of estuarial fronts densities, such as River de la Plata estuary, where there are a saline wedge below a fresh water one, creating an interface between both as a protection against external forces (such as the wind) that causes turbulent movements on the upper strata (see Figure 28). Figure 28: Rio de la Plata estuarial front diagram. From above, it‟s deduced that exists an important correlation between both fronts and spawning areas, becoming a natural variability in the different commercial biomasses of the different organisms‟ commercial interest. This is favorable for the larvae and juveniles development, implying that species don‟t have to spend their energy in moving to look for food. Moreover, according to Guerrero and Martos (2000), the coastal fronts and slope fronts show bigger productivity conditions than the rest of the shelf, 65 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery particularly associated to different fisheries such as hoki, anchovy and squid among the most important. The coastal ecosystem of the Bonaerense shelf may be the best defined because of its stability and diversification, produced by the depth of the mass layer that generated an oriental limit. From the productive point of view, it‟s been characterized as a regenerative ecosystem (Carreto, 1968), where the assimilation and nutrient-reposition processes are in equilibrium depending on the temperature. It is a matter of vital importance to characterize the environment in which the specie growths, to individualize those cyclic or not changes that may have any influence on the species biology. Knowing the life-cycles of the species is in direct relationship with the methodology that will be used then for its evaluation. According to the environmental conditions, it‟s generated the variables on the population parameters which are relevant to have a better evaluation and assure the species' sustainability. 7.2 Incidental capture. Retained and bycatch species 7.2.1 Overview By-catch consists in the unintentional incidental catching of non-target species that may be or not landed in the port. Fish, chondrichthyes, mammals and birds that take part in the by-catch will be considered on section 7.3. In relation to the conservation, protection and live-marine-resources administration, fishing law establish that the fishing activity in all the maritime spaces under the argentine jurisdiction will be in accordance with restrictions stated by the FFC, with the objective of avoiding exploitation in excess and preventing the damages on the environment and the ecologic system. Under the non-existence of on-board observer program, the data on retained catch and by-catch were obtained from two sources, the catch declaration of the log book of the vessel that catch the anchovy as target, and from the research survey of the INIDEP (see tables VI and VII). 7.2.2 Retained and By-Catch species Incidental capture occurring in the anchovy fishery under assessment represents very low values respect to total catch of the retained and bycatch species, respectively; and has been reported (including retained and bycatch) to be less than 1% of the total capture (Hansen J., 2004). The information provided to assess the impact of the Anchovy fishery is: 66 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery 1) The landing information from catch declaration. 2) Scientific surveys 7.2.2.1 CHUB MACKEREL “CABALLA”, (SCOMBER JAPONICUS) Mackerel habitat extends over the coast of Argentina and Uruguay from 34°S to 46°S in Patagonia, including the San Matías Gulf. It was noted that this resource remains in Argentine waters in the area of intermediate platform throughout the year. Mackerel feed on a wide variety of organisms, mainly calanoid copepods and anchovy in all its stages. The diet is mixed and the species has different ways of obtaining food, that is, by a filtration process itself of a small fish - carnivore or by capture of larger prey. Cannibalism has been observed by ingestion of eggs. Incidental capture (including retained and bycatch) has been reported to be less than 1% of the total capture (Hansen J., 2004). i.e. approximately 300 tons a year. The biological accepted capture (ABC) recommended for the chub mackerel stock exploited south of 39° SL (where a significant part of the anchovy captures occurs) was 12,000 tons for 2010 (Buratti, Garciarena, & Hansen, 2010). Chum mackerel spawns in El Rincón, between 39°S and 40°S, where highest concentration of this species occurs. Considering a top limit of 300 tons in the incidental capture, this figure becomes insignificant respect to the BAC recommended for the species. In Argentina, the chub mackerel (“caballa”, Scomber japonicus) stock is monitored and evaluated within the INIDEP Research Programs. INIDEP Technical Report 14/2010 provides sufficient data collected to detect any increase in risk level, establishing reference points; and landing controls from management authorities exists. 7.2.2.2 HORSE MAKARREL “JUREL, SUREL” (TRACHURUS LATHAMI) The Bonaerense anchovy fishery is highly selective and occurs on concentrated schools over surel‟s (Trachurus lathami syn. Trachurus pictoratus australis) during day as fishing at night is forbidden to protect demersal species. Commercial pressure minimizes incidental capture of “surel”. Surel reproduced in coastal waters between the months of November and February. The size at sexual maturity is 15 cm for females and 14 cm for males. These values correspond to an age between 1.5 and 2 years. Maximum sizes observed are 240-250 mm. Eggs are spherical with a diameter of 0.768 - 0.816 mm, with oil globule. Hatch after 46-48 hours, temperature 18 º -19 º C. At 12 mm in length, larvae have completed their ossification. It feeds mainly on copepods and secondarily chaetognaths, which abound from February to April. Less frequently prey on Amphipoda, Mysidacea, 67 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Cumacea, cladocerans, larvae barnacles and fish eggs. Trophic level 3.99 s.e. 0.18 based on diet studies (Fishbase, 2011). The average age at maturity is between 1.5 and 2 years (Hansen, Perrota, & Madirolas, 2004); and the maximum age observed was 14 years. Most frequent ages of capture are 2 to 6 years old, with occasional individuals of 13 years. The reproductive strategy is demersal egg layer: the “surel” reproduce close to the coast, 10-15 miles offshore at 25- 30 m depth. (Ciechomski & Cassia, 1980). Fecundity the lowest value of fecundity was found in one female with 15,825 ovocites and the highest in one female with 82,892 ovocites. Media value found for the most represented class (50-55 gr, 15 individuals) was 36,000 ovocites. (Ciechomski & Cassia, 1980, p. 42) “Surel” is a euryhaline species which inhabits approximately between 34° S and 42°S, between the coast and the isobath of 100 m. Anchovy concentrations lie between 40 and 80 m based on different reports while nets are assumed to operate within this range. (Cousseau & Perrota, 2011). It is mostly retained because it is not easily distinguishable respect to “anchoita”. Probability of survival after discard is remote. 7.2.2.3 SOUTHWEST ATLANTIC BUTTERFISH - “PAMPANITO”, (STROMATEUS BRASILIENSIS) Captures occurring in the anchovy fishery under assessment represent very low values of their capture on the same stocks. Incidental capture (including retained and bycatch) Only three tons of “pampanito” (Stromateus brasiliensis) were capture during the last ten years while the BAC recommended is about 1,200 tons a year. 7.2.2.4 CHONDRICHTHYES Squatina argentina and Galeorhynus galeus have considerable low values of capture, while M. schmitti was considered an indicator for all chondrichthyes. From Cortés et al. (2010): “Demographic analyses demonstrated that even moderate impacts on the M. schmitti population negatively affect the population growth rate”. Although M. schmitti may be landed, it does not represent the main bycatch or retained, while the total incidental capture (retained and bycatch) is less than 1% of the total capture (Hansen J., 2004), i.e. approximately 300 tons a year. For the last five years, M. schmitti captures in the anchovy fishery were less than 20 tons per year, while total captures of M. schmitti fishery lied between 10,362 and 7,562 tons per year, from 2007 to 2010. Cortés (2007) divided life history of Mustelus schmitti in four stages, related to total length (TL) and maturity: neonates (1 year duration, TL<37cm), juveniles (3 years duration, TL=37-56cm), small adult females (4 years duration, TL=56-75cm) and large adult females (4 years duration, TL>75cm). On commercial samples sizes observed were 26.0-89.5 cm for females and 28.5-79.0 cm for males, while for non-commercial samples maximum sizes observed were 108.5 cm for females and 87 cm for males. First age of maturity (at 4 years old) was estimated in 62 cm for females and 60 cm for males 68 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery (Menni, Cousseau, & Gosztonyi, 1986). A decrease in the size at maturity for Mustelus schmitti (males: 60–54.9 cm; females: 62.6–60.5 cm) in the Buenos Aires Province area was detected by Diaz de Astarloa et al. (1997) from 1978 to 1993 (Chiaramonte & Pettovello, 2000). Average size at maturity was also estimated in 56 cm (Cortés F., 2007) and in 58.6 cm (Cortés & Massa, 2006). This species is considered viviparous (ovoviviparous) of non-placental type with compartments formation (Menni, Cousseau, & Gosztonyi, 1986). Average fecundity and fertility were estimated in 7.16 and 5.05 (Cortés & Massa, 2006). Menni et al. (1986) found that in Buenos Aires Province area the gestation period was 11 months with immediate ovulation (Chiaramonte & Pettovello, 2000). From a sampling of 64 females, Menni et al. (1986) found individuals bearing 1-13 embryos while 64% of them bore 1-4 embryos. Trophic level of Mustelus schmitti varied between 3.62 and 3.68 from 1986 to 1994 and between 3.48 and 3.77 from 2008 to 2009 (Belleggia & Sánchez, 2010). Estimated trophic level for this species is published as 3.59 s.e. 0.49, based on diet studies (FishBase, 2011). From Cortés et al. (2010): “Neonates and juveniles were more abundant and remain in inshore waters, suggesting the presence of nursery areas in which food availability and environmental conditions allow a faster growth. Adults M. schmitti presented different environmental associations mainly associated with depth and temperature. The smallest M. schmitti were common in shallow waters (<25 m) whereas medium and large individuals were most abundant in deeper waters (>25 m). During non-reproductive season they were associated with deeper coastal waters. Large M. schmitti females (>60 cm TL) were most abundant in deeper, colder, and saltier waters.” Bellegia et al. (2010) consider two regions, Río de la Plata (34° 30‟ S – 38° S) and El Rincón (39° S – 42 ° S), as two different environments (see figure 1, principle 2.1.1). These both regions have high concentration of M. schmitti where they are able to fulfil their life requirements (Cousseau, 1986; Massa, 1998) and are the most abundant and most frequently landed shark (Massa et al., 2004). The fishery under assessment mainly occurs in El Rincón – Depth (40-80 m). 69 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Table VI: Capture of the High Seas Ice-chilling fleet targeting anchovy on the Buenos Aires stock Percentage ratio of retained and by-catch species related to the total catch. Brazilian Chub Stripped Castaneta Loligo Silver Parona Others flathead Ray s mackarel weakfish Others hawkfish squid warehou leatherjack Ancho vy fishes 1999 0,002 0,009 0,003 0,095 0,072 0,001 0,001 0,008 0,011 99,671 0,044 2000 0,011 0,013 0,090 0,059 0,129 0,011 0,000 0,002 0,005 99,552 0,027 2001 0,004 0,000 0,611 0,017 0,130 0,000 0,002 0,000 0,021 99,197 0,012 2002 0,001 0,003 0,193 0,001 0,125 0,001 0,000 0,000 0,000 98,543 0,000 2003 0,138 0,352 0,136 0,090 0,542 0,000 0,000 0,006 0,000 97,497 0,000 2004 0,002 0,006 0,000 0,003 0,071 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,000 99,899 0,001 2005 0,041 0,037 0,783 0,004 0,120 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,000 98,396 0,018 2006 0,000 0,019 0,008 0,037 0,404 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,000 99,072 0,004 2007 0,002 0,007 4,553 0,023 0,164 0,000 0,000 0,004 0,000 95,083 0,001 2008 0,018 0,057 8,402 0,013 0,093 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,000 91,132 0,008 2009 0,002 0,001 5,283 0,000 0,029 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,000 94,661 0,000 2010 0,006 0,023 10,225 0,000 0,037 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,000 61,129 0,000 HIGH SEAS ICE CHILLED VESSEL Illex Brazilian Brazilian Elephant Argentine Flat White Patagonian Angel Pink cusk Hake eel squid sandperch Shark codling fish Sea bass Fish croaker smouthhand Shark 1999 0,046 0,000 0,000 0,009 0,005 0,000 0,000 0,006 0,000 0,000 0,017 0,000 2000 0,030 0,000 0,007 0,011 0,031 0,000 0,001 0,004 0,000 0,000 0,010 0,007 2001 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,002 0,000 0,004 0,000 0,000 0,001 0,000 2002 1,124 0,000 0,000 0,002 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,002 0,000 0,000 0,004 0,000 2003 0,252 0,000 0,010 0,073 0,003 0,010 0,005 0,070 0,161 0,091 0,405 0,158 2004 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,015 0,000 0,000 0,001 0,000 2005 0,094 0,000 0,002 0,036 0,122 0,000 0,035 0,092 0,039 0,000 0,173 0,011 2006 0,429 0,014 0,005 0,002 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,002 0,003 0,000 0,000 0,000 2007 0,089 0,000 0,026 0,004 0,003 0,000 0,001 0,032 0,002 0,000 0,004 0,000 2008 0,152 0,003 0,000 0,019 0,013 0,000 0,030 0,040 0,007 0,000 0,005 0,005 2009 0,001 0,000 0,000 0,005 0,001 0,000 0,000 0,017 0,002 0,000 0,000 0,000 2010 0,011 0,000 0,000 0,004 0,006 0,000 0,000 0,039 0,037 0,231 0,017 0,008 Source: Statistic of the SSF Sub Secretary of the Fishery 70 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Table VII: Capture of the Coastal Ice-chilling fleet targeting anchovy on the Buenos Aires stock Percentage ratio of retained and by-catch species related to the total catch. COASTAL ICE CHILLED VESSEL Illex Brazilian Brazilian Elephant Argentine Flat White Pink cusk Hake eel squid Srimp sandperch Shark codling fish Sea bass Fish croaker 1999 1,44 0 0 0 0,06 0 0,49 0 0,749 2,691 24,01 2000 0,02 0 0,01 0 0,02 0,05 0 0 0 0 0 2001 0 0 0 0,01 0 0,00 0,00 0,0008 0,008 0,003 0,84 2002 0,00 0 0 0 0,00 0,05 0,02 0 0,009 0,734 0,15 2003 0,57 0 0 0 0,12 0,02 0,04 0,0043 0,252 0,725 1,64 2004 0,00 0 0 0 0,01 0,03 0 0 0,156 0,047 0,39 2005 0,01 0 0,00 0 0,01 0,01 0 0 0,032 0,021 0,32 2006 0 0 0 0 0,00 0,01 0 0,008 0,008 0,029 0,76 2007 0,00 0,00 0,00 0 0,01 0,02 0 0,0018 0,018 0,006 0,68 2008 0,00 0 0 0 0,01 0 0 0,0103 0,017 0,052 0,22 2009 0 0 0 0 0,00 0 0 0 0,011 0 0 2010 0,010 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,009 0,007 0,000 0,001 0,020 0,009 0,025 Source: Statistic of the SSF Sub Secretary of the Fishery 7.3 ETP Species 7.3.1 Summary The record of the by-catch species in anchovy fishing is inexistent because of the watcher program is not active in this Fishery. Information comes from general papers emerged from the Ice-chilling vessels. 7.3.2 Marine Birds Available information make us think that the impact of the anchovy targeted fleet on the different retained species is very low, because of the fact that is a small size fleet by its number and dimensions, which do not cause damage to the retained species. The only reference that we have from the bibliography is the research made by Favrero et al. (2010) where the interaction between albatross and petrels with the fishing effort of the ice chilled trawlers that operate on the Argentine Patagonic shelf is described. Mortality associated to collision with the trawling cable has been previously recorded in trawling fishing all around the world, including Southern Atlantic. As a result of these hits, birds are usually trapped and trawled underwater by the resistance created in the cables by the pitching of the fishing vessels. 71 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery These hits don‟t cause direct mortality, but they affect the birds through breakage and injuries that disable them and them eventually die. They can be also taken down and get caught on the filaments of the plaiting cable, being unable to get free and dying without being seen. Contact rates observed in the ice-chilling fleet (25.47 contacts by hour) are closed to half of the reported for the ice trawlers that operate on neighbor areas (55.8 by hour). Mortality rates for ice-chilling vessels (0.017 by hour), however, were five times lesser than the informed for the Patagonic region (0.082 mortality by hour). These differences may respond to the different sizes of the vessels, the volumes of the catches, fishing zones or other characteristics of the icy fleet, thus the different composition of the icy fleet, like the different composition of the marine birds. Considering three throws a day, 130 operative days a year by vessel, and a fleet composed by 135 ice-chilling vessels as an approximation to the fishing effort, annual mortality in this Fishery might be in the order of several hundreds or even more than a thousand albatross. 7.3.3 Marine Mammals Information about the impact on marine mammals was comes from the job of Dr Enrique Crespo. There is no information about the catching of mammals in the anchovy fishing due to the un-presence of watchers on coastal ice-chilling fleet and long range chilled fleet. Data from the capture of mammals comes from the “Rada o Ria” purse seine fishing fleet, but this fleet has not performed in anchovy fishing since 5 years ago. Actually, the intervenient fleet over this resource is forbidden to operate during the night, to protect the hake. Anchovy fisheries with trawling nets or purse seine fishing nets (with or without lampara) produce incidental mortality of dolphins species with a high grade of social cohesion and pelagic fishes school drive such as: chub mackerel, pampanito among others. This has been detected in many vessels fleets, from small vessels to big freezers that operate with big-mouth pelagic nets, from the ports of the provinces of Buenos Aires, Rio Negro and Chubut. In the Buenos Aires fishery, vessels that operate with purse seine fishing nets look for the dolphins herds to find the pelagic fishes schools. These affected species include: common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), dark dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus), austral dolphin (L.australis), and tonina overa (Cephalorhynchus commersonni). Dolphins are more susceptible to the trawling pelagic or superficial arts –and particularly to those who operate during the night- than to any other variant. The catching in the pelagic nets is an event that may cause an important mortality in terms of number of individuals. This would be linked to the increasing of the number of individuals in the herd (Conversation with Dr. Enrique Crespo). 72 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery According to the impact in sea lions, there are not negative interactions that may damage the populations. Predation on anchovies by the two-hair sea lion is significant while breastfeeding that coincides with the fishing months. These hunt in areas closed to the middle and external shelf. However, interaction between these communities and the fishing art is insignificant, because of sea lions eat avoiding nets or directly inside them to break them later to escape. 7.3.4 Chondrichthyes According to chondrichthyes, the fishing of the smoothhound, angel shark and skates are below 1% from the total landing of the anchovy catching, which hardly affects to the population because of a non-significant volume. On the following table, it‟s summarized the total catches of chondrichthyes between years 2007 and 2009 on anchovy fishery. Table VIII: Total captures of chondrichthyes (t) at a National level and on anchovy Fishery Total Captures on % of the capture Species Year captures Anchovy according to the (tons) Fishery (tons) National captures. 2007 7,562 11.6 0.15 Smoothhound 2008 10,362 10.1 0.10 2009 8,966 0.0 0.00 2007 4,282 1.0 0.02 Angel shark 2008 5,407 7.5 0.14 2009 4,981 0.1 0.00 2007 28,038 3.1 0.01 Skates 2008 26,957 18.9 0.07 2009 19,755 0.4 0.00 Source: Produced by the Assessment Team from the statistic data provided by the SSPyA 7.4 Habitat The benthic habitat can be divided in 3 different areas (see Figure 29): I. Area A: Bonaerense District of the Argentine Zoogeographic Province, indirect influence of the Current of Brazil. II. Area B: Under the influence of the Sub-Antarctic Patagonic Current, transition area, impoverished area; and, III. Area C: Under the influence of the Sub-Antarctic Malvinas Current, the biggest diversity area. 73 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Figure 29: Map of the areas defined by the composition of benthonic animals (mollusks, echinoderms and briozooarians) Although the small pelagic, Engraulis anchoita is exploited in Argentine Waters and the ZCPAU, in Brazilian Waters is considered as a virgin population, but with a high variability biomass. Ecologically, as it is a secondary consumer, this specie is one of the most important linked with the nerithic trophic chain, and an important intermediary in the transference of the production of plankton to bigger consumers. Its diet shows a little superposition between juvenile fishes, benthophagues and nektophages that seems to be enough to allow an increase in the first group biomass when the second might be affected by the reduction in the availability in one of the most important preys (anchovies). As a consequence, an increase in the benthophages fishes biomass might cause a decrease in the biomass of the benthos from the shrimp group through predation. This, on the other hand, would have economic consequences, because this group is also exploited. 7.5 Ecosystem impacts 7.5.1 Fishing Ecosystem 74 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery An ecosystem unit is defined as “an ecologic-regional composed of fish species that correspond or demand similar biotic and abiotic conditions, according to the relative abundance of the effectives, affinity indexes and specific diversity, and their location in the communitarian trophic plots (Angelescu y Prenski, 1987). Generally, they cover big areas of the continental shelf and open sea, with variable limits of geographic and barometric superposition. According to the fish community from the intern and extern shelves of the regions Bonaerense and Patagonic up to 48ºS, it‟s conformed by an approximate number of 38 permanently resident species, from the group of fishes and squids, belonging mainly to the benthonic and demersal-benthonic communities (68%), demersal-pelagic communities (21%) and pelagic (11%). Argentine hake is the most dominant specie, in a quantitative sense, of the demersal communities in this group. Total biomasses of the concurrent species distributed in this area and their average densities are below hake values. An important ecologic characteristic of the demersal integrants is the trophic relationship with the pelagic community that appears during the nictemeral-rhythm vertical migration of the species (hake, squid and hoki). The most frequent identified species belong to the following communities: a. Benthic community: skates and flounders b. Demersal-benthic community: sharks, pink cuskeel, Argentine sea bass, rockfish, Argentine conger, Brazilian sandperch, wreckfish, castaneta, Patagonian cod, nototenias c. Demersal-pelagic community: Argentine hake, hoki, leatherjack, Parona leatherjack, silver warehou d. Pelagic community: anchovy 7.5.2 Food Chain According to the position that occupies the specie on the marine trophic cycle, anchovy food chain corresponds to a simple disposition, commonly extended between levels L1 and L3. It‟s located from the lowest trophic levels (L2-3: herbivores and primary carnivores) in the primary juvenile stage, connected with the primary production through herbivore zooplankton, and this sequence remains on the next stages of the vital cycle (see Figure 30). Herbivore zooplankton is the biggest volume and most eaten food on the diet of secondary juveniles, pre-adults and adults (L3: secondary carnivores). When these are fed by zoophagous organisms (L3) –such as larvae and post-larvae, carnivore copepods, amphipods, etc-, locates in the fourth trophic level (L4: secondary carnivores), and in this case, the chain approaches to a “ramified trophic” kind. 75 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Figure 30: Anchovy Food Chain for the Bonaerense sector, with the trophic level changes between L2 and L4. Herbivore zooplankton (L2) is composed by copepods, chalanids and euphasiids; and carnivore zooplankton (L3) is formed by amphipodes hyperiids, larvae and post-larvae stages of some crustaceans. Generally, on the coastal region where are concentrated at the same time schools of juveniles and adults, the chain is more diversify and prolongs to L4 trophic level. On the other hand, offshore, during the adults‟ most intense feeding time, the chain is shorter for being the main food copepods and euphasiids from the second trophic level. The changes in the trophic level are related with the development stages, modality of food ingest and seasonal migration rhythms in the horizontal plain. The same variations exist too in the diurnal vertical migrations, by the fact that schools look for their food at different depths and temperature, and so different specific composition and main food availability. Comparing the number of the food species in the food chain according to the trophic level, it can be clearly seen that the biggest number of groups corresponds to the second level, particularly in the coastal region. However, offshore this number decreases, but increasing the zooplanktonic biomass and a bigger amount of macroscopic size food. Therefore, Argentine anchovy food chain is quite similar to pelagic fishes‟ of the “planktivores and small carnivores” group from upwelling waters, characterizing by a higher trophic efficiency in the autumn and the region offshore. 7.5.3 Competition: Inter and Intraspecific Every pelagic-planktophage-fishes species that occurs permanently or temporary in the trophic habitat of Argentine anchovy can be considered as a competitor. The scale of the competitive action, in this case interspecific, is high and it varies with the number of species that compose the ictic regional group, the stage of development in their vital cycles, the length of the stay in the common trophic habitat, and the biggest incidence 76 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery moment on the main food –with its correspondent biomass relationships- in the system competitor-anchovy. According to this, it has been made a list with the most important species competitors on the Bonaerense and northern Patagonic regions (see Table IX). Table IX: List of competitor fishes according to their trophic habitat, the magnitude of the competitive action by stage in the specific "competitor-anchovy" vital cycle. [Abbreviations and signs: L = larvae and post larvae, J = juvenile, A = adults, P = permanent presence; T = temporary presence, N = north, S = southern, X = action predation reduced; XX = action intense predation] From above, it can be seen that the competition action has a bigger interspecific extension in the coastal trophic habitat and with a bigger impact too, for the populations of anchovy‟s post-larvae and juveniles. However, on October to February, during a long- spawning period with consecutive litters, the pressure of the trophic competition decreases, because the competitor species have shorter spawning-periods in this region and the ability of spawn outside the main spawning area of this specie. In the offshore trophic habitat, on the other hand, trophic competition is smaller according to the lesser competitor species. Among these it can be mentioned: hake 77 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery juveniles, several Myctiophidae spp. near the continental slope, adults and juveniles of migratory pelagic fishes and squids. All these are permanent, temporary or occasional consumers of the meso and macrozooplankton , interfering like this with adult anchovies during their seasonal feeding period. In relation to intraspecific competition, this can be observed in the coastal trophic habitat region, where are represented every anchovy age-group, particularly during the reproductive period. On the other hand, in this same habitat the trophic spectrum of the individual is more diversified. This leads to a trophic selectivity by sizes-groups of the consumer, and decreases the incidence for a same group or kind of food. 7.5.4 Predation Despite the anchovy‟s particular development, predator‟s action is intense due to the high concentration of the prey schools in the common trophic space. Along the year, two dynamic-cycles are distinguished: marked by its periodicity, width and migration routes on the horizontal plain of each of the both anchovy units (Bonaerense and Patagonic), and also its stay time on the shared area with the hake schools (Angelescu & Anganuzzi, 1981; Cousseau et al., 1981). The main consumer of E. anchoita is Merluccius hubbsi (hake) whose annual predation has been estimated by simulation from 2.5 to 6 annual million tons for the period 1970- 1986 (Prenski y Angelescu, 1993). Almost 45 species, twice anchoveta (Engraulis ringens) predators in coastal Chile and Peru, predates on anchovy (E. anchoita) including a variety of fishes (32 spp), cephalopods (3 spp), marine birds (5 spp) and marine mammals (5 spp). Table II (page 251) shows a list of species from the Argentine Sea associated to the anchovy (E. anchoita) trophic net. 78 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Table X: List of anchovy‟s predators, according to their trophic habitat, the magnitude of the predator action by stage in the specific "predator-prey" vital cycle. [Abbreviations and signs: L = larvae and post larvae, J = juvenile, A = adults, P = permanent presence; T = temporary presence, N = north, S = southern, X = action predation reduced; XX = action intense predation. (*) The measurement refers to the length of the mantle 60] 79 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Some of the competitive species, such as Ramnogaster arcuata, Anchoa Marini and Austroatherina incisa (Ciechomski, 1967c), can be added to this list because of they became occasional consumers of embryonic eggs. Occasional predators also include other elements of the zooplankton (Angelescu and Anganuzzi, 1981) such as ctenophores, hydro jellyfish and chaetognats. Several times it‟s been recorded the cannibalism on eggs and possibly on larvae. Intraspecific predation is common between Engraullidae species, and was also recorded in Anchoa mitchilli from the coastal Mexican Gulf, and Engraulis mordax and E. ringens from the pacific American coasts. Pájaro, (1998) has observed that on the Bonaerense region, the biggest reproductive activity occurs on coastal waters at more than 50m, while the biggest densities of 80 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery copepods are recorded on shelf waters deeper than 50m. On the other hand, it‟s been found that in Patagonia, highest densities of copepods and anchovy eggs would be near to front areas. This author has recorded different estimations on egg cannibalism, depending on the population (bigger at the north) and the studied time (bigger during the day than the night). Cannibalism on eggs would operate in a compensatory way, mainly on the Bonaerense region, when egg densities in plankton are high. But on the Patagonic region, cannibalism would increase in the presence of big concentrations of copepods, indicating that most of the eggs would be accidentally ingested when the schools are being fed by the commonest zooplankters. The contribution of the cannibalism on eggs in the necessary energy for the spawning wouldn‟t be very significant, but in some places where this is very intense, it could be enough for not requiring another additional food (Hansen, 2004). Argentine anchovy is a major incidence prey for ichthyophagi predators distributed in the Bonaerense and northern Patagonic waters, while it is also clear the predation impact over the different stages of its vital cycle. In fide, according to the results of the stomach content analysis in different “small and big carnivores” groups of species published by some researchers, the most important predators on the anchovy are: fishes (chub mackerel, leatherjack, blue fish, yellowtail amberjack, atlantic bonito, horse mackerel, hake, weakfish); cephalopods (squid and inshore squid), birds (penguin, seagull) and marine mammals (dolphins, sea lions). Then, there exists inside the Bonaerense and Patagonic interspecific trophic relationships, several sub-systems “predator-prey” referring to Argentine anchovy, with the biggest representation in the fishes group (Condrichthyes and Osteoichthyes). According to the magnitude of the predation action, at least two factors must be considered: 1 The number of predator species by region of the trophic habitat, the variation in the sizes of each specie individuals in relation to the eating rate (length/ mouth diameter), and the amplitude of the predator impact on the anchovies sizes groups (length classes and age groups). 2 The regional and seasonal biomass density distribution of the predator species, specially ichthyophagi fishes and squids, and the coincidence of geographic areas with populations of anchovies‟ larvae, juveniles and adults. In regards to the first factor, and particularly considering fishes (ichthyic benktonic- demersal and pelagic-demersal groups), the number of species increases during spring and summer because of the temporary entry of migratory pelagic fishes. During this period, predation verifies on every anchovy size group, from larvae and post-larvae in the coastal zone, to pre-adults and adults offshore. The opposite happens during the cold season, when the number of predator species offshore is smaller, and the predation impact only reaches to secondary juveniles and adults. 81 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery The second factor has a bigger ecologic meaning and it permits to appreciate the moment of the impact and the magnitude of the predation action on anchovy‟s populations. In the “Hake-Anchovy” subsystem there is a major spatial coincidence during the seasonal time, in the region between isobaths 50-200m; where as the hake schools as the anchovy adult schools are in trophic dispersion and both maximum biomass distribution densities coincide between coastal regions and offshore. In the “Squid-Anchovy” subsystem, the predator‟s biomass distribution is almost similar during the whole year, while its density is lower during the summer when the major spatial coincidence with anchovy‟s adult schools occurs. The rest of the “Predator-Anchovy” subsystems on the coastal region are variable, because of the entrance and exit during spring and summer (so a predator‟s biomass movement), and the time of permanence in the common trophic area (permanent or temporary). Finally, it‟s important to mention, according to the magnitude of predation on anchovies, some data referring to natural mortality, assuming that mortality by fishing is extremely low (Castello, 1975). Brandhorst et al. (1974) calculated that the average natural mortality coefficient (M) oscillates about 0.90 for individual of the classes III-IV in the Bonaerense region and it increases progressively with the age (Castello, 1975). Moreover, it‟s been demonstrated that mortality is higher (M=0.96) at southern Bonaerense sector, and decreases to the north (M=0.83). It seems to be a concordance between these data, and the biomass distribution densities of predators and anchovy‟s adult schools, considering seasonal distribution of hake and squid biomasses (see Figure 31). Figure 31: Map of the seasonal distribution in the Northern region of the Argentine Sea, delimitating the occupied areas by hake, squid and pelagic migratory fishes. 82 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery 7.6 Perspectives on sustainable exploitation and captures in Brazil with an ecosystem perspective Information on Southern Brazil anchovy, including acoustic abundance estimates, seasonal movements and behaviour, environmental preferences, stock, mortality rates and the role of anchovy as forage species in the neritic ecosystem was used to simulate the impact of fishing exploitation using the “Ecopath with Ecosim” model (Christensen and Walters, 2000 fide Pastous Madureira et al., 2009). The results of this simulation showed that at annual exploitation rates of 0.2 and 0.4 for a five-year period, the original biomass of anchovy would suffer a reduction of 10 and 20 percent, respectively (Velasco and Castello, 2005). Considering an exploitation rate of 0.10, the impacts of this fishing effort on the ecosystem could be summarized as follows: - Moderately negative impacts for juvenile and adult nectophagous fish, with a 15– 20% reduction of the current biomass, since anchovy is an important part of their diet; - 30–35% reduction of current biomass of tuna and tuna-like fish; - Approximately 20% increase in biomass of juvenile and adult benthophagic fish; and - 10% increase of benthic invertebrate biomass. The most recent estimates of anchovy biomass in southern Brazilian waters indicate an average of 675,500 tonnes (Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, Personal Communication, 2007). This estimation did not fully cover the distribution area of anchovy. A cautious exploitation rate of yield/ biomass (Y/B) of 0.2 would represent a theoretical capture of 135,000 tonnes per year, which is a significantly high figure. It is unlikely that an exploitation rate of 0.2 would be achieved in the short term, because anchovy fishing does not occur in southern Brazil. 83 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery 8 Legal and Political Frameworks 8.1 Legal Framework 8.1.1 Constitution and Environmental Norms Argentina is a federal republic. The National Constitution (of 1853 with various reforms, the latest in 1994), delineates a federal structure of government, with three branches of power: Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary. These three branches are interrelated through a complex system of checks and balances. The country has 23 provinces and an autonomous city (City of Buenos Aires, capital of the Republic). Although the National Constitution delineates a federal model and a division of power, real political practice has been one of very marked centralism and a very strong Executive power, to the detriment of other branches. It should be said that is not the same for fishing activities because of the existence of a Federal Organism: the Federal Fishing Council which includes the coast provinces governments. The federal structure of Argentina divides powers and responsibilities between the Federal Government and the provinces. Traditionally, under Article 121 of the National Constitution, all powers not specifically delegated to the Federal Government are reserved to the provinces. Argentina has, in the 1990s, carried out numerous normative changes in order to bring its legislation up-to-date, as well as to accompany structural economic reforms. The main comprehensive change has been the Constitutional Reform of 1994. This reformation imbeds at the constitutional level the “right to a healthy environment . . .”. Also, a new specific division of legislative responsibilities between the Federal Government and the provinces has further been created. The Constitution states that: “All the inhabitants have the right to a healthy environment.... productive activities should satisfy the current necessities without compromising those of future generations ...” “Authorities should provide protection of this right, the rational utilization of natural resources, the preservation … of biological diversity....” Nevertheless, although the normative changes introduce principles of sustainable development to the National Constitution, several different jurisdictions and rights over natural resources compete. For example, navigation activities and international trade as well as inter-provincial trade fall under federal jurisdiction (Article 67 inc. 13). On the other hand, the 1994 Constitutional Reform incorporated a new definition over resource dominion, where it is stated that provinces have “original dominion of its natural 84 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery resources” (Article 124) existing in their jurisdiction (at sea 12 nautical miles from the sea coast). Adhesion is a legislative and juridical practice whereby a province voluntarily takes on a national law ratified by the Legislative Power for their own jurisdiction. Environmental issues per se, not being a delegated jurisdiction, means that provinces must legislate over these specific matters within their borders. Many provinces have environmental issues enshrined in provincial constitutions (particularly those constitutions that have been recently reformed); most have enacted environmental laws or laws which contain partial environmental aspects, and/or have environmental dependencies within their executive branches. Argentina also has a general comprehensive federal law of the environment and in the case of fisheries, there are sectorial norms, which, however, do not adequately converge all the important frameworks related to the environment. The Federal Environment Council do not deals with fisheries environmental matters, except when fisheries interact with mammals, birds or marine reptiles. 8.1.2 Background to the Federal Fisheries Law In 1966, through Federal Law 17.094, the Argentina declared its sovereignty over the maritime 200 nautical miles offshore. Federal Law 17.500/1967 establishes measures to promote the fishing activities. Federal Law 18.502/1969 establishes the provincial jurisdiction 3 nautical miles offshore while federal waters remains to be the 200 nautical miles offshore excluding provincial jurisdiction. Later Federal Fishing Law 24.922/1998, extended provincial jurisdiction up to 12 nautical miles offshore. In 1971 it was promulgated Federal Law 19.000 to promote Patagonian port activities. There were established exemptions, reductions and differential taxes to production concreted and exported from Colorado River to the south. Federal Law 20.136/1973 restricted the fishing practices inside the Argentinean Economic Exclusive Zone to Argentinean vessels exclusively. In 1973 the Rio de la Plata River and it Maritime Front Treaty was signed by Uruguay and Argentine Republics, establishing a Common Fishing Zone (ZCPAU) of 200 nautical miles from each point of Rio de la Plata river mouth. The Treaty was ratified by Law 20.645/1974. In 1979 it was established that fishing licences should be given previous approval of a project presented to the Federal Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture. Later in 1982, in absence of a Federal Fisheries Law, Federal Decree 1533/82 established norms to access fishing licences. This was later modified by the Federal Decree 945/86, creating a restricting licence type which allowed fishing only certain species. Previous licences continue without any species restriction. 85 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Later, Federal Decree 2236/91 substituted Decree 945/86 and regulated federal fisheries until 1997; it was complemented, inter alia, with Resolution of the ex-Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food (ex-SAGPyA) N° 245/91. The decree determined the way to obtain a fishing licence and established that they could be unrestricted, excluding some species, for all areas or limited to a specific area. Furthermore, it established that fishing licences will be given in relation to the vessel characteristics. Those licences could be transferred under the conditions established by that decree. It also established the obligatory landing of catch in Argentinean port with some exceptions, as well as the obligation to inform the catches. The complete legal system, also requires a compressive project approval to obtain fishing licenses and anticipates how to regulated conservations measures like closed areas, fishing gears, TAC for each species, among others. The mentioned Decree partially fulfilled the vacuum of the lack of a fisheries law, modifying some before dispositions about the existent licence system from the beginning of the activity. In 1994 the Congress gave the approval by the law 24.315 to the Agreement on the Relations in Fisheries Matters with the European Economic Community (EEC), making it possible to obtain licences to communitarian fishing vessels in the condition to constitute an Argentinean - comminatory mix enterprises temporally associations, the replacement of old argentine licentiate vessel and temporary import of communitarian fishing ships. Also, tax exceptions were established for imported communitarian ships meanwhile CEE compromised tax reduction for Argentineans fishing products and financial helps for the enterprises and Argentinean administration and research systems. In 1995 was ratified the Convention for the Sea Rights (CONVEMAR) that establish a juridical creating the Territorial Sea, Adjacent Zone and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Privileges and responsibilities for the coastal countries were installed, related to the exploitation and conservation of the fishing resources under their jurisdiction. Being an international treaty, it has a superior juridical status than regular Laws: constitutional status (Reform Convention 1994). During 30 years the fish Industry claim for a Fisheries Law, regulating fishing activities. It was in 1998 that the Federal Fisheries Law 24.922 accomplishes that hope and has been the first legislative attempt to include in a comprehensive legal act most elements referred to fishing resources exploitation. The Law, it Complementary Decree 748/99 and several Federal Fisheries Council and National Government regulations, regulates marine fishing activities in Argentinean jurisdictional waters, explicitly referring to very important issues as creation a Federal Fisheries Council and his private Honorary Advisor Commission; the conservation of the fishing resources; research programmes; coordination of control and enforcement; states a new administration system based on individual transferable quotas (ITQ); regulation of the foreign fishing vessel activity; extractive taxes; sanction regime; creation of a fisheries register and the control of on board workers; among others. In its article 1°, the Law states the political framework for fisheries in order to develop a sustainable fishing industry, social and environmentally responsible, fostering the long- 86 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery term preservation of the resources, favouring the development of environmentally appropriate industrial processes that promote the obtaining of the maximum added value and the employment of Argentine labour. The articles 3° y 4° consider two jurisdictional and dominion scope over the fishing maritime areas, that which correspond to the Nation and to the Provinces with maritime littoral. The live resources that inhabit the domestic waters and the Argentine territorial sea adjacent to their coasts, up to twelve (12) nautical miles measured from the baselines, belongs to province dominion and will exercise this jurisdiction with the aims of their exploration, exploitation, conservation and administration. In another hand, are from dominium and jurisdictional exclusive of the Nation the existent marine living resources in the waters of the argentine EEZ, excluding Continental Sea. Therefore the Argentine Republic as a coastal state could adopt conservation measures in its EEZ as in the adjacent area in the case of the transboundary and highly migrating species or other which are associated with those present the EEZ (Article 4°). Law Article 5° determines the application scope of the state‟s responsibility and include the fisheries regulation in maritime spaces subject to the national jurisdiction; the coordination of the protection and administration of maritime live resources that are located both in the national and provincial jurisdiction; the faculty of the National Government authority to limit the access to the fisheries in the marine space under the provincial jurisdiction when the existence of national interest committed in the conservation of one species or certain resource is declared, with foundation in scientific reasons that guarantee the imposition of such measure; the regulation of fishing in the adjacent zone to the EEZ related to the migratory resources or that belong to a same population or to populations associated to the Argentine EEZ; and to the regulation of the fishing activities of processing and transformation, storing, transport and commercialization of fishing products. Articles 7°, 8°, 9° and 10° clearly define Argentinean Fisheries Authorities, constituted by a Federal Organism, a National Authority (Enforcement Authority) and a private advisor commission. Additionally each maritime province has its own fisheries authority and administrative structure. The FFC‟s Adviser Commission is integrated by representatives from the different Enterprises Chambers and unions of workers. Even this commission was formally constituted (Resolutions FFC N° 7/1998 and 7/2004) it is not functioning as it is expected because of conflict existing between same interest groups. The principal functions of the national fisheries authority (MINAGRI) according the article 7º, are to conduct and execute the national fisheries policy, regulating the exploitation, control and assure the adequate enforcement of fisheries regulations. It also is in charge of the fisheries registers and any other operative activity dealing with administration of fisheries, control of catch limits, control of fishing gears, perceiving catching fees and processing and commercialization of marine products. In relation with the conservation, protection and administration of the fishing resources, the Enforcement 87 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Authority could establish different zones and time closed areas; reserve zones and fishing areas delimitation (Law 24.922 article 19°). The article 22° refers to the preference rights corresponding to the Nation as Coastal State, relating to organize and sustain a fishing regulation system in the adjacent zone to the argentine EEZ, with respect to the migratory resources or that belonging to a same population or populations of species associated to those ones inhabitating the argentine EEZ. The Fisheries Federal Law (24.922) has assigned to INIDEP a high responsibility as the technical advisor to FFC and MINAGRI. In that sense are of high importance their reports in the TAC determinations of the different species and the scientific and assessment research of fishing resources to protect them and obtain the maximum sustainable yield. It also cooperates with province organism in the research duties and experimental fisheries. 8.1.3 Specific Regulations of Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery As has already been said, there are two administrative jurisdictions for Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery: The Uruguayan - Argentinean Common Fishing Zone (ZCPAU) and Argentine EEZ. The decision making authority (Administrative Authority) in the ZCPAU is the Mix Technical Commission of Maritime Front (CTMFM), wile in the Argentine EEZ, is carried out by the FFC and MINAGRI in the framework of the Federal Fisheries Law 24.922, its Regulatory Federal Decree N° 748/1999 and Federal Decrees N° 571/2008 and N° 373/2007. The main rule of the CTMFM concerning anchovy fisheries is Resolution CTMFM N°3/2002, which lays down: A 120 mm minimum catch size; Sets out a fishing closed area of 12 nautical miles wide from Uruguayan Continental Sea; Prohibits night fishing; Ordered joint research between the technical bodies of both countries; Requires private fishing companies to affect funds to recourse research plan aimed at the protection of the species; and, Establishes the penalties for noncompliance. In Argentine EEZ the FFC establishes de TAC based on INIDEP Technical Report. Last TAC established are: FFC Resolution Year TAC number and date INIDEP Report 1998 120,000 3 (1-07-1998) S/D 1999 S/D S/D S/D 2000 120,000 1 (14-06-2000) S/D 2001 120,000 9 (9-05-2001 S/D 88 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery FFC Resolution Year TAC number and date INIDEP Report 2002 S/D S/D S/D 2003 S/D S/D S/D 15/2004: “Diagnóstico de la población de anchovy (Engraulis 2004 120,000 10 (03-06-2004) anchoita) al Norte del 41º S y estimación de capturas biológicamente aceptables”, 2005 S/D S/D S/D 2006 S/D S/D S/D 53/2007 con recomendaciones para la explotación del recurso 2007 124,000 7 (05-12-2007) anchovy (Engraulis anchoita) al norte del paralelo 41º de latitud Sur. 24/2008 sobre la estimación de captura biológicamente aceptable 2008 82,000 17 (06-11-2008) de anchovy (Engraulis anchoita) al norte del paralelo 41º de latitud Sur 12/2009 relativo a la estimación de captura biológicamente 2009 120,000 9 (20-05-2009) aceptable de anchovy (Engraulis anchoita) al norte del paralelo 41º de latitud Sur 06/2010 relativo a la estimación de captura biológicamente 2010 120,000 9 (3-06-2010) aceptable de anchovy (Engraulis anchoita) al sur del paralelo 41º de latitud Sur Other general regulations applicable to Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery include number requisites: - Fishing permits requirements. - Requirement to hold annual catch entitlement to cover all target and by-catch species caught Fishing vessel registers. - Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) requirements. - Vessel and gear marking requirements. - Fishing gear and method restrictions. - Observer Program On board inspectors. - Reporting (including catch and effort reporting) requirements. - Vessel inspections. - Control of landings (e.g. requirement to land only to licensed fish receivers) Record keeping requirements. - Auditing of licensed fish receivers by sanitary authorities. - Fishing and gear surveillance by on board video camera recording and transmitting (obligatory from June 1ST, 2011 for anchovy fishery, Provision 89 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery SSPyA N° 206/2010 and 1/2011), And Legal Catch Certification System (SSPyA Disposition N° 82009) There are no other specific regulation as limited day at sea, fishing vessels maximum power or capacity, fishing gear construction requirements, etc. 8.1.4 Monitoring, Control and Surveillance of Fishing and Marketing of Fisheries Products With regard to the operative control of the fleet, SSPyA has implemented the Integrated Control of Fishing Activities (SICAP), comprising: a) Satellite Positioning System of the National Fishing Fleet, b) all satellite data the area where foreign fishing vessels operating outside the ZEEA provided by the National Commission on Space Activities, and c) the activity of control and surveillance conducted by the PNA, Navy and Air Force, which have units of area (Coast Guard and corvettes) and air units (aircraft and helicopters) to control illegal fishing. This information is supplemented with that from the control of discharges and documentary information on board. In the 2009 was incorporated partially the electronic log book by haul (Secretariat of Agriculture, Fishing and Food Resolution N° 167/2009) and in 2011 is being incorporated the fishing activity control by cameras on board (SSPyA Dispositions N° 206/2010 and 1/2011). As for the organizations responsible for control and monitoring of international trade in food products in Argentina, these are the SENASA and the Customer General Directorate (DGA). As already mentioned, SENASA (National Service of Sanitary and Food Quality) is the agency responsible for health inspection and certification of products and by-products of animal and plant control, enabling processing vessels and processing plants on land and 90 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery packaging, transport and marketing of fishing and aquaculture products, in addition controlling federal traffic, as well as imports and exports of products, and products derived from the fishing or farming. The DGA (Customer General Directorate) is an organism that is part of the Federal Administration of Public Revenue (AFIP) and is responsible for implementing the legislation on the import and export of goods, as well as traffic control goods entering or leaving in the customs territory. Its main function is to assess, classify, monitor and control the entry and exit of goods, as well as media that are transported, ensuring compliance with existing provisions. This institutional framework and tools generated can make the following points in relation to control the extraction and processing of fishing products: a) Prior to set sail: Release fishing: control by the PNA set sail through the output document entitled Statement showing the date and time of departure of the vessel, all features, certificate validity, the role of the crew, the ship does not have any impediment to sail, which have permission for fishing and target species, the satellite monitoring equipment is in working order and that the fisheries inspector is empowered to fulfil this role by the competent authority. Additionally, SSPyA port officers control randomly documents and gears on departure ships. b) During the trip: Satellite monitoring during the trip, as set out in SSPyA Provision No. 02/2003, all fishing vessels must have satellite monitoring equipment on board, in perfect working order. The system should inform the vessel's position and other navigation data every hour. In the event that the ship stops emitting its signal by a space over two hours, ordered the immediate return to port. Regardless, the office SSPyA control, special individual can query (polling) at any time for any doubt about the positioning of the vessel. At present the entire commercial fleet of over 13 m in length, operating in national waters, has satellite monitoring system. This makes a total of 554 fishing vessels with equipment on board, with a daily average operation between 225 and approximately 300 vessels in navigation. Twice a day ships positions is updated in the MINAGRI website (www.minagri.gob.ar) for public open consultation. Inspections on board: the inspector prepares a Trip Monitoring Report and the minutes till if applicable. Fishing Report: affidavit of catches by species and fishing area signed by the ship's captain. The master prepares a statement with the information for each fishing haul (haul by haul fishing report) and a statement with the information of the whole trip (end tidal). Both documents are delivered to the end of the trip, when the ship arrived in port. c) At the end of the trip: Entry declaration: control port entrance documented by the PNA (Argentine Cost Guard). 91 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Control and Verification Act of Landing: made to national vessels with the permit issued by inspectors of SSPyA in dock. d) Transport, processing and deliver: Movement control and entering processing plant (Mar del Plata): In order to verify the destination of the goods that circulate in the port of Mar del Plata to their entering to processing plants, in addition to overseeing the relevant health certificates issued from a unified position Integrated Control Centre for fishing activities (CINCOPE), composed by members of the national enforcement authorities of the Province of Buenos Aires, PNA (Argentine Cost Guard), the of Mar del Plata City Sanitary Authorities, SENASA (National Service of Sanitary and Food Quality) and the AFIP (Federal Administration of Public Revenue). The CINCOPE, controls and validates the company refer prepared and presented by the truck driver who transports the goods to the factories. The validation is performed by the agent of the municipality or SENASA, as appropriate. Processing Plants audit of books, every book foliated plant records income and expenditure of goods to be processed. Plant books are audited by a veterinarian of SENASA. Control of plant exit: a Transit Guide is required to deliver fishing product or by productise from the processing plants. Export controls: the goods for export must be accompanied by Export Health Certificate issued by SENASA and Export Manifest (Shipping Permit) issued by the AFIP. 8.1.5 Monitoring Systems, Control and Surveillance of Anchovy Fishery The anchovy fishery is no intensively monitored by the on board inspector or observer program because it is considered a very simple fishery without conflicts or lacking of non-compliance with fisheries regulations. Control includes the landing control and all other issues detailed in the previous item. 8.1.6 Synthesis of Management Legal Framework for the Argentinean Anchovy Fishery TABLE: Summary of management measures related to current and historical management of Bonaerense anchovy fishery in the Argentine Sea. Law 19.549 (03/04/1972) and Federal Decrees 1759/72, 101/85 and 1883/91: Administrative Procedure of argentine national public administration. Law 24.922 (January 12, 1998): Federal Fishing Law Law 25.052 (January 12, 1998): 92 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Prohibit catch or fishing of killer whale. Resolution FFC N° 3 (July 1, 1998): TAC North Stock Anchovy: 120,000 tons. Resolution FFC N° 7 (July 22, 1998): Creates FFC advisory commission. Federal Decree 748 (July 14, 1999): Regulatory decree of Federal Fisheries Law 24.922 Resolution FFC N° 1 (June 14, 2000): TAC North Stock Anchovy: 120,000 tons. Resolution FFC N° 04 (September 30, 2000): Provides that owners of vessels fishing permit in force shall submit an affidavit with the information by a ship or group of vessels if they belonged to the same company or business group, for the purposes of compliance with the provisions of the Act No. 24.922 on the allocation of a catch quota. Resolution FFC N° 9 (May 9, 2001): TAC North Stock Anchovy: 120,000 tons. Resolution FFC N° 3 (April 5, 2001): Order INIDEP incidental birds, mammals and marine reptiles catch registering. Law 24.470 (October 12, 2001): Adequate Fisheries Law 24.922 on how to punish violations of the Law 24992. Law 25.577 (April 11, 2002): Prohibit catch or fishing of cetaceans. Resolution CTMFM N° 3 (May 29, 2002): Anchovy fisheries regulations. Resolution FFC N° 4 (June 3, 2002): Publicise information submitted by the owners of fishing vessels with permits in place, in compliance with Annex II and III of Resolution N ° 4 /2000. Consider the item in actual investment in the country, Annex IV.1 and IV.2 of the Resolution FFC N° 4/2000, the following items: 1 - properties and freezing, 2 – vessels. Resolution SSPyA N° 2 (July31, 2003): Vessel Monitoring System (VMS). Resolution ex SAGPyA N° 27 (June 24, 2003): 93 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Fisheries function delegation on SSPyA Federal Decree 598 (August 13, 2003): Regulatory decree of killer whale Law 25.052. Resolution FFC N° 7 (April 29, 2004): Modify FFC advisory commission. Resolution FFC N° 10 (June 3, 2004): TAC North Stock Anchovy: 120,000 tons. Resolution CTMFM N° 8 (September 24, 2004): Anchovy quota distribution by country in ZCPAU. Resolution SENASA N° 122 (March 7, 2006): Fishing ships sanitary registration. Federal Decree 373 (April 17, 2007): Structure of the Undersecretary for Fisheries and Aquaculture. Replaced Annex II of Decree N°. 25 of May 27, 2003 and amendments, in "Objectives," of the Undersecretary for Fisheries and Aquaculture under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries. Resolution FFC N° 7 (December 5, 2007): TAC North Stock Anchovy: 124,000 tons. Resolution FFC 1 (February 27, 2008): National Action Plan to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Catch (IUU). Federal Decree 571 (April 4, 2008): Structure ex SAGPyA Annex I is hereby replaced by Article 1 of Decree No. 357 dated February 21, 2002, as amended and supplemented, in relevant part, the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food and their respective Secretariats. Resolution FFC N° 17 (November 6, 2008): TAC North Stock Anchovy: 82,000 tons. Resolution ex SAGPyA N° 167 (March 3, 2009): Fishing Catch Reports. Ex SAGPyA Resolution 167 (March 5, 2009): 94 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Approval of the form "Final Fishing Log Book" and their respective instructions, which must be provided by fishing vessels captains before landing. Resolution FFC N° 6 (March 12, 2009): Shark PAN, National Action Plan for the Conservation and Management of Chondrichthyes (sharks, rays and chimaeras) in Argentina. ANNEXES: • Annex I - Argentine maritime spaces. • Annex II - institutions that participated in drafting the national plan for the conservation of sharks. • Annex III - Systematic list of fish Chondrichthyans Argentine maritime spaces. • Annex IV - List of priority species. • Annex V - Chondrichthyes abundance estimates made by the INIDEP from research cruises in the maritime areas in Argentina: a - Abundance estimation of smoothhound (Mustelus schmitti). b – Springa abundance estimation of different species of cartilaginous fish in coastal region of Buenos Aires Province. c – Summer abundance estimation of different species of cartilaginous fishes in Patagonia. Except when specifically indicated, the estimates correspond to the designated area between 45º and 54º LS. d - Abundance estimation of species of Bathyraja. • Annex VI – Relative (stratified mean catch per haul) and absolute (t biomass) abundance estimation from research surveys conducted by the IBMPAS in the San Matías Gulf. • Annex VII BIBLIOGRAPHY. Resolution FFC N° 9 (May 20, 2009): TAC North Stock Anchovy: 120,000 tons. Resolution FFC N° 7 (September 24, 2009): FFC Internal Rules of Functioning. Disposition SSPyA N° 8 (December 29, 2009): National Legal Catch Certification System Resolution FFC N° 10 (May 27, 2009): Repeal Resolution FFC N° 2 (March 14, 2001). CITS. Approval of the General System of Individual Transferable Catch Quotas (ITQs). FFC Act N° 49 (November 11, 2009): Policy management of fisheries resources: ITQ‟s regimen implementation. Conceptual Framework of Standards; Management System by ITQ; and 95 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Implementation of specific schemes in four species: Polaca SBW, Hoki, Common hake , Patagonian Tooth fish. Annex I • Compiled from the FFC decisions 2000-2009. Annex II • Functional diagram of the implementation of the regime of ITQ Resolution FFC N° 9 (June 3, 2010): TAC North Stock Anchovy: 120,000 tons. Resolution FFC N° 3 (April 21, 2010): Bird PAN: Action Plan for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Fisheries (IPOA- Seabirds) ANNEXES: • Annex I. Main species of seabirds in the Argentine Sea Critically Endangered Species Endangered Species Vulnerable species Near threatened species Species of least concern • Annex II. Mitigation Measures Mitigation measures in long-line fisheries Technology solutions for the draft Scaring lines (Tori-lines) Water cannon water jet Repelling magnetic Acoustic deterrents Hook size Depth of hooks Combination of setting speed, distance weighting and weights Thawed bait or puncture the swim bladder in fish Lateral line halt Machine timing Underwater Depth Depth in water (reference) Night setting Dyed bait Artificial bait Technological solutions for hauling Strategic dumping of garbage Water curtain Mitigation measures trawling Bird interactions with trawlers Reduced contact with cables and ship Elimination of the probe cable Cones Streamer lines 96 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Terrified of dragline Brady Repeller Float rod and line Pulley and deterrents in the probe cable Mitigation in the Network Strap network Weighting network Cleaning Network Other mitigation measures 2.4.3. Night setting 2.4.4. Fish Oil • Annex III. Institutions participated in Bird PAN drafting. Resolution INIDEP N° 118 (August 3, 2010): INIDEP new flow chart. Resolution INIDEP N° 133 (August 20, 2010): 2010 INIDEP Scientific Activities Planning. Disposition SSPyA N° 206 (September 7, 2010): Video Camera Control System. Disposition SSPyA N° 1 (January 11, 2011): Video Camera Control System implementation delay. 97 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery 9 Other Fisheries Relevant to this Assessment The other significant fisheries in the region are the hake, squid and “variado costero” fisheries, which differ in fishing gear as in these cases trawlers use a drop net while there are jiggers in the squid fishery. Since the catching of anchovies during the night is forbidden, to avoid incidental catch of hake, some vessels catch anchovy during the day and chub mackerel during the night, applying the same kind of net. 98 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery 10 Background to the Evaluation 10.1 Standard Used The MSC Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Fishing against which the fishery is assessed, describe statements against which a fishery may be compared to, and enable its operators to make a claim that the fish sold on comes from a well-managed and sustainable source. On a voluntary basis, fisheries which conform to these Principles and Criteria will be eligible for certification by independent MSC-accredited certifiers. It is organized in terms of 3 Principles: PRINCIPLE 1: A fishery must be conducted in a manner that does not lead to over-fishing or depletion of the exploited populations and, for those populations that are depleted, the fishery must be conducted in a manner that demonstrably leads to their recovery . The intent of this principle is to ensure that the productive capacities of resources are maintained at high levels and are not sacrificed in favor of short term interests. Thus, exploited populations would be maintained at high levels of abundance designed to retain their productivity, provide margins of safety for error and uncertainty, and restore and retain their capacities for yields over the long term. Criteria: 1. The fishery shall be conducted at catch levels that continually maintain the high productivity of the target population(s) and associated ecological community relative to its potential productivity. 2. Where the exploited populations are depleted, the fishery will be executed such that recovery and rebuilding is allowed to occur to a specified level consistent with the precautionary approach and the ability of the populations to produce long-term potential yields within a specified time frame. 3. Fishing is conducted in a manner that does not alter the age or genetic structure or sex composition to a degree that impairs reproductive capacity. PRINCIPLE 2: Fishing operations should allow for the maintenance of the structure, productivity, function and diversity of the ecosystem (including habitat and associated dependent and ecologically related species) on which the fishery depends. The intent of this principle is to encourage the management of fisheries from an ecosystem perspective under a system designed to assess and restrain the impacts of the fishery on the ecosystem. Criteria: 1. The fishery is conducted in a way that maintains natural functional relationships among species and should not lead to trophic cascades or ecosystem state changes. 99 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery 2. The fishery is conducted in a manner that does not threaten biological diversity at the genetic, species or population levels and avoids or minimizes mortality of, or injuries to endangered, threatened or protected species. 3. Where exploited populations are depleted, the fishery will be executed such that recovery and rebuilding is allowed to occur to a specified level within specified time frames, consistent with the precautionary approach and considering the ability of the population to produce long-term potential yields. PRINCIPLE 3: The fishery is subject to an effective management system that respects local, national and international laws and standards and incorporates institutional and operational frameworks that require use of the resource to be responsible and sustainable. The intent of this principle is to ensure that there is an institutional and operational framework for implementing Principles 1 and 2, appropriate to the size and scale of the fishery. A. Management System Criteria: 1. The fishery shall not be conducted under a controversial unilateral exemption to an international agreement. The management system shall: 2. Demonstrate clear long-term objectives consistent with MSC Principles and Criteria and contain a consultative process that is transparent and involves all interested and affected parties so as to consider all relevant information, including local knowledge. The impact of fishery management decisions on all those who depend on the fishery for their livelihoods, including, but not confined to subsistence, artisanal, and fishing- dependent communities shall be addressed as part of this process; 3. be appropriate to the cultural context, scale and intensity of the fishery – reflecting specific objectives, incorporating operational criteria, containing procedures for implementation and a process for monitoring and evaluating performance and acting on findings; 4. observe the legal and customary rights and long term interests of people dependent on fishing for food and livelihood, in a manner consistent with ecological sustainability; 5. incorporates an appropriate mechanism for the resolution of disputes arising within the system; 6. Provide economic and social incentives that contribute to sustainable fishing and shall not operate with subsidies that contribute to unsustainable fishing; 7. Act in a timely and adaptive fashion on the basis of the best available information using a precautionary approach particularly when dealing with scientific uncertainty; 8. incorporate a research plan – appropriate to the scale and intensity of the fishery – that addresses the information needs of management and provides for the dissemination of research results to all interested parties in a timely fashion; 9. Require that assessments of the biological status of the resource and impacts of the fishery have been and are periodically conducted; 100 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery 10. Specify measures and strategies that demonstrably control the degree of exploitation of the resource, including, but not limited to: a) Setting catch levels that will maintain the target population and ecological community‟s high productivity relative to its potential productivity, and account for the non-target species (or size, age, sex) captured and landed in association with, or as a consequence of, fishing for target species; b) Identifying appropriate fishing methods that minimize adverse impacts on habitat, especially in critical or sensitive zones such as spawning and nursery areas; c) Providing for the recovery and rebuilding of depleted fish populations to specified levels within specified time frames; d) Mechanisms in place to limit or close fisheries when designated catch limits are reached; e) Establishing no-take zones where appropriate; 11. Contains appropriate procedures for effective compliance, monitoring, control, surveillance and enforcement which ensure that established limits to exploitation are not exceeded and specifies corrective actions to be taken in the event that they are. B. Operational Criteria Fishing operation shall: 12. make use of fishing gear and practices designed to avoid the capture of non-target species (and non-target size, age, and/or sex of the target species); minimize mortality of this catch where it cannot be avoided, and reduce discards of what cannot be released alive; 13. Implement appropriate fishing methods designed to minimize adverse impacts on habitat, especially in critical or sensitive zones such as spawning and nursery areas; 14. Not use destructive fishing practices such as fishing with poisons or explosives; 15. Minimize operational waste such as lost fishing gear, oil spills, on-board spoilage of catch, etc; 16. Be conducted in compliance with the fishery management system and all legal and administrative requirements; and 17. Assist and co-operate with management authorities in the collection of catch, discard, and other information of importance to effective management of the resources and the fishery. 10.2 Assessment Team and Peer Reviewers The assessment team consisted of: Leszek B. Prenski, PhD. (Principles 1 and 2); Carolina V. Minte-Vera, PhD. (Principles 1 and 2); María de los Ángeles Gasalla, PhD. (Principles 1 and 2). Raúl J. Bridi, MSc. (Principle 3) and Marcelo L. Morales Yokobori, MSc. (Principles 2 and 3). Peer reviewers were Dr. Miguel Bernal and Dr. Mariano Gutierrez. 101 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Assessment Leader - Dr. Leszek B. Prenski Dr. Prenski is a fisheries scientist, with over thirty years of experience in fisheries policy and fishery management issues. Among many others, he has been a Technical Director of CaPeCA (Argentinean Freezers Fishery Association), Demersal and Inland Fisheries Research Area Coordinator,; Researcher at INIDEP (National Fishery Research and Development Institute, Argentina), ICSEAF (International Commission for the Southern Atlantic Fishery, Poland). Has also been a Member of the administration council of the SENASA (National Service of Food and Agriculture Sanity and Quality) in representation of the fishery sector, External adviser of the Foreign Office in the Commission of the Joint Marine Front between Argentina and Uruguay, and Technical Coordinator in the CCAMLR (Commission for the Conservation of the Marine Living Resources). Expert Advisor P1&2 - Dr. Carolina V. Minte-Vera Dr. Minte-Vera is a fisheries scientist with background in quantitative ecology. She has a Ph.D. Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (SAFS, University of Washington), a M.Sc. in Ecology and Fisheries and a specialization in Applied Statistics. She holds a Professor position at University of Maringá (UEM), Brazil, since 1999, were she is involved as research, mentoring of graduate and undergraduate students, teaching and outreach. The teaching is concentrated in courses on sampling and experimental design, quantitative methods and stock assessment methods. She has several years of progressive experience in quantitative analysis of fisheries stock assessment, from the training provided by the SAFS-UW to the participation on various stock assessment teams and as an invited expert. Her experience assessing stocks was obtained in several countries and for several types of organization, from regional fisheries management organizations to the fishing industry, both leading the stock assessment and working as collaborator. Currently she is part of the Scientific Sub-Committee for Tunas and Billfishes that is an assessor body to the Brazilian Government, and she has collaborated also with tuna stock assessments for ICCAT. She has several research projects with small scale fisheries and Extractives Reserves and co-management in Brazil. More information at http://lattes.cnpq.br/5705504308114344 Expert Advisor P1&2 - Dr. María A. Gasalla Dr. Gasalla is an associate professor at the Oceanographic Institute, University of São Paulo, Brazil. She is the head and principal investigator of the Fisheries Ecosystems Laboratory (LabPesq) and her main current activities have been fisheries-related research, courses/supervision, and extension, at the local, regional, and international scale. Her main interests are: Sustainable Fishery Systems, Fisheries and Stock Assessments, Quantitative Models, Human Dimensions of Fisheries, Participative Methods, Integrative Analysis (ecological, economic, social), Fisheries Oceanography, Large Marine Ecosystems, Ecosystem Approaches to Fisheries. She has experience and training at the international level and own contribution to training at the local level. She has also been acting as ad-hoc consulting and peer-reviewer in evaluation committees, scientific journals, funding agencies and in several consultative and advisory bodies and private sector related to fisheries and the marine ecosystem. 102 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Expert Advisor P3 – MSc. Raúl J. Bridi MSc. Bridi has wide-ranging experience in marine fish science and management, fishery habitat protection, and oceanography. He has served as Director of Fisheries of the Province of Río Negro Argentina, a Holder Executive Representative of the Province of Río Negro In The Marine Fisheries Advisory Provincial Commission, a member executive committee of inter of marine fisheries council, a consultant in the area of fisheries management and development, evaluation and development of fisheries projects, and the President of the Río Negro Fishing Chamber. In 2005, MSc. Bridi has served as the Team Leader of the Certification Team for Patagonian Scallop, Argentina, against the principles and criteria of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). Expert Advisor P2&3 – MSc. Marcelo L. Morales Yokobori Licentiate Morales-Yokobori is a consultant to Organización Internacional Agropecuaria (OIA) and has collaborated with the MSC assessing remotely fisheries from Chile, Belize, Ecuador (Galapagos Islands), Spain (Galicia and Andalusia), Kenya, Malawi, Russia and Estonia (Lake Peipsi-Pihkva), Laos and India, against MSC Performance Indicators, applied to a revision project. He has also collaborated in the development of the MSC Risk Based Framework and participated in MSC workshops as representative of OIA in 2008 and 2007, and has been reviewer of the MSC Fishery Assessment Methodology translation into Spanish. As well, he has trained OIA Pesca staff and national and international scientists on the MSC Certification System. He conducts lectures and seminars on Ecology and Environment (Biology and Law Schools) at the University of Belgrano, Argentina; where he is also involved in fisheries research projects with international presentations. He has also research experience in population genetics at the National Institute of Agropecuary Technology (INTA-Pergamino, Argentina) with published projects at national and international organizations. He is first substitute member of the Environmental Issues Analysis Commission at the Argentine Ecology Society, member of the American Fisheries Society and the Instituto Argentino de Normalización y Estandarización (IRAM). He is also certified as Quality Management Systems Lead Auditor (ISO 19011) under the sanction of the International Register of Certified Auditors (IRCA). 10.3 Previous Certification Evaluations The fishery has not been previously assessed against the MSC standard. 103 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery 11 Stakeholder Consultation The Organización Internacional Agropecuaria (OIA) planned and conducted meetings with stakeholders, fishing organizations, industry, fishery managers and fishery scientists; to obtain the necessary understanding of the information associated with the fishery. More than twenty stakeholders were interviewed, personal and telephonically, to be considered directly in the progress of the main assessment. Results from the interviews are shown in Appendix I - Mr. Carlos Rodríguez, Production Manager at CENTAURO S.A., and Vice- president of the Chamber of Industrials. Dr. Laura Martínez Souta, Veterinary. Mar del Plata, 10/03/2011 - Dr. Marco Favero, President of the Assessment Committee of ACAP and Researcher at CONICET. Mar del Plata, 10/03/2011 - Dr. Ricardo Bastida, Superior Researcher at CONICET, University of Mar del Plata. Mar del Plata, 10/03/2011 - Dr. Diego Rodríguez, Superior Researcher at CONICET, University of Mar del Plata. Mar del Plata, 10/03/2011 - Mr. Martín Di Scala (Sr.), President at DELICIAS S.A; Mr. Martín Di Scala (son) Mar del Plata, 10/03/2011 - Mr. Guillermo Cañete, Marine Plan Coordinator, Fundación Vida Silvestre. E-mail communicate, 11/03/2011 - Argentine Association of “Capitanes, Patrones y Pilotos de Pesca”. • Cap. Jorge Frías, General Secretary. • Cap. Jorge Garavano, Adjunt Secretary. • Cap. David Rivera, 1º Vocal Titular • Cap. Álvaro Arbeleche, 2º Vocal Titular • Cap. Juan José Velich • Cap. Arturo Abascal Mar del Plata, 11/03/2011 - National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) • Dr. Marcelo Pájaro, Director del Programa de Pelágicos • Lic. David García Arena, Experto en Evaluación Pesquera de Pelágicos • Lic. Ana Massa, Responsable del Programa de Condrictios • Lic. Gabriel Blanco, Jefe de Observadores Telephonic and written communications, 01/04/2011 - Eng. Marcelo Santos, Director of Fishing Coordination, and National Fishing Council. 104 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Telephonic communication, 04/04/2011 - Dr. Ramiro Sánchez, Director National of “Planificación Pesquera” Buenos Aires city, 07/04/2011 - Mr. Néstor Guglielmoti, Fishing Director in the Province of de Buenos Aires Telephonic communication, 08/04/2011 105 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery 12 Scoring 12.1 Introduction to Scoring Methodology The MSC Principles and Criteria set out the requirements of certified fishery. These principles and Criteria have been developed into a standard (Fishery Assessment Methodology) assessment tree - Performance Indicators and Scoring Guideposts - by the MSC, which is used in this assessment. The Performance Indicators (PIs) have been released on the MSC website. In order to make the assessment process as clear and transparent as possible, each PI has three associated Scoring Guideposts (SGs) which identify the level of performance necessary to achieve 100, 80 (a pass score), and 60 scores for each PI; 100 represents a theoretically ideal level of performance and 60 a measurable shortfall. For each PI, the performance of the fishery is assessed as a “score”. In order for the fishery to achieve certification, an overall weighted average score of 80 is necessary for each of the three Principles and no Indicator should score less than 60. As it is not considered possible to allocate precise scores, a scoring interval of five is used in evaluations. As this represents a relatively crude level of scoring, average scores for each Principle are rounded to the nearest whole number. The assessment team scored the fishery using the required MSC methodology and without input from the client group or stakeholders. 12.2 Scoring Tables The following tables present the scores, with rationale and information sources, for the performance indicators for each Principle and Criterion. A summary of the final scores for each Performance Indicator is given in Table XI. 106 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Table XI: Summary table showing final scores for each Performance Indicator COMPONENT PRINCIPLE PRINCIPLE COMPONENT PERFORMANCE INDICATOR SCORE AVERAGE AVERAGE 1.1.1 Stock status 100 Outcomes: The current status 92,50 of the target stock 1.1.2 Reference Points 85 1.1.3 Stock rebuilding - 1. Harvest Strategy 1.2.1 Harvest strategy 75 85,00 (Management): A 1.2.2 Harvest control rules and tools 75 77,50 precautionary and effective 1.2.3 Information / monitoring 85 harvest strategy 1.2.4 Assessment of stock status 75 2.1.1 Outcome Status 100 Retained species 2.1.2 Management strategy 80 86,67 2.1.3 Information / monitoring 80 2.2.1 Outcome Status 80 Bycatch species 2.2.2 Management strategy 85 80,00 2.2.3 Information / monitoring 75 2.3.1 Outcome Status 75 2. ETP species 2.3.2 Management strategy 60 65,00 82,00 2.3.3 Information / monitoring 60 2.4.1 Outcome Status 100 Habitats 2.4.2 Management strategy 100 95,00 2.4.3 Information / monitoring 85 2.5.1 Outcome Status 90 Ecosystem 2.5.2 Management strategy 80 83,33 2.5.3 Information / monitoring 80 3.1.1 Legal and/or customary framework 100 3.2.1 Consultation, roles and Governance and policy responsibilities 100 93,75 3.1.3 Long term objectives 90 3.1.4 Incentives for sustainable fishing 85 3. 3.2.1 Fishery- specific objectives 90 91,88 3.2.2 Decision-making processes 95 Fishery- specific management 3.2.3 Compliance and enforcement 95 90,00 system 3.2.4 Research plan 85 3.2.5 Monitoring and management performance evaluation 85 107 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery 13 Assessment results 13.1 Achieved scores on MSC Principles Using the MSC Methodology, the Assessment Team found that the Bonaerense anchovy Fishery meets the objective of the three independent principles. For each principle the fishery attained the following scores: Principle Description Score 1 Outcome status and Harvest strategy 85.00 2 Fishing impact on ecosystem components 82.00 Governance and Policy and Fishery- 3 91.88 specific Management System 108 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 13.2 Achieved scores on MSC Performance Indicators Principle 1 Principle 1: A fishery must be conducted in a manner that does not lead to over-fishing or depletion of the exploited populations and, for those populations that are depleted, the fishery must be conducted in a manner that demonstrably leads to their recovery 1.1 Management Outcomes 1.1.1 Stock status It is likely that the stock is above the It is highly likely that the stock is There is a high degree of certainty point where recruitment would be above the point where recruitment that the stock is above the point The stock is at a level impaired. would be impaired. where recruitment would be which maintains high impaired. productivity and has a low probability of The stock is at or fluctuating around There is a high degree of certainty recruitment overfishing its target reference point. that the stock has been fluctuating around its target reference point, or has been above its target reference point, over recent years. SCORE: 100 The stock has been well monitored and the estimates of spawning stock biomass (SSB) and recruitment seem to be reliable. The Bonaerense Anchovy is a small pelagic species whose recruitment fluctuations seem to be mainly driven by variable environmental conditions. The stock-recruitment relationship for the Bonaerense anchovy indicates that low spawning stock biomass (SSB) may produce even high recruitment while high SSB can produce low recruitment. Also, SBB fluctuations seem to be relatively lower than for other small pelagic species (0.4-25 million t 1990-2010). In 2010 the SSB was estimated to be 1.5 million t, close to the historical average between 1990 and 2010 of 1.45 million t. The lowest SSB in 21 years (1990) was 0.41 million t and produced a year class of 65.9 billion fish, above the historical minimum. The SSB that produced the maximum recruitment was 1.30 million t, in contrast the minimum recruitment of 51.2 billion fish, which was produced by an abundant SBB of 1.84 million t. Following this analysis there is no indication that the stock has 109 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 been at level where the recruitment would be impaired, at least since 1992, furthermore there is a high degree that the stock is above the point where recruitment would be impaired. So the first directive for SG100 is met. A Biological Reference Limit (BRL) is defined for the stock in order to set the TAC. The BRL is 33% of the maximum historical SSB (SSBMax). For 2011 the BRL was 0.84 million t (SSBMax = 2,5 million t ), which is almost double of the minimum historical SSB. The catches are set such as there is a 10% risk of decreasing the SSB below the BRL over the long term (16 years). There is thus an implicit target reference point, which is the unknown value of SSB that could be obtained if the TAC would be fished consistently over the years. The TAC however was never fished, as the actual annual catches have been well below the TAC. For example, for 2010, the TAC was set in 120000 t and the actual catches were 21682 t, which represents just 18% of the TAC. The highest catches from 1990 on were in 2004 of 40678t, also well below the TAC. Thus is highly likely that the SSB has been fluctuating well above this implicit unknown target reference point and seem sufficient to ensure future recruitment. Therefore, there is a high degree of certainty that the stock has been fluctuating around its target reference point, or has been above its target reference point, over recent years. Accordingly, the second directive for SG100 is met. 110 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 1.1.2 Reference points Generic limit and target reference Reference points are appropriate for Reference points are appropriate points are based on justifiable and the stock and can be estimated. for the stock and can be estimated. Limit and target reasonable practice appropriate for reference points are the species category. appropriate for the stock. The limit reference point is set above The limit reference point is set the level at which there is an above the level at which there is an appreciable risk of impairing appreciable risk of impairing reproductive capacity. reproductive capacity following consideration of relevant precautionary issues. The target reference point is such that The target reference point is such the stock is maintained at a level that the stock is maintained at a consistent with BMSY or some level consistent with BMSY or some measure or surrogate with similar measure or surrogate with similar intent or outcome. intent or outcome, or a higher level, and takes into account relevant precautionary issues such as the ecological role of the stock with a high degree of certainty. For low trophic level species, the target reference point takes into account the ecological role of the stock. SCORE: 85 111 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 Recommendations for management are not based on MSY or BMSY but are rather done by taking into account a BRL (Biological Reference Limit). The BRL is defined as 33% of the maximum historical SSB. The MSC Fisheries Assessment Methodology (FAM) comment # 6.2.19 (a) considers that in the case where neither BMSY nor BLim are analytically determined, the following default reference points may be appropriate depending on the species: Limit Reference Point LRP=BLim= 20%B0 and Target Reference Point TRP=BMSY = 40%B0. As no estimate of B0 (virgin spawning biomass) is made in the current stock assessment model, SSBMax could be considered to be a proxy for B0 since the fishing mortality is low and the stock could be considered to attain its maximum biological potential. This 33% SSBMax may be considered to be a precautionary limit reference point as it is above 20%B0. The BRL is not used as a de facto limit reference point as no comparison of current SSB is made with the BRL to take any kind of management action, and there is no safety rule in place that will command a management action in case the current SSB is below BRL. Rather, the BRL is used to set the annual ABC (Acceptable Biological Catch) using projections into the future. The annual ABC is calculated using projections into the future (16 years). The population is projected from the vector of numbers-at-age estimated from the cohort analysis with an assumed variability of 25% for the last year of the stock assessment. Alternative scenarios of increasing values of fishing mortality (F) are used o project the population. A fishing mortality such that P(SSB No explicit target reference point is stated for the stock. However, an implicit target reference point would be that in the case the TAC would be fully fished consistently over the years it is expected that the stock would fluctuate around an unknown SSB value. This level of SSB is an implicit target reference point. As the TAC has not been reached, and rather a much lower value is caught every year due to current market dynamics and constraints, it is expected that the SSB would fluctuate well above this implied target reference point. For 2010, the TAC was 120000 t and the actual catches were 21 682 t, which represents 18% of the TAC. Regardless of the implicit nature of the reference points, there is evidence that the SSB is well above both the limit and the target reference points. Stock productivity has been high and the catches have been very low due of market constrains. Current levels of fishing mortality considered to have no detrimental effects neither on the stock nor on the ecosystem (anchovy is a key low trophic level prey species). Scientific sampling of the catches show no changes over in structure or sex composition of the stock. The fishing removals over the last 21 years have ranged from 0.5% to 3.5% of the total biomass of the stock. There is no evidence that these harvest rates have had any detrimental effect on the ecological role of anchovy as a prey for other fish, birds or marine mammals. On the opposite, it has been observed an increase of the population of the marine mammal Arctocephalus australis to 250000 individual, which has anchovy as prey. 112 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 The Assessment Team considers that it would be relatively easy to estimate what are know implicit and unknown references points and as they seem to be working. Therefore the first SG80and SG100 directive (“Reference points are appropriate for the stock and can be estimated”) is met. Following the rational stated in the first three paragraphs above, the Assessment Team considers that that the next three directives for SG80 are also met: “The limit reference point is set above the level at which there is an appreciable risk of impairing reproductive capacity.” “The target reference point is such that the stock is maintained at a level consistent with BMSY or some measure or surrogate with similar intent or outcome. “ “For low trophic level species, the target reference point takes into account the ecological role of the stock.” Accordingly, the fishery meets all indicators of SG80. It could be argued that some of the SG100 issues are also achieved, but the Assessment Team has taken due regard of the implicit nature of the reference points in spite of their proven effectiveness due the low catch. 1.1.3 Stock rebuilding Where stocks are depleted rebuilding Where stocks are depleted rebuilding Where stocks are depleted, strategies which have a reasonable strategies are in place. strategies are demonstrated to be Where the stock is expectation of success are in place. rebuilding stocks continuously and depleted, there is there is strong evidence that evidence of stock rebuilding will be complete within rebuilding. the shortest practicable timeframe. Monitoring is in place to determine There is evidence that they are whether they are effective in rebuilding stocks, or it is highly rebuilding the stock within a likely based on simulation modelling specified timeframe. or previous performance that they will be able to rebuild the stock within a specified timeframe. NOT SCORED 113 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 According to 6.2.39 MSC FAM v2.1, this PI has not been scored, as Stock Status Assessment (PI 1.1.1) reveals no depletion. 114 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 1.2 Harvest Strategy (Management) 1.2.1 Harvest strategy The harvest strategy is expected to The harvest strategy is responsive The harvest strategy is achieve stock management to the state of the stock and the responsive to the state of the There is a robust and objectives reflected in the target elements of the harvest strategy stock and is designed to achieve precautionary harvest and limit reference points. work together towards achieving stock management objectives strategy in place management objectives reflected in reflected in the target and limit the target and limit reference reference points. points. The harvest strategy is likely to The performance of the harvest work based on prior experience or The harvest strategy may not have strategy has been fully evaluated plausible argument. been fully tested but monitoring is and evidence exists to show that in place and evidence exists that it it is achieving its objectives is achieving its objectives. including being clearly able to maintain stocks at target levels. Monitoring is in place that is The harvest strategy is expected to determine whether the periodically reviewed and harvest strategy is working. improved as necessary. SCORE: 75 The harvest strategy has been implicitly precautionary considering catch levels have been well below the current annual TAC mainly due to current market dynamics. The TAC is based on explicit limit reference points (annual ABC which is based on BRL) and implicit target reference points have been considered as explained in 1.1.2. As the harvest strategy has been practically based on a limited market demand which have been so far resulting in catch levels well below the current TAC, it can be said that it has been responsive to management objectives. Then, even if no formal management strategy is due in course, the harvest strategy has been working on the plausible argument that the fishing impact have not been consider a threat, since fishing mortality has been low during the last 18 years. There are indicators that the history of the fishery seems to have never crossed the picture of being around 1/3 of the TAC and has been designated for human consumption and not encouraged to any other kind of production use. The current harvest strategy (including it formal and customary aspects) is at safe levels and working successfully as the removals over the last 21 years have ranged from 0.5% to 3.5% stock total biomass. There is no evidence that these harvest rates has had any detrimental effect on the stock or either on the ecological role of the anchovy 115 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 as a prey species. However, there is no target reference point explicitly stated for the stock, i.e. the current implicit reference point will work as long as there are no changes in the market that could increase the demand for anchovy. As in the ABC estimate the BRL is set as a long term probabilistic way, it seems that the strategy is not closely responsive to the state of the stock. In case that the TAC will be actually fished as a whole, there is no evidence that there would have sufficient safe actions for the stock based just on this reference point, especially in case that the population would experience poor recruitments such as in the early 1990´s. Then, harvest strategy could be considered not closely responsive to the state of the stock and the elements of the harvest strategy are not yet working together towards achieving management objectives reflected in both the target and limit reference points. However, as the TAC has not been reached and it is expected that the SSB would fluctuate well above this implied target reference point, so far the strategy can be considered robust enough. For 2010, the TAC was 120000 t and the actual catches were 21 682 t, which represents 18% of the TAC. Nevertheless, published technical recommendations emphasize that catch levels are set mainly due to economic reasons and in case of an expansion of the fishery; more strict and accurate controls should be made (Hansen, 2004). The fishery meets the three directives of SG 60. The level of monitoring of the stock and related catch data is considered sufficient to determine whether or not the harvest strategy is working. However, in the stock assessment process, the harvest strategy is not closely responsive to the state of the stock, as the state of the stock is not even reported in the stock assessment and no explicit target reference point is in place. It may also be argued that not rule is in place when the SSB approaches BRL, so it is not working as a de facto limit reference point. Therefore the first directive for SG80 is not met “The harvest strategy is responsive to the state of the stock and the elements of the harvest strategy work together towards achieving management objectives reflected in the target and limit reference points.” The Assessment Team concluded that while the objectives for the fishery may not be fully explicit yet, the implicit objective of maintaining a constant supply of anchovy to the foreign market is been met and so the second directive for SG80 is met” the harvest strategy may not have been fully tested and reviewed but monitoring is in place and evidence exists that that it is achieving current objectives. As one of the two SG80 directives are not met and the score allocated was 75. As this score is below 80, a condition to certification has been raised (Condition 1). Once this condition has been satisfied the score for this PI will increase to 80 or above. Cited references: Hansen, J.E. Anchoíta (Engraulis anchoita). 2004. El mar argentino y sus recursos pesqueros, 4: 101-115. 116 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 • While the elements of the strategy work together towards achieving management objectives, these management objectives are not RATIONAL fully reflected in explicit target and reference points. • While the current measures are considered appropriate for the scale and intensity of the fisheries, there is a need to develop explicit measures in order to maintain current safe levels • There is not a well defined rule to ensure that the exploitation rate is reduced as limit reference points are approached. Even though the current harvest strategy included also customary elements (market constraints) that so far have strongly limited the catches well below the TAC, there should be a control measure developed in order to ensure that the exploitation rate is reduced as limit reference points are approached. There is no urgent need for such rule as the stock is currently fished at very low levels. To ensure that: The target reference points are explicit defined, taking into account the low trophic level of the species, are consistent with management objectives and are independent of market demand. The formal harvest strategy takes into account target reference points that would maintain the informal harvest strategy currently in place CONDITIONS There is a rule to ensure that the exploitation rate is reduced as limit reference points are approached Specific harvest controls rules should be proposed for periods of low stock productivity since the current TAC/ABC is set by the probabilistic approach taking into account normal productivity levels and the BRL. This does not seem to ensure that particular action is taken in periods of low productivity By the first annual audit, provide documented evidence that: o There are options for target reference points outlined o The stock status is assessed against the limit reference point (compute the probability that the current SSB is below BRL) By the second annual audit, provide documented evidence that: SPECIFIC CONDITIONS AND o Target reference points are agreed upon and explicit DEAD LINE 117 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 o There are discussion of rules that will ensure that the exploitation rate is reduced as limit reference points are initiated By the third annual audit, provide documented evidence that: o Target and limit reference points are computed and the stock is assessed against them o Discussion about rules that will ensure that the exploitation rate is reduced as limit reference points are approached are performed o There are discussion of potential harvest control rules towards precaution in years when productivity can be low By the fourth annual audit, provide documented evidence that: o Target and limit reference points are computed and the stock is assessed against them o Rules that will ensure that the exploitation rate is reduced as limit reference points are approached are agreed upon o Discussion of potential harvest control rules when recruitment is low are finalized The Assessment Team recommends the creation of a Commission to follow up the anchovy fishery aiming to build a formal management plan with robust harvest strategies and harvest control rules that could include all the stakeholders to present their requirements and information. This seemed to be particularly important in the case of the need of a TAC share with small-scale fishing (around 35 “rada o ria” vessels) that RECOMMENDATIONS are not presently fishing for anchovy because of stock distribution. Also, we recommend that such a Federal Commission be placed in the context of the “CTMFM Mix Technical Commission of the Maritime Front between Argentina and Uruguay” To follow recommendations from Second Peer Reviewer in Point 8 (page 232). 118 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 1.2.2 Harvest control rules Generally understood harvest Well defined harvest control rules Well defined harvest control and tools control rules are in place that are are in place that are consistent with rules are in place that are consistent with the harvest strategy the harvest strategy and ensure that consistent with the harvest There are well defined and which act to reduce the the exploitation rate is reduced as strategy and ensure that the and effective harvest exploitation rate as limit reference limit reference points are exploitation rate is reduced as control rules in place points are approached. approached. limit reference points are approached. There is some evidence that tools used to implement harvest control The selection of the harvest control The design of the harvest control rules are appropriate and effective rules takes into account the main rules take into account a wide in controlling exploitation. uncertainties. range of uncertainties. Available evidence indicates that Evidence clearly shows that the the tools in use are appropriate and tools in use are effective in effective in achieving the achieving the exploitation levels exploitation levels required under required under the harvest the harvest control rules. control rules. SCORE: 75 Well defined harvest control rules are in place that are consistent with the harvest strategy and ensure that the exploitation rate is reduced as limit reference points are approached. The main harvest control rule is the TAC, but market constrains also act as a customary harvest control rule limiting the total removals by amounts that are well below the TAC. There are evidences indicating that harvest control rules in place are enough for current fishing levels, as no detrimental effect has been detected. 119 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 Annual TAC has been set by the Federal Fishing Council (FFC) based on the ABC (Accepted Biological Catch) recommended by INIDEP (Federal Fishing Law Nº 24922). There is no quota system currently in place for the fisheries targeting this stock. A vessel licensing scheme has been working as an input control which demonstrates no increase in fishing capacity. The vessels that target anchovy fish for this stock only four month per the year, shifting to other target species during the rest of the year. All licensed vessels must report their capture through a fishing report. An integrated control system applying video cameras and information recorded on real time on board has been applied as well as remote monitoring through vessel monitoring system. Technical controls include minimum fish size (120 mm with a tolerance of 10% in number to the smaller size of the total discharge per trip) and night fishing is prohibited for mid-water trawlers to avoid by-catch impact. Legal mesh size is controlled by inspectors (both on board and at landings) and by the Coastal Guard (PNA). A fix closed area was set by the “CTMFM Mix Technical Commission of the Maritime Front between Argentina and Uruguay” as a strip with a width of 28 nautical miles from the outer limit of the territorial sea between Punta del Este (Uruguay) and the Brazilian boarder (Barra do Chuy). However in order that well defined harvest control rules are in place consistent with target reference points (SG80) explicit reference points would need to ensure that the harvest strategy would be independent of such market demands and enough controls are made, especially in periods of low productivity. The fishery meets the two SG 60 issues. In addition, the fishery meets the second and third issues of SG80 as the selected harvest control rules take account of the main uncertainties as it is flexible and responsive to the state of the stock as advised by regular and frequent assessments. However, as the harvest control rules in place do not ensure that the exploitation rate is reduced as limit reference points are approached, the fishery does no met the first issue of SG80. A score of 75 is awarded. The Recommendation of the creation of the Commission to follow up the anchovy fishery is a step toward building a management plan (see recommendations under the conditions) that could include an innovative approach which recognises current practice, rather than resorting to conventional solutions. As one of the three SG80 directives are not met and the score allocated was 75. As this score is below 80, a condition to certification has been raised (Condition 1). Once this condition has been satisfied the score for this PI will increase to 80 or above. 120 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 While the elements of the strategy work together towards achieving management objectives, these management objectives are not fully reflected in explicit target and reference points. While the current measures are considered appropriate for the scale and intensity of the fisheries, there is a need to develop explicit measures in order to maintain current safe levels RATIONALE There is not a well defined rule to ensure that the exploitation rate is reduced as limit reference points are approached. Even though the current harvest strategy included also customary elements (market constraints) that so far have strongly limited the catches well below the TAC, there should be a control measure developed in order to ensure that the exploitation rate is reduced as limit reference points are approached. There is no urgent need for such rule as the stock is currently fished at very low levels. To ensure that: The target reference points are explicit defined, taking into account the low trophic level of the species, are consistent with management objectives and are independent of market demand. The formal harvest strategy takes into account target reference points that would maintain the informal harvest strategy currently in place GENERAL There is a rule to ensure that the exploitation rate is reduced as limit reference points are approached CONDITIONS Specific harvest controls rules should be proposed for periods of low stock productivity since the current TAC/ABC is set by the probabilistic approach taking into account normal productivity levels and the BRL. This does not seem to ensure that particular action is taken in periods of low productivity 121 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 By the first annual audit, provide documented evidence that: o There are options for target reference points outlined o The stock status is assessed against the limit reference point (compute the probability that the current SSB is below BRL) By the second annual audit, provide documented evidence that: o Target reference points are agreed upon and explicit o There are discussion of rules that will ensure that the exploitation rate is reduced as limit reference points are initiated SPECIFIC By the third annual audit, provide documented evidence that: CONDITIONS o Target and limit reference points are computed and the stock is assessed against them o Discussion about rules that will ensure that the exploitation rate is reduced as limit reference points are approached are performed o There are discussion of potential harvest control rules towards precaution in years when productivity can be low By the fourth annual audit, provide documented evidence that: o Target and limit reference points are computed and the stock is assessed against them o Rules that will ensure that the exploitation rate is reduced as limit reference points are approached are agreed upon o Discussion of potential harvest control rules when recruitment is low are finalized The Assessment Team recommends the creation of a Commission to follow up the anchovy fishery aiming to build a formal management plan with robust harvest strategies and harvest control rules that could include all the stakeholders to present their requirements and information. This seemed to be particularly important in the case of the need of a TAC share with small-scale fishing (around 35 “rada o ria” vessels) that RECOMMENDATIONS are not presently fishing for anchovy because of stock distribution. Also, we recommend that such a Federal Commission be placed in the context of the “CTMFM Mix Technical Commission of the Maritime Front between Argentina and Uruguay” 122 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 123 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 1.2.3 Information / monitoring Some relevant information related Sufficient relevant information A comprehensive range of to stock structure, stock related to stock structure, stock information (on stock structure, Relevant information is productivity and fleet productivity, fleet composition stock productivity, fleet collected to support the composition is available to and other data is available to composition, stock abundance, harvest strategy support the harvest strategy. support the harvest strategy. fishery removals and other information such as environmental information), including some that may not be directly relevant to the current harvest strategy, is available. Stock abundance and fishery All information required by the Stock abundance and fishery removals are regularly monitored harvest control rule is monitored removals are monitored and at at a level of accuracy and with high frequency and a high least one indicator is available coverage consistent with the degree of certainty, and there is and monitored with sufficient harvest control rule, and one or a good understanding of the frequency to support the harvest more indicators are available and inherent uncertainties in the control rule. monitored with sufficient information (data)and the frequency to support the harvest robustness of assessment and control rule. management to this uncertainty. There is good information on all other fishery removals from the stock. SCORE: 85 The Assessment Team considered that the first directive for SG100 is met “A comprehensive range of information (on stock structure, stock productivity, fleet composition, stock abundance, fishery removals and other information such as environmental information), including some that may not be directly relevant to the current harvest strategy, is available.“ Stock structure The Research Institution INIDEP takes information on size and age structure by the landings and surveys sampling. Fisheries independent surveys are 124 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 performed annually by INIDEP where information on size and age structure of the stock within the Argentinean and Uruguayan range is taken. The historical coverage of landing sampling started before of 1970 where the data were obtained in the IBM (ex Instituto de Biologia Marina, current INIDEP). There is a considerable scientific knowledge about the anchovy throughout its whole area of distribution generated mainly by the international Anchovy project, supported by the CTMFM of Argentina and Uruguay. The project was designed to fill in the gaps in knowledge and was driven particularly by the low SSB and recruitment observed during the 1990‟s. As result there is now a greater understanding, for example, of stock structure spatially, oceanographic influences on population mixing and the discreteness of spawning areas. Stock productivity Information on growth is available. Otolith for are sampled during all surveys. The maturity ogive was also estimated for several years (although a fixed value is used in the stock assessment) and there is a good understanding of the reproductive biology of anchovy. No natural mortality estimate is available. The natural mortality assumed in the assessment (Hansen 2004)results from ad hoc procedure of Pauly (1980) Fleet composition The fleet is known with precision due the data of the administration of the fisheries. The composition of the Argentina Trawl ice-chilling fleet which targets anchovy is well described in terms of vessel size, capacity and dimensions of the net used. All the vessels are licensed to take part in the fishery and no new licences are issued although agreed exchanges can be made. Stock abundance Annual fisheries independent surveys are done by INIDEP and cover the Argentinean and Uruguayan range of the stock due the joint Commission between Argentina and Uruguay. Fishery independent abundance estimates are available from acoustic surveys and the annual egg survey. Only acoustic surveys are used for tuning the stock assessment. The acoustic surveys are carried out in both Argentinean and Uruguayan waters in spring and provide age disaggregated estimates of total stock biomass. Statistical estimates of the precision of the resultant estimates are calculated. The annual egg survey carried out by Argentina covers the whole spawning area of the Bonaerense stock. The survey carried out on the basis of the daily egg production method (DEPM) is specifically designed for this species. However these surveys are not annual. Surveys have not been performed in the years 1997, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2010. The problems that may prevent the execution of a survey every year may be maritime workers union problems, mechanical problems with the research vessels or unavailability of the vessel due to research on other species (e.g. hake) (Dr. Marcelo Pájaro personal communication to the Assessment Team). Fishery removals The fisheries removals are known with high precision due to (1) Landings declaration, (2) Landings control, (3) Landing sampling. Discards at age have been estimated on board commercial vessels by one INIDEP researcher (Garciarena, A.D.) (Dr. Marcelo Pájaro personal communication to the Assessment Team) 125 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 Fishing grounds All vessels have a vessel monitoring system and their location and speed is known on real time by the management authority. Other data A new division of satellite imagery has being recently implemented at INIDEP which will allow for the study of climate changes that may influence the fish populations. This new division will only add information/analysis to a very strong (and internationally recognized) oceanographic program that is being in place for more than 20 years, which include INIDEP and other national organizations. They have already produced a large amount of published and Peer Reviewed publication addressing the same issues. Studies have also been carried out to investigate the trophic role of the anchovy in the ecosystem both as a predator and prey species a long range of work started in 1982 by Angelescu (1986) Angelescu & Anganuzzi (2007; 2002) The species is classified as omnivorous, feeding on a wide size range of species from phytoplankton to small zooplankton. Studies zooplankton productive have been conducted is the spawning area of Bonaerense anchovy (Viñas et al 2002). It is also an important prey species for carnivorous fish and marine mammals in particular the common dolphin, and less commonly the harbour porpoise and other species of dolphin. 126 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 However, the Assessment Team concluded that second directive for SG100 is not met “All information required by the harvest control rule is monitored with high frequency and a high degree of certainty, and there is a good understanding of the inherent uncertainties in the information (data) and the robustness of assessment and management to this uncertainty” as surveys are not performed every year, and there actually may be an period of up to three years between two surveys. Given the quality of information available to support the harvest strategy, the accuracy and timeliness of monitoring of stock abundance and fishery removals and the information on other fishery removals, the fishery meets the three SG80 issues. The quality of the information is considered sufficient, but not enough due the lack of surveys in some years, specially the recent surveys of 2009 and 2010. The score granted is 85. Although there is a lot of relevant information for this stock, it is not easily accessible, as many reports are unpublished and are not available to the public. Therefore a Recommendation is made by the Assessment Team that the information should be more accessible. Cited references: Hansen, J.E. Anchoíta (Engraulis anchoita). 2004. El mar argentino y sus recursos pesqueros, 4: 101-115. Pauly, D. 1980. On the interrelationships between natural mortality, growth parameters and mean environmental temperature in 175 fish stocks. J. Cons. Int. Expl. Mer. 39(2): 175-192. Viñas, M. D., Negri, R. M., Ramírez, F. C. and Hernández, D. 2002. Zooplankton assemblages and hydrography in the spawning area of anchovy (Engraulis anchoita) off Río de la Plata estuary (Argentina, Uruguay). Marine and Freshwater research, 53, 1-13. RECOMMENDATION To follow recommendations in Point 5 and 6 from Second Peer Reviewer (page 230) 1.2.4 Assessment of stock The assessment estimates stock The assessment is appropriate for The assessment is appropriate status status relative to reference points. the stock and for the harvest for the stock and for the harvest control rule, and is evaluating control rule and takes into There is an adequate stock status relative to reference account the major features assessment of the stock points. relevant to the biology of the status species and the nature of the fishery. The assessment identifies major sources of uncertainty. The assessment takes uncertainty The assessment takes into 127 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 into account. account uncertainty and is evaluating stock status relative to reference points in a probabilistic way. The assessment has been tested and shown to be robust. Alternative hypotheses and assessment approaches have been rigorously explored. The assessment of stock status is subject to peer review. The assessment has been internally and externally peer reviewed. SCORE: 75 While there are no explicit target reference points and objectives for the stock, it can be argued that implicit reference points are in place. The overall fishing removals are low, which maintains the stock in high levels of abundance, very likely above any of the implicit reference points. The main uncertainty for this species is the recruitment variability which is taken into account in the future projection, when uncertainty around last year numbers-at-age is also taken into account. Therefore the second directive is met “The assessment takes uncertainty into account”. Many of the quantities needed by the assessment team to score the Principle 1 were available by personal communication only after interviewing by email the head of the scientific team that performs the assessments (Dr. Marcelo Pájaro). The whole assessment process should be more transparently reported and peer-reviewed allowing the application of different models (rather than just the current cohort analysis) that could clearly explicit target reference points, especially those taking into account the ecological role of the stock as a low trophic level species. 128 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 It was very difficult for the Assessment Team to fully understand the whole stock assessment process, its sequence, reasons and definitions of reference points, available time series, data used for tuning, the uncertainties associated with the data, as many details about sampling design and methods were not included in the reports. Also, sampling size schemes and biometrics are poorly described. Egg-production methods are applied but not currently used in the stock assessment process. The stock status is not reported in the stock assessment document and no evaluation relative to reference point is included. Also there is no mention to current or historical trends of fishing mortality. As no estimated trends are reported in annual stock assessment it is not possible, for example, to assess whether retrospective patterns are shown by the assessment model. Therefore the first directive for SG80 is not met “The assessment is appropriate for the stock and for the harvest control rule, and is evaluating stock status relative to reference points”. There is no indication that the assessment of stock status is subject to peer review, as no information regarding stock status is included in the assessment. Therefore the third directive of SG80 is not met “The assessment of stock status is subject to peer review”. As two of the SG80 directives are not met and the score allocated was 75. As this score is below 80, a condition to certification has been raised (Condition 2). Once this condition has been satisfied the score for this PI will increase to 80 or above. For the assessment of the stock status a cohort analysis is used calibrated with independent data based on acoustic surveys and enough information seem to be available for the stock, but is it not easily available and interpreted . It is very difficult to get the whole picture of the stock assessments, time-series of indicators , data for model tuning, and the uncertainties associated with the data, as well as many details about sampling design and methods were not included in the reports. The stock status is not reported in the stock assessment document and no evaluation relative to reference point is included. Also there is no mention to current or historical trends of fishing mortality. Many of the quantities needed by the assessment team to evaluate and score RATIONALE Principle 1 were available by personal communications. Therefore there is no indication that the assessment of stock status is subject to documented peer review. Available egg-production data is not currently used integrated into the assessment. Recruitment variability is likely to be driven by environmental factors and not account of this is made in the assessment of the stock status. 129 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 To ensure: that the assessment of stock status uses all available scientific information in a more transparent and integrated way, that the report of the annual assessments includes details of the methodology as well as trends in stock status in relation to target and limit reference points, there is exploration of different models, rather than just the current cohort analysis, that could clearly explicit target reference points that GENERAL take into account the recruitment-environment coupling and the ecological role of a low trophic level species. CONDITIONS By the first annual audit, to provide documented evidence that: Plots of trends of historical ABC, TAC, BRL, plots of trends in SSB, recruitment, fishing mortality at age, overall fishing mortality, acoustic survey estimates (and CV), egg survey estimates (and CV) available since the 1990‟sare included in the stock assessment report. Details of port sampling design and estimates of age-length keys are included in the stock assessment report By the second annual audit, to provide documented evidence that: Inclusion of egg survey estimates are used for tuning the cohort analysis SPECIFIC CONDITIONS AND By the third annual audit, to provide documented evidence that: DEADLINES Formal reference points are computed and the stock status is compared to those points. Alternative stock assessment models that explicit target reference points which take into account the recruitment-environment coupling and the ecological role of this low trophic level species are being proposed By the fourth annual audit there is documented evidence that: Alternative stock assessment models that explicit target reference points which take into account the recruitment-environment coupling and the ecological role of this low trophic level species are being used RECOMMENDATIONS It is recommended that the client engages with INIDEP scientist when implementing the action plan. 130 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 Principle 2 Principle 2: Fishing operations should allow for the maintenance of the structure, productivity, function and diversity of the ecosystem (including habitat and associated dependent and ecologically related species) on which the fishery depends CLASSIFICATION OF MAIN SPECIES During the SICA workshop, all stakeholders considered fishing itself as the most hazardous fishing activity and “jurel” or “surel” (Trachurus lathami syn. Trachurus pictoratus australis) as the main retained species. Although these species were considered retained during the workshop, this retention occurs because of the on board impossibility to distinguish it from “anchoíta” (Engraulis anchoita) rather than for its commercial value, which has been historically low (Cousseau, 1967). Therefore the Assessment Team has considered “jurel” as a bycatch species. Although “caballa” (Scomber japonicus) and particularly juveniles were included as by-catch because of its important commercial value, this species was considered by the Assessment Team as the main retained (Buratti, Garciarena, & Hansen, 2009; Buratti, Garciarena, & Hansen, 2010). Similarly, “pampanito” (Stromateus brasiliensis) was considered retained. Great shearwater (“Pardela cabeza negra”, Puffinus gravis), Sooty shearwater (“Pardela oscura”, Puffinus griseus) and White- chinned petrel (“Petrel barba blanca”, Procellaria aequinoctialis) are seabirds mentioned by the NGO Aves Argentinas as the main species impacted by the Anchovy Bonaerense Fishery. Although none of these species are listed in CITES; Sooty shearwater is listed as “almost threatened species” while White-chinned petrel is listed as “vulnerable species”, in the Argentine National Action Plan for Birds (PAN Aves). This plan was meant to protect species from fisheries impact. Therefore the Assessment Team has considered both as ETP species. South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens syn. Otaria byronia) and South American fur seal (Arctocephalus australis) were mentioned as two eventually impacted species by the Anchovy Bonaerense Fishery under assessment (Diego Rodriguez, personal comment). South American fur seal is listed in CITES. Therefore the Assessment Team has considered this species as ETP. Although not mentioned by stakeholders or during the SICA workshop, three main chondrichthyes were agreed to be 131 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 considered by the Assessment Team, namely the sharks Mustelus schmitti, Squatina argentina and Galeorhynus galeus. None of these species are listed in CITES nor classify as ETP by the National Action Plan for Chondrichthyes (PAN Condrictios). Therefore the Assessment Team has considered their analysis within the retained component, because of their commercial value. 132 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 Table 1: Results from the Anchovy fishery SICA workshop (Mar del Plata, March 2011) Activity Species Subcomponent Rationale Intensity Spatialscale Consequence Temporalscale Retained AACPPP Fishing Jurel 6 4 3 Retained CEDEPESCA Jurel PS 6 4 2 Retained CENTAURO Jurel PS/ RC/ ASSS/ GR 6 4 2 1/1/1/1 Retained INIDEP Jurel PS/ RC/ ASSS/ GR 6 4 2 1/1/1/1 AVES Retained ARGENTINAS Bycatch AACPPP Jurel/caballa 6 4 3 Bycatch CEDEPESCA Jurel PS/ RC/ ASSS/ GR 6 4 2 1/1/1/1 Bycatch CENTAURO Jurel/ pampanito/ caballa PS/ RC/ ASSS/ GR 6 4 2 1/1/1/1 Jurel/ pampanito/ caballa Bycatch INIDEP PS/ RC/ ASSS/ GR 6 4 3 1/1/1/1 (juveniles) Although a limited knowledge on incidental capture of birds by the Pardelas (Puffinus gravis, anchovy fleet exists, the presence AVES Fishing/ P. griseus) Bycatch PS/ RC/ ASSS/ GR 6 3 4 2/2/2/1 of conventional ice-chilling ARGENTINAS “Virado” Petreles (Procellaria vessels (“fresqueros”) allows aequinoctialis) establishing a correlation with similar hake vessels. 133 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 Activity Element Subcomponent Rationale Intensity Spatialscale Consequence Temporalscale Habitat AACPPP Fishing TH/ SFH 4 4 2 1/1 Habitat CEDEPESCA Fishing TH/ SFH 4 1/1 Habitat CENTAURO Fishing TH/ SFH 5 4 2 1/1 Habitat INIDEP Fishing TH/ SFH 6 4 2 1/1 AVES Habitat ARGENTINAS Ecosystems AACPPP Fishing 4 4 2 Ecosystems CEDEPESCA Fishing SC/ FGC/ DC/ TSS 3 4 2 1/1/1/1 Ecosystems CENTAURO Fishing SC/ FGC/ DC/ TSS 3 4 2 1/1/1/1 Ecosystems INIDEP Fishing FGC 4 4 2 1 AVES Ecosystems ARGENTINAS PS: Population size ASSS: Age/size/sex structure GR: Geographic range TH: Type of habitat SFH: Structure and function of habitat SC: Species composition FGC: Functional group composition DC: Distribution of the community TSS: Trophic/size structure AACPPP: Asociación Argentina de Capitanes, Pilotos y Patrones de Pesca CEDEPESCA: Centro Desarrollo y Pesca Sustentable INIDEP: Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero AVES ARGENTINAS: NGO interested in birds 134 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 CENTAURO: fishing company targeting anchovy within the unit of certification 2.1 Retained non-target species 2.1.1 Outcomes status Main retained species are likely to be Main retained species are highly There is a high degree of certainty within biologically based limits or if likely to be within biologically that retained species are within The fishery does not outside the limits there are measures based limits, or if outside the limits biologically based limits. pose a risk of serious in place that are expected to ensure there is a partial strategy of or irreversible harm that the fishery does not hinder demonstrably effective to the retained recovery and rebuilding of the management measures in place species and does not depleted species. such that the fishery does not hinder recovery of hinder recovery and rebuilding. depleted retained species. If the status is poorly known there Target reference points are defined are measures or practices in place and retained species are at or that are expected to result in the fluctuating around their target fishery not causing the retained reference points. species to be outside biologically based limits or hindering recovery. RBF No on board observers exist. Although some research surveys have been conducted neither all years have been included for technical APPLICATION reasons, nor was the whole fishing period considered; comprehending only a short period of the fishery. Although yearly research staff participates from commercial trips to record catch structure, the whole retained species spectrum is not included in the records. Therefore, no comprehensive information around all fishing periods of anchovy fishery exists, in order to allow rigorous assessment of impacts on retained species; and consequently RBF has been triggered. SICA SCORE: Scoring guideposts are not applied in this indicator as the Risk Based Framework has been triggered and stakeholders have agreed, through SICA 100 analysis, that the fishery does not pose a risk of serious or irreversible harm to the retained species and does not hinder recovery of depleted retained species (See Table 1) FINAL SCORE: Both chub mackerel (“caballa”, Scomber japonicus) and Southwest Atlantic butterfish (“pampanito”, Stromateus brasiliensis) captures occurring in the 100 anchovy fishery under assessment represent very low values of their capture on the same stocks. Incidental capture (including retained and bycatch) has 135 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 been reported to be less than 1% of the total capture (Hansen J., 2004), i.e. approximately 300 tons a year. The biological accepted capture (BAC) recommended for the chub mackerel stock exploited south of 39° SL (where a significant part of the anchovy captures occurs) was 12,000 tons for 2010 (Buratti, Garciarena, & Hansen, 2010). Chub mackerel spawns in El Rincón, between 39° SL and 40° SL, where highest concentration of this species occurs. Considering a top limit of 300 tons in the incidental capture, this figure becomes insignificant respect to the BAC recommended for the species. Only 3 tons of “pampanito” (Stromateus brasiliensis) were capture during the last ten years while the BAC recommended is about 1,200 tons a year. From Cortés et al. (2010): “Demographic analyses demonstrated that even moderate impacts on the M. schmitti population negatively affect the population growth rate (Cortés, 2007)”. Although stakeholders during the SICA workshop did not consider sharks on a considerable risk caused by the fishery under assessment, the Assessment Team decided to assess potential risk caused by the anchovy fishery on this species, through a PSA. PSA result for M. schmitti was 61. Although M. schmitti may be landed, it does not represent the main bycatch or retained species as it comes out from the SICA workshop, while the total incidental capture (retained and bycatch) is less than 1% of the total capture (Hansen J. , 2004), i.e. approximately 300 tons a year. Furthermore, for the last five years, M. schmitti captures in the anchovy fishery were less than 20 tons per year, while total captures of M. schmitti lied between 10,362 and 7,562 tons per year, from 2007 to 2010. Based on these values and PSA results, impact of the anchovy fishery does not pose a risk of serious or irreversible harm to M. schmitti nor hinder recovery of it, if necessary. Squatina argentina and Galeorhynus galeus have considerable low values of capture and PSA on M. schmitti was considered an indicator for all chondrichthyes. Therefore, the Assessment Team has accepted the SICA score as final score. 136 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 Table 2: PSA applied to the impact of the Bonaerense Anchovy (Engraulis anchoita) fishery on “gatuzo” (Mustelus schmitti). Productivity Attribute Values considered and rationale Risk Cortés (2007) divided life history of Mustelus schmitti in four stages, related to total length (TL) and maturity; namely neonates (1 year duration, TL<37cm), juveniles (3 years duration, TL=37-56cm), small adult females (4 years duration, Average age at maturity TL=56-75cm) and large adult females (4 years duration, TL>75cm). Cortés also estimated first size of maturity at 56cm. 1 This drives to the conclusion that 4 years (1 year of neonate and 3 years of juveniles) is the first age of maturity, as according to the classification described, older individuals are small mature females. Cortés (2007) divided life history of Mustelus schmitti in four stages, related to total length (TL) and maturity; namely neonates (1 year duration, TL<37cm), juveniles (3 years duration, TL=37-56cm), small adult females (4 years duration, Average maximum age 2 TL=56-75cm) and large adult females (4 years duration, TL>75cm). Summing all years duration for the four stages we have an average maximum age of 16 years. This value falls far from the MSC cut-off value of 25 years for high risk. Average fecundity and fertility were estimated in 7.16 and 5.05 (Cortés & Massa, 2006). Menni et al. (1986) found that in Buenos Aires Province area the gestation period was 11 months with immediate ovulation (Chiaramonte & Pettovello, Fecundity 3 2000). From a sampling of 64 females, Menni et al. (1986) found individuals bearing 1-13 embryos while 64% of them bore 1-4 embryos. On commercial samples sizes observed were 26.0-89.5cm for females and 28.5-79.0cm for males, while for non- Average maximum size commercial samples maximum sizes observed were 108.5cm for females and 87cm for males. These values suggest an 1 average no genre-discriminated maximum size below 100cm. First age of maturity was estimated in 62 cm for females and 60 cm for males (Menni, Cousseau, & Gosztonyi, 1986). A decrease in the size at maturity for Mustelus schmitti (males: 600–549 mm; females: 626–605) in the Buenos Aires Average size at maturity 2 Province area was detected by Diaz de Astarloa et al. (1997) from 1978 to 1993 (Chiaramonte & Pettovello, 2000). Average size at maturity was also estimated in 56 cm (Cortés F. , 2007) and in 58.6 cm (Cortés & Massa, 2006). This species is considered viviparous (ovoviviparous) of non-placental type with compartments formation (Menni, Reproductive strategy 3 Cousseau, & Gosztonyi, 1986). Trophic level of Mustelus schmitti varied between 3.62 and 3.68 from 1986 to 1994 and between 3.48 and 3.77 from Trophic level 2008 to 2009 (Belleggia & Sánchez, 2010). Estimated trophic level for this species is published as 3.59 s.e. 0.49, based 3 on diet studies (FishBase, 2011). Arithmetic average 2.14 137 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 Susceptibility Attribute Values considered and rationale Risk From Cortés et al. (2010): “Neonates and juveniles were more abundant and remain in near shore waters, suggesting the presence of nursery areas in which food availability and environmental conditions allow a faster growth. Adults M. schmitti presented different environmental associations mainly associated with depth and temperature./…/ The smallest M. schmitti (<40 cm TL) were common in shallow waters (<25 m) whereas medium and large individuals were most abundant in deeper waters (>25 m). /…/ During non-reproductive season they were associated with deeper coastal waters. Large M. schmitti females (>60 cm TL) were most abundant in Encounterability 3 deeper, colder, and saltier waters.” Bellegia et al. (2010) consider two regions, Río de la Plata (34° 30‟ S – 38° S) and El Rincón (39° S – 42 ° S), as two different environments. Particularly they divide El Rincón in two subregions, namely El Rincón – Coast (0-40 m) and El Rincón – Depth (45-100 m) where in both M. schimitti occurs (see Figure 1). The fishery under assessment mainly occurs in El Rincón – Depth. From Cortés et al. (2010): “Mustelus schmitti inhabits coastal waters in the South Western Atlantic from Rio de Janeiro (22° S, Brazil) to Puerto Deseado (47°45‟ S, Argentina) (Menni, 1985; Chiaramonte & Pettovello, 2000). Two main areas within the South Western Atlantic Coastal Ecosystem that have high concentration of M. schmitti are well defined, Río de la Plata and El Rincón (Cousseau et al., 1998), where M. schmitti fulfils their life requirements (Cousseau, 1986; Massa, 1998) and is the most abundant and most frequently landed shark (Massa et al., 2004). Bellegia et al. (2010) consider these two regions, Río de la Plata (34° 30‟ S – 38° S) and El Rincón (39° Availability S – 42 ° S), as two different environments. Particularly they divide El Rincón in two sub-regions, namely El Rincón – 2 Coast (0-40 m) and El Rincón – Depth (45-100 m) where fishery under assessment occurs. During the interviews, El Rincón was mentioned by the companies as one of the main areas where fishery under assessment occurs. Figure 2 shows the main areas where anchovy captures occur while Figure 1 shows closer or coincident areas where M. schmitti also occurs. Selectivity Common mesh size used is 35 mm. Sizes of M. schmitti considerably exceed this mesh size. 3 Post-capture mortality M. schmitti capture is landed because of its commercial value. 3 Rescaled geometric average 2.33 Medium Potential Risk = 3.16 MSC Equivalent Score = 61 138 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 Figure 1: Localization of historical fishing hauls (1986- 1994) and current ones (2008-2009) differentiating four regions where samples of M. schmitti were taken; namely Río del Plata Coast (black circles), Río de la Plata Depth (white circles), El Rincón Coast (black triangles) and El Rincón Depth (white triangles). 139 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 2.1.2 Management There are measures in place, if There is a partial strategy in place, There is a strategy in place for strategy necessary, that are expected to if necessary that is expected to managing retained species. maintain the main retained species at maintain the main retained species There is a strategy in levels which are highly likely to be at levels which are highly likely to place for managing within biologically based limits, or to be within biologically based limits retained species that ensure the fishery does not hinder or to ensure the fishery does not is designed to ensure their recovery and rebuilding. hinder their recovery and the fishery does not rebuilding. pose a risk of serious or irreversible harm The measures are considered likely There is some objective basis for The strategy is mainly based on to retained species. to work, based on plausible argument confidence that the partial strategy information directly about the (e.g., general experience, theory or will work, based on some fishery and/or species involved, comparison with similar information directly about the and testing supports high fisheries/species). fishery and/or species involved. confidence that the strategy will work. There is clear evidence that the strategy is being implemented successfully, and intended changes are occurring. There is some evidence that the There is some evidence that the partial strategy is being strategy is achieving its overall implemented successfully. objective. SCORE: 80 The current management system, driven by the Federal Fishing Council, the management authority, is appropriate to the scale and intensity of the fishery. Federal fisheries management in Argentina is adaptive. While INIDEP monitors ecosystem variables, including oceanographic variables, productivity, phytoplankton and zooplankton, most main species and other fisheries operating in the same area, the Federal Fishing Council is responsible by law to regulate all federal fisheries responding to all ecosystem variables analyzed by INIDEP, the fisheries scientific authority. 140 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 Therefore, a strategy further designed for managing ecosystems results unnecessary in this fishery. Levels of capture of retained species are considerably low respect to their respective TACs. Therefore, no measures are necessary on this fishery to maintain the main retained species at levels which are highly likely to be within biologically based limits, or to ensure the fishery does not hinder their recovery and rebuilding. Partial strategy consists on the prohibition to fish anchovy during the night, when chub schools distribution may overlap a dispersed anchovy stock. This measure avoids capture of demersal species bathymetric migrations at night. No stakeholder mentioned significant capture of hake (Merluccius hubbsi) or other associated species. During the last ten years, highest Merluccius hubbsi capture in the anchovy fishery was in 2002 with 126 tons per year. 2.1.3 Information / Qualitative information is available Qualitative information and some Accurate and verifiable information monitoring on the amount of main retained quantitative information are is available on the catch of all species taken by the fishery. available on the amount of main retained species and the Information on the retained species taken by the fishery. consequences for the status of nature and extent of affected populations. retained species is adequate to Information is adequate to Information is sufficient to estimate Information is sufficient to determine the risk qualitatively assess outcome status outcome status with respect to quantitatively estimate outcome posed by the with respect to biologically based biologically based limits. status with a high degree of fishery and the limits. certainty. effectiveness of the strategy to manage Information is adequate to support Information is adequate to support a Information is adequate to support a retained species. measures to manage main retained partial strategy to manage main comprehensive strategy to manage species. retained species. retained species, and evaluate with a high degree of certainty whether the strategy is achieving its objective. Sufficient data continue to be Monitoring of retained species is collected to detect any increase in conducted in sufficient detail to risk level (e.g. due to changes in the assess ongoing mortalities to all outcome indicator scores or the retained species. operation of the fishery or the effectiveness of the strategy). 141 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 SCORE: 80 The main retained species is the chub mackerel (“caballa”, Scomber japonicus). Qualitative information and some quantitative information are available on the amount of main retained species taken by the fishery. Information is adequate to support a partial strategy to manage main retained species. Sufficient data continue to be collected to detect any increase in risk level (e.g. due to changes in the outcome indicator scores or the operation of the fishery or the effectiveness of the strategy). Incidental capture (including retained and bycatch) has been reported to be less than 1% of the total capture (Hansen J., 2004), i.e. approximately 300 tons a year. The biological accepted capture (ABC) recommended for the chub mackerel stock exploited south of 39° SL (where a significant part of the anchovy captures occurs) was 12,000 tons for 2010 (Buratti, Garciarena, & Hansen, 2010). Chum mackerel spawns in El Rincón, between 39° SL and 40° SL, where highest concentration of this species occurs. Considering a top limit of 300 tons in the incidental capture, this figure becomes insignificant respect to the ABC recommended for the species. This information is sufficient to support a partial strategy to manage the chub mackerel as a retained species in the Bonaerense anchovy fishery. The chub mackerel (“caballa”, Scomber japonicus) stock is monitored and evaluated within the INIDEP Research Programs. INIDEP Technical Report 14/2010 provides sufficient data collected to detect any increase in risk level, establishing reference points. Landing controls from management authorities exists and INIDEP has a landing sampling program for the Bonaerense anchovy fishery. On May 1, 2011, an on board video camera system has been implemented which will be obligatory on the vessels under assessment. Therefore, data will continue to be collected to detect any increase in risk level. Monitoring does not necessarily occur for all minor retained species in the same detail or accuracy as with chub mackerel to assess on going mortalities to all of them or to support a comprehensive strategy to manage all retained species. Therefore, the fishery reaches all SG80 but not SG100. Note: Scoring issues in brackets need not be scored when the RBF is used to score PI 2.1.1. 142 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 2.2 Discarded species (also known as “bycatch” or “discards”) 2.2.1 Outcomes status Main by-catch species are likely to Main by-catch species are highly There is a high degree of certainty be within biologically based limits, likely to be within biologically that by-catch species are within The fishery does not or if outside such limits there are based limits or if outside such biologically based limits. pose a risk of serious mitigation measures in place that are limits there is a partial strategy of or irreversible harm expected to ensure that the fishery demonstrably effective mitigation to the by-catch does not hinder recovery and measures in place such that the species or species rebuilding. fishery does not hinder recovery groups and does not and rebuilding. hinder recovery of If the status is poorly known there depleted by-catch are measures or practices in place species or species that are expected to result in the groups. fishery not causing the by-catch species to be outside biologically based limits or hindering recovery. RBF APPLICATION No on board observers exist. Although some research surveys have been conducted neither all years have been included for technical reasons, nor was the whole fishing period considered; comprehending only a short period of the fishery. Although yearly research staff participates from commercial trips to record catch structure, the whole bycatch species spectrum is not included in the records. Therefore, no comprehensive information around all fishing periods of anchovy fishery exists, in order to allow rigorous assessment of impacts on bycatch species; and consequently RBF has been triggered. Scoring guideposts are not applied in this indicator as the Risk Based Framework has been triggered and stakeholders have agreed, through SICA SICA SCORE: 80 analysis, that the fishery does not pose a risk of serious or irreversible harm to the bycatch species or species groups and does not hinder recovery of depleted bycatch species or species groups (See Table 1). Partial SICA score (“surel”) = 100 Partial SICA score (birds) = 80 Applying a precautionary approach the Assessment Team has considered 80 as the SICA score. 143 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 FINAL SCORE: Although a limited knowledge on incidental capture of birds by the anchovy fleet exists, the use of conventional ice-chilling vessels (“fresqueros”) 80 allows establishing a correlation with similar hake vessels (Aves Argentinas; Anchovy Fishery SICA Workshop, 2011). This argument applies to the Great shearwater (“Pardela cabeza negra”, Puffinus gravis) which was considered by Aves Argentinas as one of the main bycatch species. Considering the scarce knowledge on “surel” (Trachurus lathami syn. Trachurus pictoratus australis), the Assessment Team has decided to assess potential risk of the anchovy fishery on this species through a PSA. PSA score was 50 (see Table 3). In view of the high potential risk for “surel” resulted from the PSA and the general concern existing on birds, the Assessment Team recommends to RECOMMENDATION perform impact assessments on these species. 144 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 Table 3: PSA applied to the impact of the Bonaerense Anchovy (Engraulis anchoita) fishery on “surel” (Trachurus lathami syn. Trachurus pictoratus australis). Productivity Attribute Values considered and rationale Sources Risk Average age at maturity Between 1.5 and 2 years (Hansen, Perrota, & Madirolas, 2004) 1 Most frequent ages of capture are 2 to 6 years, with occasional individuals of 13 years. (Hansen, Perrota, & Madirolas, 2004; Cousseau & Perrota, Average maximum age Maximum age observed was 14 years. 2 2011) Precautionary approach applied. (Comisión Técnica Mixta del Frente Marítimo, 2002) The lowest value of fecundity was found in one female with 15,825 ovocites and the highest in one female with 82,892 ovocites. Fecundity (Ciechomski & Cassia, 1980, p. 42) 1 Media value found for the most represented class (50-55 gr, 15 individuals) was 36,000 ovocites. (Hansen, Perrota, & Madirolas, 2004; Cousseau & Perrota, Average maximum size Maximum sizes observed of 24-25 cm 1 2011) (Cosseau, 1967; Cousseau & Perrota, 2011; Hansen, Average size at maturity Between 13 and 15 cm 1 Perrota, & Madirolas, 2004) Demersal egg layer: the “surel” reproduce Reproductive strategy close to the coast, 10-15 miles offshore at 25- (Ciechomski & Cassia, 1980) 2 30 m depth. Trophic level 3.99 s.e. 0.18 based on diet studies (Fishbase, 2011) 3 Arithmetic average 1.57 145 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 Susceptibility Attribute Values considered and rationale Sources Risk “Surel” is a euryhaline species which inhabits depths up to 100 m. Its natural habitat occurs between 50 m and 100 m. Anchovy Encounterability (Cousseau & Perrota, 2011) 3 concentrations lie between 40 and 80 m based on different reports while nets are assumed to operate within this range. This species inhabits approximately between 34° SL and 42°SL, between the coast and the isobath of 100 m. The portion of the “surel” distribution overlapping fishing effort within (Hansen, Perrota, & Madirolas, 2004; Cousseau & Perrota, Availability 3 the unit of certification was estimated to be 2011) more than 60% during the SICA workshop (see Table 1) and to lie between 50 and 75% from Figure 2. Maximum sizes observed of “surel” are 240- (Hansen, Perrota, & Madirolas, 2004; Cousseau & Perrota, Selectivity 3 250 mm. Common mesh size used is 35 mm. 2011)(Roberto Ricchi, personal comment) Mostly retained because it is not easily Post-capture mortality distinguishable respect to “anchovy”. 3 Probability of survival after discard is remote. Rescaled geometric average 3 Medium Potential Risk = 3.39 MSC Equivalent Score = 50 146 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 Figure 2: Overlap between maps of anchovy captures (based on data from the National Sub-Secretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture, in metric tons) as a surrogate of fishing effort and “surel” distribution (Cousseau & Perrota, 2011). “Surel” distribution is represented in rose colour while capture of anchovy is represented by circles red filled per statistical square. 147 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 2.2.2 Management There are measures in place, if There is a partial strategy in place, There is a strategy in place for strategy necessary, which are expected to if necessary, for managing by- managing and minimising by- maintain main by-catch species at catch that is expected to maintain catch. There is a strategy in levels which are highly likely to be main by-catch species at levels place for managing within biologically based limits or to which are highly likely to be by-catch that is ensure that the fishery does not within biologically based limits or designed to ensure hinder their recovery. to ensure that the fishery does not the fishery does not hinder their recovery. pose a risk of serious or irreversible harm The measures are considered likely There is some objective basis for The strategy is mainly based on to by-catch to work, based on plausible argument confidence that the partial strategy information directly about the populations. (e.g general experience, theory or will work, based on some fishery and/or species involved, comparison with similar information directly about the and testing supports high fisheries/species). fishery and/or the species involved. confidence that the strategy will work. There is some evidence that the There is clear evidence that the partial strategy is being strategy is being implemented implemented successfully. successfully, and intended changes are occurring. There is some evidence that the strategy is achieving its objective. SCORE: 85 The Bonaerense anchovy fishery is highly selective and occurs on concentrated schools which lie over “surel” (Trachurus lathami syn. Trachurus pictoratus australis) ones during day as fishing at night is forbidden to protect demersal species. Commercial pressure minimizes incidental capture of “surel” and other species as these cause economical lost to fishing companies. Anchovy schools are followed since the initiation of fishing trips and vessels work cooperatively to achieve selective captures. There are landing controls and captains must declare all captures (“partes de pesca”) when landed. This combination of measures and market-driving behaviour may be considered as a successful strategy to manage and minimize bycatch stock 148 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 species, under the current market and environmental conditions. Therefore, first scoring issue from SG100 is complied. Landing data shows that captures of bycatch species are considerably low in relation to their respective TACs. Therefore, because of this low impact, no additional measures are necessary to maintain the main bycatch species at levels which are highly likely to be within biologically based limits or to ensure the fishery does not hinder their recovery and rebuilding. Although some evidence that the fishery its achieving their objective in regard to bycatch species, not enough accuracy or comprehension is considered to reach all scoring issues from SG100. Therefore the Assessment Team has scored consequently. 149 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 2.2.3 Information / Qualitative information is available Qualitative information and some Accurate and verifiable monitoring on the amount of main by-catch quantitative information are information is available on the species affected by the fishery. available on the amount of main amount of all by-catch and the Information on the by-catch species affected by the consequences for the status of nature and amount of fishery. affected populations. by-catch is adequate to determine the risk Information is adequate to broadly Information is sufficient to Information is sufficient to posed by the fishery understand outcome status with estimate outcome status with quantitatively estimate outcome and the effectiveness respect to biologically based limits. respect to biologically based limits. status with respect to biologically of the strategy to based limits with a high degree of manage by-catch. certainty. Information is adequate to support Information is adequate to support Information is adequate to support measures to manage by-catch. a partial strategy to manage main a comprehensive strategy to by-catch species. manage by-catch, and evaluate with a high degree of certainty whether a strategy is achieving its objective. Sufficient data continue to be Monitoring of by-catch data is collected to detect any increase in conducted in sufficient detail to risk to main by-catch species (e.g. assess ongoing mortalities to all due to changes in the outcome by-catch species. indicator scores or the operation of the fishery or the effectiveness of the strategy). SCORE: 75 Qualitative information on bycatch species, including “jurel” and other species (Ciechomski & Cassia, 1980; Cosseau, 1967; Cousseau & Perrota, 2011; Hansen, Perrota, & Madirolas, 2004) exists and some quantitative information are available on the amount of main bycatch species -incidental capture is less than 1% of total capture- affected by the fishery (Hansen J. , 2004). Information obtained from similar vessels impacting on the same marine birds occurring in the fishery under assessment is useful to assess impact of the Bonaerense anchovy fishery on these birds (Aves 150 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 Argentinas).Therefore, there is information adequate to support a partial strategy to manage main bycatch species, if necessary. Recently, on May 1, 2011, an obligatory on board video cameras system has been implemented, which includes the Bonaerence anchovy fishery vessels. No other guarantees to collect sufficient data to detect risk increases have been informed to the Assessment Team. Therefore the Assessment Team considers that the last SG80 is not covered by the fishery yet. General condition: Condition To continue collecting sufficient data to detect any increase in risk to main bycatch species (e.g. due to changes in the outcome indicator scores or the operation of the fishery or the effectiveness of the strategy) for example applying the current video camera system and/ or on board observers. Specific conditions: - To sample fishing trips in order: - To estimate number of individuals of the main bycatch species impacted by fishing gears (including bycatch birds) - To estimate size of all individuals impacted by fishing gears (including bycatch birds) - To discriminate mortal impact from injury impact in bycatch birds. - To maintain estimation of the amount of main bycatch species, including jurel. - To ensure that population studies on birds keep going. Deadlines By the first annual audit: to provide documented evidence that data on main by-catch species impacted by fishing gears has been started to be collected. By the second, third and four annual audit: to provide documented evidence that data on main bycatch species impacted by fishing gears has been collected and has been adequate to estimate any change in risk to main by-catch species. Note: Scoring issues in brackets need not be scored when the RBF is used to score PI 2.2.1. 151 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 2.3 Endangered, Threatened and Protected (ETP) Species 2.3.1 Outcomes status Known effects of the fishery are The effects of the fishery are There is a high degree of certainty likely to be within limits of national known and are highly likely to be that the effects of the fishery are The fishery meets and international requirements for within limits of national and within limits of national and national and protection of ETP species. international requirements for international requirements for international protection of ETP species. protection of ETP species. requirements for protection of ETP Known direct effects are unlikely to Direct effects are highly unlikely There is a high degree of species. create unacceptable impacts to ETP to create unacceptable impacts to confidence that there are no species. ETP species. significant detrimental effects The fishery does not (direct and indirect) of the fishery pose a risk of serious on ETP species. or irreversible harm Indirect effects have been to ETP species and considered and are thought to be does not hinder unlikely to create unacceptable recovery of ETP impacts. species. SCORE: 75 Anchovy fishing occurs from August to November. Considering the information provided by Aves Argentinas during the workshop, the Assessment Team has included the following birds, listed in the National Action Plan for Birds, as ETP: Sooty shearwater (“Pardela oscura”, Puffinus griseus) White-chinned petrel (“Petrel barba blanca”,Procellaria aequinoctialis) Although a limited knowledge on incidental capture of birds by the anchovy fleet exists, the use of conventional ice-chilling vessels (“fresqueros”) allows establishing a correlation with similar hake vessels (Aves Argentinas; Anchovy Fishery SICA Workshop, 2011). Favero et al. (2010) studied the impact of the hake ice-chilling fishery on birds. No mortal impact was recorded for Sooty shearwater o White-chinned paper. The population of the South American fur seal is increasing with currently 250,000 individuals (Dr. Diego Rodriguez, personal comment during interview). According to captains (Asociación Argentina de Capitanes, Pilotos y Patrones de Pesca) who were interviewed, if eventually a sea lion or 152 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 fur seal is captured, there is a considerable chance it escapes from the net, even breaking it. Therefore, effects of the fishery are likely to be within limits of national and international requirements for protection of ETP species while direct effects are highly unlikely to create unacceptable impacts on them. Annual capture of anchovy is less than 30,000 tons which is meaningless to the important biomass of this species prey of ETP species. Therefore, indirect effects are thought to be unlikely to create unacceptable impacts. General conditions: CONDITION To assess impacts of the Bonaerense anchovy fishery on Sooty shearwater (“Pardela oscura”, Puffinus griseus) and white-chinned petrel (“Petrel barba blanca”, Procellaria aequinoctialis), ensuring: - that mortal impact and injuries on species are determined under international standards - that the assessment of fishery impacts on ETP species considers all available scientific information - that the annual reports of fishery impacts on ETP species include details of the methodology applied By the first annual audit, to provide documented evidence that: - a program to improve the quantity and quality of data on interactions with ETP species has been defined for the fishery, which should include plots and data of fishing mortality and fishing injuries to allow determination of impacts of the fishery By the second annual audit, to provide documented evidence that: - the defined program on fishery interactions with ETP species has been implemented and data is being collected and analyzed By the third annual audit, to provide documented evidence that: - outcomes of the defined program has been obtained and analyzed 153 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 By the fourth annual audit there is documented evidence that: - the effects of the fishery are known and are highly likely to be within limits of national and international requirements (including ACAP requirements on Procellaria aequinoctialis) for protection of ETP species. RECOMMENDATION To assess impacts of the Bonaerense anchovy fishery on the South American fur seal (Arctocephalus australis) 154 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 2.3.2 Management There are measures in place that There is a strategy in place for There is a comprehensive strategy strategy minimise mortality, and are expected managing the fishery‟s impact on in place for managing the fishery‟s to be highly likely to achieve national ETP species, including measures to impact on ETP species, including The fishery has in and international requirements for the minimise mortality that is designed measures to minimise mortality place precautionary protection of ETP species. to be highly likely to achieve that is designed to achieve above management national and international national and international strategies designed requirements for the protection of requirements for the protection of to: ETP species. ETP species. - meet national and The measures are considered likely There is an objective basis for The strategy is mainly based on international to work, based on plausible argument confidence that the strategy will information directly about the requirements; (eg general experience, theory or work, based on information fishery and/or species involved, comparison with similar directly about the fishery and/or and a quantitative analysis - ensure the fishery fisheries/species). the species involved. supports high confidence that the does not pose a risk strategy will work. of serious or irreversible harm to There is evidence that the strategy There is clear evidence that the ETP species; is being implemented successfully. strategy is being implemented successfully, and intended changes - ensure the fishery are occurring. There is evidence does not hinder that the strategy is achieving its recovery of ETP objective. species; and - minimise mortality of ETP species. SCORE: 60 Argentina conducts a national plan to reduce the interaction between birds and fisheries (Federal Fishing Council Resolutions 3/2010 and 15/2010). These measures are considered likely to work based on plausible argument, as consultations to NGOs and international consensus (IUCN, CITES, etc.) have been considered. Therefore, measures in place to minimise mortality are expected to be highly likely to achieve national and international 155 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 requirements for the protection of ETP species. Additionally, Argentina has endorsed non-binding international agreements like the Code of Responsible Fisheries Conduct and development of a National Action Plan for mammals has been started based on Volume 5 of "El Mar Argentino y sus recursos pesqueros", an INIDEP publication (Dr. Ramiro Sanchez, personal comment at Argentine Hoki Fishery Assessment interview). CONDITION General condition: To define and implement a strategy for managing the fishery‟s impact on ETP species, including Sooty shearwater (“Pardela oscura”, Puffinus griseus) and white-chinned petrel (“Petrel barba blanca”, Procellaria aequinoctialis) By the second annual audit, to provide documented evidence that: - a strategy for managing the fishery‟s impact on ETP species has been defined, which includes measures to minimise mortality and is designed to be highly likely to achieve national and international requirements (including ACAP requirements established for Procellaria aequinoctialis) for the protection of ETP species. By the third annual audit, to provide documented evidence that: - a strategy for managing the fishery‟s impact on ETP species has been implemented, which includes measures to minimise mortality and is designed to be highly likely to achieve national and international requirements (including ACAP requirements established for Procellaria aequinoctialis) for the protection of ETP species. By the fourth annual audit, to provide documented evidence that: - there is an objective basis for confidence that the strategy is working, and will work, based on information directly about the fishery and/or the species involved. - the strategy is being implemented successfully for managing the fishery‟s impact on ETP species, achieving national and international requirements (including ACAP requirements established for Procellaria aequinoctialis) for protection of ETP species. 156 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 2.3.3 Information / Information is adequate to broadly Information is sufficient to Information is sufficient to monitoring understand the impact of the fishery determine whether the fishery may quantitatively estimate outcome on ETP species. be a threat to protection and status with a high degree of Relevant information recovery of the ETP species, and if certainty. is collected to support so, to measure trends and support a the management of full strategy to manage impacts. fishery impacts on ETP species, Information is adequate to support Information is adequate to support including: measures to manage the impacts on a comprehensive strategy to ETP species manage impacts, minimize - information for the mortality and injury of ETP development of the species, and evaluate with a high management strategy; degree of certainty whether a strategy is achieving its objectives. - information to assess the Information is sufficient to Sufficient data are available to Accurate and verifiable effectiveness of the qualitatively estimate the fishery allow fishery related mortality and information is available on the management strategy; related mortality of ETP species. the impact of fishing to be magnitude of all impacts, and quantitatively estimated for ETP mortalities and injuries and the species. consequences for the status of ETP - information to species. determine the outcome status of ETP species. SCORE: 60 Considering the information provided by Aves Argentinas during the workshop, the Assessment Team has included the following birds, listed in the National Action Plan for Birds, as ETP: Sooty shearwater (“Pardela oscura”, Puffinus griseus) White-chinned petrel (“Petrel barbablanca”,Procellaria aequinoctialis) Although a limited knowledge on incidental capture of birds by the anchovy fleet exists, the use of conventional ice-chilling vessels (“fresqueros”) allows establishing a correlation with similar hake vessels (Aves Argentinas; Anchovy Fishery SICA Workshop, 2011). Favero et al. (2010) studied the 157 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 impact of the hake ice-chilling fishery on birds. No mortal impact was recorded for Sooty shearwater o White-chinned paper. According to the captains interviewed from the “Asociación Argentina de Capitanes, Pilotos y Patrones de Pesca” (Argentine Skippers and Captains Association), eventually if a sea lion or fur seal is captured, there is a considerable chance it escapes from the net, even breaking it. The population of the South American fur seal is increasing with currently 250,000 individuals (Dr. Diego Rodriguez, personal comment during interview). Therefore, information is sufficient to determine that the fishery is not a threat to protection and recovery of the ETP species. No sufficient data has been reported or provided to the Assessment Team to allow fishery related mortality and the impact of fishing to be quantitatively estimated for ETP species. CONDITIONS General conditions: To collect information to allow fishery related mortality and the impact of fishing to be quantitatively estimated for ETP species To ensure that mortal impact and injuries on ETP species information is collected under international standards By the first annual audit, to provide documented evidence that: - a program to improve the quantity and quality of data on interactions with ETP species has been defined for the fishery, which should include plots of fishing mortality and fishing injuries By the second annual audit, to provide documented evidence that: - the defined program on fishery interactions with ETP species has been implemented and data is being collected and analyzed By the third annual audit, to provide documented evidence that: - data continue to be collecting to allow proper assessments 158 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 By the fourth annual audit there is documented evidence that: - data has been collected during the previous three years to allow proper assessments and impact estimations 159 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 2.4 Habitats 2.4.1 Outcomes status The fishery is unlikely to reduce The fishery is highly unlikely to There is evidence that the fishery habitat structure and function to a reduce habitat structure and is highly unlikely to reduce habitat The fishery does not point where there would be serious or function to a point where there structure and function to a point cause serious or irreversible harm. would be serious or irreversible where there would be serious or irreversible harm to harm. irreversible harm. habitat structure, considered on a regional or bioregional basis, and function. RBF No on board observers exist. Although some research surveys have been conducted neither all years have been included for technical reasons, nor was APPLICATION the whole fishing period considered; comprehending only a short period of the fishery. Although yearly research staff participates from commercial trips to record catch structure, the whole habitat spectrum involved is not included in the records. Therefore, no comprehensive information around all fishing periods of anchovy fishery exists, in order to allow rigorous assessment of impacts on habitat; and consequently RBF has been triggered. SICA and See Table 1, page 133 FINAL SCORE: 100 Direct information on the impact of this fishery on the habitats is limited because of the absence of OBOs and has triggered use of the RBF for PI 2.4.1. According to stakeholders, including captains from “Asociación Argentina de Capitanes, Pilotos y Patrones de Pesca”, the fishery operates the gear in such a way that it does not touch bottom and therefore causes no substantial impact. Furthermore, fishery occurs at most during four months (August- November). It is recognized that the fishery operates in the pelagic zone and subsequently gear does not encounter, nor impact, benthic habitats on a frequent basis (Dr. Ricardo Bastida1, personal comment). The fishery operates 12 miles or more from shore (around 50-80 meters depth) and is known to occur mainly over soft sediments. Therefore the Assessment has decided to maintain SICA score. 1 Principal researcher at the National Commission of Scientific and Technological Research (CONICET) Argentina 160 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 2.4.2 Management There are measures in place, if There is a partial strategy in place, There is a strategy in place for strategy necessary, that are expected to if necessary, that is expected to managing the impact of the fishery achieve the Habitat Outcome 80 level achieve the Habitat Outcome 80 on habitat types. There is a strategy in of performance. level of performance or above. place that is designed to ensure the fishery The measures are considered likely There is some objective basis for The strategy is mainly based on does not pose a risk to work, based on plausible argument confidence that the partial strategy information directly about the of serious or (e.g general experience, theory or will work, based on information fishery and/or habitats involved, irreversible harm to comparison with similar directly about the fishery and/or and testing supports high habitat types. fisheries/habitats). habitats involved. confidence that the strategy will work. There is some evidence that the There is clear evidence that the partial strategy is being strategy is being implemented implemented successfully. successfully, and intended changes are occurring. There is some evidence that the strategy is achieving its objective. SCORE: 100 The current management system, driven by the Federal Fishing Council, the management authority, is appropriate to the scale and intensity of the fishery. SICA results for PI 2.4.1 have shown that direct impacts of the fishery under assessment on habitat structure and function and type of habitats are negligible. The TAC established partially serves as a management strategy, which although never reached, if it occurred impacts would be minimal as the operational gear applied in this fishery avoids hitting the seabed because it is a semipelagic fishery. Furthermore, Federal fisheries management in Argentina is adaptive. While INIDEP monitors ecosystem variables, including oceanographic variables, productivity, phytoplankton and zooplankton, most main species and other fisheries operating in the same area, the Federal Fishing Council is responsible by law to regulate all federal fisheries responding to all ecosystem variables (including habitat variables) analyzed by INIDEP, the fisheries scientific authority. In addition, the Secretariat of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development, who has one of the nine chairs in the Federal Fisheries Council, organizes workshops with participation of all stakeholders interested in the protection of impacted species and their associated habitats. Operational area has not been identified as a Special Area of Concern (SAC) or a Special Protection Area (SPA) in relation to the habitats by NGOs or fishery 161 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 and/or environmental authorities. Therefore, a strategy further designed for managing habitats results unnecessary in this fishery. 162 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 2.4.3 Information / There is a basic understanding of the The nature, distribution and The distribution of habitat types is monitoring types and distribution of main vulnerability of all main habitat known over their range, with habitats in the area of the fishery. types in the fishery area are known particular attention to the Information is at a level of detail relevant to the occurrence of vulnerable habitat adequate to determine scale and intensity of the fishery. types. the risk posed to habitat types by the Information is adequate to broadly Sufficient data are available to Changes in habitat distributions fishery and the understand the nature of the main allow the nature of the impacts of over time are measured. effectiveness of the impacts of gear use on the main the fishery on habitat types to be strategy to manage habitats, including spatial overlap of identified and there is reliable impacts on habitat habitat with fishing gear information on the spatial extent of types. interaction, and the timing and location of use of the fishing gear. Sufficient data continue to be The physical impacts of the gear collected to detect any increase in on the habitat types have been risk to habitat (e.g. due to changes quantified fully. in the outcome indicator scores or the operation of the fishery or the effectiveness of the measures). SCORE: 85 Information obtained from SICA for PI 2.4.1 shows that the fishery has a low direct and indirect impact on habitat. Although interactions with the benthic habitat either through gear deployment or loss of gear were described as uncommon. Requirements of more information and monitoring about impacts of the fishery under assessment on the benthonic habitats are limited because of the described nature of the fishing operations; although deeper information about the eventual negative impact of turbulences generated when trawling on the benthos is recommended. 163 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 2.5 Ecosystem 2.5.1 Outcomes status The fishery is unlikely to disrupt the The fishery is highly unlikely to There is evidence that the fishery key elements underlying ecosystem disrupt the key elements is highly unlikely to disrupt the The fishery does not structure and function to a point underlying ecosystem structure key elements underlying cause serious or where there would be a serious or and function to a point where ecosystem structure and function irreversible harm to irreversible harm. there would be a serious or to a point where there would be a the key elements of irreversible harm. serious or irreversible harm. ecosystem structure and function. RBF APPLICATION No on board observers exist. Although some research surveys have been conducted neither all years have been included for technical reasons, nor was the whole fishing period considered; comprehending only a short period of the fishery. Although yearly research staff participates from commercial trips to record catch structure, the whole ecosystem spectrum involved is not included in the records. Therefore, no comprehensive information around all fishing periods of anchovy fishery exists, in order to allow rigorous assessment of impacts on ecosystem; and consequently RBF has been triggered. SICA SCORE: 100 See Table 1, page 133 FINAL SCORE: 90 Direct information on the impact of this fishery on the ecosystem is limited because of the absence of OBOs which has triggered the use of the RBF for PI 2.5.1. Argentine anchovy (Engraulis anchoita) is a key low trophic level species and the main predators are hake Merluccius hubbsi, squid Illex argentinus, coastal fishes and South American fur seal Arctocephalus australis. The raise of the marine mammal Arctocephalus australis population preying on anchovy which reaches 250000 tons indicates the unlikeness of relevant impact of the anchovy fishery on this mammal species population (Dr. Diego Rodriguez, personal comment). In line with the declining trend of the hake biomass during the last decades, feeding simulations have shown a reduction of anchovy consumption by hake on anchovy from 6,000,000 tons in 1970 to 2,700,000 tons in 1986 (Prenski & Angelescu, 1993). Since the annual anchovy catch is less than 30,000 tons it seems that such impact on the hake biomass can be considered of lesser importance. Both squid Illex argentinus and coastal fish populations had important declines during the last decades (www.minagri.gob.ar/SAGPyA/pesca/index.php). Therefore, and considering outcome status of anchovy stock (see PI 1.1.1, page 109) at present, trophic relationships through all these species are unlikely to be impacted by the anchovy fishery under assessment (Angelescu, 1982; see 7.5.4 Predation, page 78 on this report). There are still uncertainties on the ecological role of anchovy on low biomass predator species and on ecosystem dynamics as a whole.No complete comprehensive evaluations are in place to provide a complete picture of the key elements of the anchovy associated ecosystem relating fishing 164 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 impacts on its structure and function (e.g. trophic models/ecosystem models).Although current catch levels are low in respect to total anchovy biomass suggesting that such a fishing impact wouldn‟t impair the ecosystem structure, evidences are still missing. Therefore, the Assessment Team has reduced the score to 90. To better evaluate the ecological role of anchovy on ecosystem dynamics and to explore and assess possible fishing impacts on ecosystem structure. RECOMMENDATIONS To optimize current available information on stomach contents analysis in order to get an ecosystem picture where the fishery occurs. To apply ecosystem general models, e.g. Ecopath, in order to define the impact of an increasing anchovy catch on the ecosystem structure and dynamics. 165 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 2.5.2 Management There are measures in place, if There is a partial strategy in place, There is a strategy that consists of strategy necessary, that take into account if necessary, that takes into a plan, containing measures to potential impacts of the fishery on account available information and address all main impacts of the There are measures key elements of the ecosystem. is expected to restrain impacts of fishery on the ecosystem, and at in place to ensure the fishery on the ecosystem so as least some of these measures are the fishery does not to achieve the Ecosystem Outcome in place. The plan and measures pose a risk of 80 level of performance. are based on well-understood serious or functional relationships between irreversible harm to the fishery and the Components ecosystem structure and elements of the ecosystem. and function. The measures are considered likely The partial strategy is considered This plan provides for to work, based on plausible likely to work, based on plausible development of a full strategy that argument (eg, general experience, argument (eg, general experience, restrains impacts on the ecosystem theory or comparison with similar theory or comparison with similar to ensure the fishery does not fisheries/ecosystems). fisheries/ecosystems). cause serious or irreversible harm. There is some evidence that the The measures are considered measures comprising the partial likely to work based on prior strategy are being implemented experience, plausible argument or successfully. information directly from the fishery/ecosystems involved. There is evidence that the measures are being implemented successfully. SCORE: 80 The current management system, driven by the Federal Fishing Council, the management authority, is appropriate to the scale and intensity of the fishery. SICA results for PI 2.5.1 and additional information cited above have shown that direct impacts of the fishery under assessment on the ecosystem community are negligible. 166 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 Federal fisheries management in Argentina is adaptive. While INIDEP monitors ecosystem variables, including oceanographic variables, productivity, phytoplankton and zooplankton, most main species and other fisheries operating in the same area, the Federal Fishing Council is responsible by law to regulate all federal fisheries responding to all ecosystem variables analyzed by INIDEP, the fisheries scientific authority. In addition, the Secretariat of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development, who has one of the nine chairs in the Federal Fisheries Council, organizes workshops with participation of all stakeholders interested in the protection of impacted species and their associated habitats. Operational area has not been identified as a Special Area of Concern (SAC) or a Special Protection Area (SPA) in relation to the ecosystem communities by NGOs or fishery and/or environmental authorities. Therefore, a strategy further designed for managing ecosystems results unnecessary in this fishery. 167 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 2.5.3 Information / Information is adequate to identify Information is adequate to broadly Information is adequate to broadly monitoring the key elements of the ecosystem understand the key elements of the understand the key elements of the (e.g. trophic structure and function, ecosystem. ecosystem. There is adequate community composition, knowledge of the productivity pattern and impacts of the fishery biodiversity). on the ecosystem. Main impacts of the fishery on these Main impacts of the fishery on Main interactions between the key ecosystem elements can be these key ecosystem elements can fishery and these ecosystem inferred from existing information, be inferred from existing elements can be inferred from but have not been investigated in information, but may not have existing information, and have detail. been investigated in detail. been investigated. The main functions of the The impacts of the fishery on Components (i.e. target, Bycatch, target, Bycatch, Retained and ETP Retained and ETP species and species and Habitats are identified Habitats) in the ecosystem are and the main functions of these known. Components in the ecosystem are understood. Sufficient information is available Sufficient information is available on the impacts of the fishery on on the impacts of the fishery on these Components to allow some the Components and elements to of the main consequences for the allow the main consequences for ecosystem to be inferred. the ecosystem to be inferred. Sufficient data continue to be Information is sufficient to support collected to detect any increase in the development of strategies to risk level (e.g. due to changes in manage ecosystem impacts. the outcome indicator scores or the operation of the fishery or the effectiveness of the measures). 168 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 SCORE: 80 Direct information on the impact of this fishery on the ecosystem community is limited because of the absence of On Board Observers (OBOs) and has triggered use of the Risk Based Framework (RBF) for PI 2.5.1. Under the risk-based assessment, the level of total sardine catch indicates that the potential risk of impacts of target and non-target species removal on ecosystem structure and function is deemed insignificant in terms of the scale and intensity of the fishery. While there is currently no updated information on the predator-prey relationships and inter-dependencies among commercial species within the unit of certification; Lycengraulis olidus, Anchoa marinii, Trachurus picturatus australis (syn. Trachurus lathami), Paronasignata and Austroatherina incise, which occur –with minimal variations- in the same trophic niche of the anchovy, are the main competitors during all life history of anchovy. From all species predating on anchovy, Illex argentinus, Merluccius hubbsi, Arctocephalus australis and coastal species are known to be the main predators on anchovy; but also other cephalopods (3 spp.), marine birds (5 spp.) and marine mammals (5 spp.) are relatively important. Illex argentinus, Merluccius hubbsi and coastal species also predate on other abundant species; while stock of anchovy is widely large in comparison to fishing captures of this species. Therefore, information and monitoring needs for this fishery are limited. Sufficient information is available on the impacts of the fishery on this component to allow some of the main consequences for the ecosystem to be inferred, as it was done in PI 2.5.1. Sufficient data continue to be collected to detect any increase in risk level, as main predator species are continually been monitored either by management authorities or research institutions. See INIDEP Internal Resolution 133/2010. INIDEP has a sampling program on port for the fishery under assessment, in addition to landing controls and fishing reports (“partes de pesca”). RECOMMENDATION To collect and analyze further information related to the trophic web associated to the anchovy (Engraulis anchoita) To follow recommendations from Second Peer Reviewer in Point 7 (page 231) 169 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 Principle 3 Principle 3: The fishery is subject to an effective management system that respects local, national and international laws and standards and incorporates institutional and operational frameworks that require use of the resource to be responsible and sustainable 3.1 Governance and Policy 3.1.1 Legal and /or The management system is generally The management system is generally The management system is customary framework consistent with local, national or consistent with local, national or generally consistent with local, international laws or standards that international laws or standards that national or international laws or The management are aimed at achieving sustainable are aimed at achieving sustainable standards that are aimed at system exists within an fisheries in accordance with MSC fisheries in accordance with MSC achieving sustainable fisheries in appropriate and Principle 1 and 2. Principles 1 and 2. accordance with MSC Principles 1 effective legal and/or and 2. customary framework which ensure that it: The management system The management system The management system incorporates or is subject by law to a incorporates or is subject by law to a incorporates or is subject by law to - Is capable of mechanism for the resolution of legal transparent mechanism for the a transparent mechanism for the delivering sustainable disputes arising within the system. resolution of legal disputes which is resolution of legal disputes that is fisheries in accordance considered to be effective in dealing appropriate to the context of the with MSC Principle 1 with most issues and that is fishery and has been tested and and 2; appropriate to the context of the proven to be effective. fishery. - Observes the legal rights created explicitly Although the management authority The management system or fishery is The management system or fishery or established by or fishery may be subject to attempting to comply in a timely acts proactively to avoid legal custom of people continuing court challenges, it is not fashion with binding judicial disputes or rapidly implements dependent on fishing indicating a disrespect or defiance of decisions arising from any legal binding judicial decisions arising for food or livelihood; the law by repeatedly violating the challenges. from legal challenges. and same law or regulation necessary for the sustainability for the fishery. 170 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 - Incorporates and 1 appropriate dispute N.A. The management system has a N.A. The management system has a N.A. The management system has resolution framework. mechanism to generally respect the mechanism to observe the legal a mechanism to formally commit legal rights created explicitly or rights created explicitly or to the legal rights created explicitly established by custom of people established by custom of people or established by custom on people dependent on fishing for food or dependent on fishing for food or dependent on fishing for food and livelihood in a manner consistent livelihood in a manner consistent livelihood in a manner consistent with the objectives of MSC with the objectives of MSC with the objectives of MSC Principles 1 and 2. Principles 1 and 2. Principles 1 and 2. The management system is generally consistent with local, national or international laws or standards that are aimed at achieving sustainable fisheries SCORE: 100 in accordance with MSC Principles 1 and 2 ZCPAU The management decisions taken in the Argentine – Uruguayan Common Fisheries Zona (ZCPAU) by the Joint Technical Commission of the Maritime Front (CTMFM), November 19, 1993, are consistent with the provisions of the Treaty of the Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front (TRPFM) and other international standards, as well as with the recommendations of its technical bodies, composed of researchers from the fisheries research institutes of both countries. Part of the Argentinean north anchovy fisheries take place in the ZCPAU under TRPFM, whose Administrative Authority is the CTMFM, integrated by political bodies and technicians from each country (Chapter XII of the Treaty). The CTMFM is in charge of establishing the management measures to be enforced for each country, to fishing resources inhabiting the ZCPAU. The fishing fleets operating in the ZCPAU over shared resources must respect both regulations of the flag state and those emanating from the CTMFM. The main rule of the CTMFM concerning anchovy fisheries is Resolution CTMFM N° N° 3/2002, which lays down minimum catch size, sets out a fishing closed area of 40 nautical miles wide from Uruguayan coast, prohibits night fishing, ordered joint research between the technical bodies of both countries, requires private fishing companies to affect funds to recourse research plan aimed at the protection of the species and, finally, it establishes the penalties for noncompliance. ARGENTINE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE (EEZ) The management system is consistent with the Federal Fishing Law 24.922/1998 (Regulatory Decree N° 748/1999) which creates the Federal Fisheries 171 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 Council (FFC) to be the Management Authority, which fixes the general fishing and research policies, including: Total Allowable Catch for each species Individual Transferable Quotas Fishing licenses and federal revenues Specific regulations for each fishery. Approval of research plans As established by Law 24.922, the Federal Fisheries Council is composed by the Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture (ex SAGPyA function delegation by Resolution N° 27/2003), who chairs the sessions; one representative from each of the five littoral provinces, a representative of the Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Development, a representative of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Cult; and two representatives of the Federal Administration. The Federal Fishing Law and its Regulatory Federal Decree N° 748/1999 also establishes the ex-Secretary of Agriculture, livestock,Fisheries and Food (Actually Ministry of Agriculture, livestock and Fishery) to be the Application Authority and delegates same of its functions on the Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture (ex SAGPyA Resolution N° 27/2003) who acts throw its dependent areas: the National Direction of Fisheries Coordination, National Direction of Fisheries Planning and Direction of Fisheries Regulations. Federal Decree N° 373/2007 establishes specific functions for each of these divisions. Federal Decree N° 571/2008 updates functions of the Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture. Federal Law 21.673/1977 creates the National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) to be the Federal Scientific Authority. INIDEP Resolution N° 118/2010 establishes its new organizational chart. Argentina is part of various intergovernmental treaties and part of two international commissions related to the conservation and rational use of fisheries resources: the above mentioned Joint Technical Commission of Maritime Front (CTMFM) and the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). Argentina, as member of the CCAMLR, implements the Commission decisions through mechanisms established by Federal Law 25.263. Argentina approved the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels in 2006 by Law 26.107 and other international instruments relating indirectly to conservation, mainly: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES). Approved by Law 22.344/1982. Convention on Migratory Species, also known as CMS or Bonn Convention. Approved by Law 23.918/1991. 172 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 Convention on Wetlands of International Importance. Approved by Law 23.919/1991. International Convention for the Prevention of Ships Pollution. Approved by Law 24.089/1992. Convention on Biological Diversity. Approved by Law 24.375/1994. United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Approved by Law 24.543/1995. Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas (Compliance Agreement). Approved by Law 24.608/1996. Agreement on the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Development of the Sea –New York 10 December 1982-, relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks. Approved by Law 25.290/2000 With regard to non-binding international instruments: Argentina endorsed the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries Conducts a National Action Plan to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Catch (IUU); Conducts the National Action Plan for the Conservation and Management of Chondrichthyes in Argentina (2009) Conducts the National Plan to Reduce the Interaction between Birds and Fisheries in Argentina (2010). The management system incorporates or is subject by law to a transparent mechanism for the resolution of legal disputes that is appropriate to the context of the fishery and has been tested and proven to be effective. The Federal Fisheries Council acts when a legal dispute arises, under request from a stakeholder. Decisions are written in Minutes (published online at www.cfp.gob.ar) and efficacy has been tested during years of practice. Additionally, verbatim transcripts of the proceedings of the FFC do exist, which can be consulted if it is necessary to clarify issues related to the spirit of its decisions. In case of civilian disputes against administration decisions, it is applied the administrative procedure law 19.549 and its Regulatory Federal Decree N° 1759/72, which establishes, inter alia, the mechanisms for disputes resolution. Fisheries regulations (Law 24.922 and 25.470) repeated the same recursive procedures than Administrative Procedure Law 19.549. The procedure can be summarized briefly as follows: Every time a person feels aggrieved by a decision from any public body, he has the right to arise a reconsideration request and, in case of any unsatisfactory reply, can perform the request to a higher authority, and so on until the level of Presidency of the Nation. If it is considered that the grievance persists or has not been obtained satisfactory answer in administrative levels, there is the possibility to make a presentation to the ordinary justice system (Judiciary), on the 173 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 condition to have exhausted the administrative remedies on appropriate authorities of the National Executive Power. For cases in which the administration's decision involves a imminent harm of a constitutional right, any citizen can appeal directly to the ordinary justice system and submit an urgent application, which requires the presiding judge to resolve in a extremely executive manner (1 to 3 days) to restore the right allegedly injured, even though he will then continue with the judicial investigation to resolve definitively with more information and certainty. The management system or fishery acts proactively to avoid legal disputes or rapidly implements binding judicial decisions arising from legal challenges. The National Direction of Fishery Regulations acts proactively to avoid legal disputes and its staff involves lawyers specialized in fishery activities and regulations. To minimize the legal wrangling, any decision of the administration affecting the rights of third parties requires a control and legal opinion prior to its sanction. Such control is carried out by a statutory body external to the agency that promotes the sanction of the rule. 174 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 3.1.2 Consultation, roles Organisations and individuals Organisations and individuals Organisations and individuals and responsibilities involved in the management process involved in the management process involved in the management have been identified. Functions, roles have been identified. Functions, roles process have been identified. The management and responsibilities are generally and responsibilities are explicitly Functions, roles and system has effective understood. defined and well understood for key responsibilities are explicitly consultation processes areas of responsibility and defined and well understood for all that are open to interaction. areas of responsibility and interested and affected interaction. parties. The management system includes The management system includes The management system includes The roles and consultation processes that obtain consultation processes that regularly consultation processes that responsibilities of relevant information from the main seek and accept relevant information, regularly seek and accept relevant organizations and affected parties, including local including local knowledge. The information, including local individuals who are knowledge, to inform the management system demonstrates knowledge. The management involved in the management system. consideration of the information system demonstrates consideration management process obtained. of the information and explains are clear and how it is used or not used. understood by all relevant parties. The consultation process provides The consultation process provides opportunity for all interested and opportunity and encouragement for affected parties to be involved. all interested and affected parties to be involved, and facilitates their effective engagement. Organisations and individuals involved in the management process have been identified. Functions, roles and responsibilities are explicitly defined and SCORE: 100 well understood for all areas of responsibility and interaction. ZCPAU The CTMFM operates within the framework of the Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front Treaty, November 19, 1993, and a statute approved by the parties within the framework of articles 80 and 84 of the treaty. The statute sets its legal nature, its lease, integration and authorities, functions of the commission and their organizational structures, among others. 175 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 The CTMFM also has a set of internal rules of operation, which sets out the functions of the authorities, forms of functioning and decision-making, the organization of personnel and forms of dispute resolution. (www.ctmfm.org). ARGENTINE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE (EEZ) As established by Law N° 24.922, the Federal Fisheries Council is composed by the ex Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock,Fisheries and Food (Actually Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries), who chairs the sessions, one representative from each of the five littoral provinces, a representative of the Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Development, a representative of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Cult, and two representatives of the Federal Administration. The responsibilities of the Federal Fisheries Council are explicit in the Law 24.922 and its Regulatory Federal Decree N° 748/99, while its rules of operation, approved by a Resolution FFC N° 16/2009, establish the procedures of operation, the administrative structures and the powers and responsibilities of its members. The Federal Fishing Law and Federal Decree N° 214/99 also establishes the former Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food (currenlty Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries) to be the Application Authority (Enforcement Authority) and delegates same of its functions on the Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture (ex SAGPyA Resolution N° 27/2003), who acts throw its dependant areas: the National Direction of Fisheries Coordination, National Direction of Fisheries Planning and Direction of Fisheries Regulations. Federal Decree N° 373/2007 establishes specific functions for each of these directions and Federal Decree N° 571/2008 updates functions of the Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture. Federal Law 21.673/1977 creates the National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) to be the Federal Scientific Authority. INIDEP Resolutions N° 118 /2010 establishes its new organizational chart. Annually INIDEP Resolution approves the Activities Planning for each of its dependant research, operative and administrative areas. The National Coast Guard (Prefectura Naval Argentina) and the Navy collaborates in the control of closed areas, illegal foreign vessels fishing, navigation safety, amongst other functions. Sanitary control is in charge of the National Service of Food Safety (SENASA), who acts in accordance to ex SAGPyA Resolution N° 552/2006). The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Cult serve many roles in the fishery area. I It is responsible for developing foreign policy in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the adjacent regions of Argentina, promotes the fishery sector in the international markets, represents the country on the International Commissions and signs International Agreements. All of these public agencies have missions and functions perfectly well defined and established by laws, while respecting manuals and instructions specific to procedure on each particular situation. 176 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 The management system includes consultation processes that regularly seek and accept relevant information, including local knowledge. The management system demonstrates consideration of the information and explains how it is used or not used. Every year, the National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) establishes a research program to obtain information and knowledge in order to advice the Management System (www.inidep.gov.ar). I.e, see Resolution INIDEP N° 133/2010 for last year. The Federal Fisheries Council makes public their minutes (Acts), Resolutions, and technical reports and other documents received. It also convenes regularly to researchers or interest groups for technical advice prior to the decision-making and reports it in their minutes (www.cfp.gov.ar). Something similar happens with the Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture, although there are not saved detailed records (minutes) of these meetings. The consultation process provides opportunity and encouragement for all interested and affected parties to be involved, and facilitates their effective engagement. An Honorary Consultant Commission at the Federal Fisheries Council does exist (Article 10° of the federal Fisheries Law and Resolution FFC N° 7/2004), composed of all the associations business and workers that exist in the country, and is used to advise on all matters related to fishing activities. Also de Federal Fisheries Council and the Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Development promotes stakeholders meetings on specific issues. In both cases stakeholders are encouraged to participate in different events according to the issue involved. 177 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 3.1.3 Long term objectives Long-term objectives to guide Clear long-term objectives that guide Clear long-term objectives that decision-making, consistent with decision-making, consistent with guide decision-making, consistent The management policy MSC Principles and Criteria and the MSC Principles and Criteria and the with MSC Principles and Criteria has clear long-term precautionary approach, are implicit precautionary approach, are explicit and the precautionary approach, objectives to guide within management policy. within management policy. are explicit within and required by decision-making that management policy. are consistent with MSC Principles and Criteria, and incorporates the precautionary approach. Clear long-term objectives that guide decision-making, consistent with MSC Principles and Criteria and the precautionary approach, are explicit within SCORE: 90 and required by management policy. The Federal Fishing Law 24922 (Article 1°) establishes that Argentina will foment the practice of maritime fishing in function of a maximum development compatible with the rational exploitation of living marine resources, will promote the effective protection of national interests related with fishing and will promote the sustainability of the fishing activity, the long-term conservation of the resources, the development of industrial processes environmentally appropriate to reach the maximum added value and the maximum argentine employment. The Joint Technical Commission of the Maritime Front (CTMFM), in its Resolution N° 3/2002 has warned of the dangers of exploitation of Anchovy resource for reduction industry (manufacturing of fishmeal), rescuing the advantages of its use for human consumption and demonstrating a clear political intent to discourage that activity. On the other hand, the fisheries administration of Buenos Aires Province, the Undersecretary for Fishing Activities, banned the use of whole anchovy for the preparation of fish meal (Resolution SAP N° 9/2004). 178 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 Both measures are seen as limiting the extractive activity and, to some extent, could promote the installation of long-term goals, particularly since, according to comments received from the industrial sector and Government Officials, there is coincidence that it cannot be expected a significant increase in the world demand for anchovy filets, even in case of collapse of competing species fisheries, that can incentive an increase of actual fishing effort. This has also been referred to in the certification of other similar fishery (Portuguese Sardine Fishery) so it can be considered as a market fact. Even when it comes to another stock of the same species, while FFC adopted the "Research Plan for the Development of a Sustainable Fishery of Patagonian Anchovy (Engraulis anchoita)" (Resolution FFC N° 6/2003), it clearly established their policy against the development of fish meal industry from whole anchovy caught with this intention. The FFC also emphasizes the role of the species as food of many fish stocks, marine mammals and seabirds, so it takes a extremely precautionary criterion in setting catch limits. Usually the Anchovy North and Patagonian TACs are set below the technical recommendations of biologically acceptable capture, which represents a clear example of the precautionary approach. The precautionary approach is also present in the stock assessment models and in the technical recommendations of biologically acceptable capture, as a result of the uncertainty surrounding the ignorance about the magnitude of other natural consumer‟s predation on the resource. So that, and until there is better information, Uruguay and Argentine researchers preferred to recommend with high levels of security, which are always acknowledged by the administrations bodies. Low levels of catch and demand contribute to have a extremely precautionary criterion on management decisions. No other clear available information exists on how long-term objectives are required by management policy. 179 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 180 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 3.1.4 Incentives for The management system provides for The management system provides for The management system provides sustainable fishing incentives that are consistent with incentives that are consistent with for incentives that are consistent achieving the outcomes expressed by achieving the outcomes expressed by with achieving the outcomes The management MSC Principles 1 and 2. MSC Principles 1 and 2, and seeks to expressed by MSC Principles 1 system provides ensure that perverse incentives do not and 2, and explicitly considers economic and social arise. incentives in a regular review of incentives for management policy or procedures sustainable fishing and to ensure that they do not does not operate with contribute to unsustainable fishing subsidies that practices. contribute to unsustainable fishing. The management system provides for incentives that are consistent with achieving the outcomes expressed by MSC Principles 1 and 2, and explicitly SCORE: 85 considers incentives in a regular review of management policy or procedures to ensure that they do not contribute to unsustainable fishing practices. The only one step identified favoring sustainable fisheries is the return of exports that keeps the Argentine Republic for all its exports (Federal Decree N° 1011/1991), which is more for products with more value added. The share in the case of fish fillets conserved is 5 %. Established policy on not allowing or discouraging Anchovy fishing to be processed as fish meal and destine it for human consumption, promote resource conservation. On the other hand, in the same sense operates the FFC decision to approve only in exceptional cases, to certain vessels in a short number, piloting and by no more than 180 days, anchovy fishing with large freezer vessels (see FFC Minutes N° 18/2001, 21/2002 and 22/2006 at www.cfp.gob.ar). The only explicit incentive is article 27 of Federal Fisheries Law 24.922, which establishes the items to be considered to distribute de ITQs and in its incise 5 sets as an incentive records clean of infractions against laws, decrees or regulatory resolutions of the fishing activity, to obtain a better quota. Law 26.325 creates a fuel tax to finance the maintenance of the roads. The aliquot was established in 22% by Law 26.454 and is paid by the fishing fleet, that after some months receive a refund, on the consideration that they are not users of the domestic roads. The tax may be recovered by companies with their fiscal situation regularized and without debts with public administration national or provincial, for any reason whatsoever. It may operate discouraging excessive fishing. Incentives consistent with achieving the outcomes expressed by MSC Principles 1 and 2 are reasonable but do not consider explicitly incentives in a regular review of management policy or procedures to ensure that they do not contribute to unsustainable fishing practices. Therefore, the Assessment Team has 181 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 scored consequently. 182 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 3.2 Fishery-specific Management System 3.2.1 Fishery-specific Objectives, which are broadly Short and long term objectives, Well defined and measurable short objectives consistent with achieving the which are consistent with achieving and long term objectives, which outcomes expressed by MSC‟s the outcomes expressed by MSC‟s are demonstrably consistent with The fishery has clear, Principles 1 and 2, are implicit within Principles 1 and 2, are explicit within achieving the outcomes expressed specific objectives the fishery‟s management system. the fishery‟s management system. by MSC‟s Principles 1 and 2, are designed to achieve the explicit within the fishery‟s outcomes expressed by management system. MSC‟s Principles 1 and 2. Well defined and measurable short and long term objectives, which are demonstrably consistent with achieving the outcomes expressed by MSC’s SCORE: 90 Principles 1 and 2, are explicit within the fishery’s management system. The Federal Fisheries Council (FFC) establishes a TAC based on the INIDEP reports recommending biological TAC, and other issues. When there is not a technical report for a given year, FFC has state that de TAC will be the same as the previous year. In recent years, the TAC for anchovy has been established below the MSY recommended by the INIDEP, incorporating the precautionary approach in the management decisions (see information based on the FFC‟s Resolutions, page 88). Also, since 1935 the annual catch has always been much lower than those recommended by the researchers and those established as catch limit. Juvenil´s protection objective, in order to preserve recruitment, is reflected by the prohibition of catching more than 10%. Aditionally, the TAC is recommended by INIDEP considering a Biological Reference Limit (BRL) stablished ass 33% of the maximum historical stock spawing biomas (SSBMax). The catches are set such as there is a 10% risk of decreasing the SSB below the BRL over the long term (16 years). The management system also plans research cruises to obtain relevant data, including density index and stocks identification (INIDEP Resolution N° 133/2010). Objectives for marine birds‟ protection are established in the National Action Plan for Birds ( Resolution FFC N° 3 and 15/2010). The establishment of a conservative TAC and the BRL of 33% of the maximum historical stock spawing biomas (SSBMax) can be considered two explicit, well defined and measurable short and long term objectives within fishery‟s management system. 183 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 184 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 3.2.2 Decision-making There are informal decision-making There are established decision- There are established decision- processes processes that result in measures and making processes that result in making processes that result in strategies to achieve the fishery- measures and strategies to achieve measures and strategies to achieve The fishery-specific specific objectives. the fishery-specific objectives. the fishery-specific objectives. management system includes effective Decision-making processes respond Decision-making processes respond Decision-making processes decision-making to serious issues identified in relevant to serious and other important issues respond to all issues identified in processes that result in research, monitoring, evaluation and identified in relevant research, relevant research, monitoring, measures and strategies consultation, in a transparent, timely monitoring, evaluation and evaluation and consultation, in a to achieve the and adaptive manner and take some consultation, in a transparent, timely transparent, timely and adaptive objectives. account of the wider implications of and adaptive manner and take manner and take account of the decisions. account of the wider implications of wider implications of decisions. decisions. Decision-making processes use the Decision-making processes use the precautionary approach and are based precautionary approach and are on best available information. based on best available information. Explanations are provided for any Formal reporting to all interested actions or lack of action associated stakeholders describes how the with findings and relevant management system responded to recommendations emerging from findings and relevant research, monitoring, evaluation and recommendations emerging from review activity. research, monitoring, evaluation and review activity. There are established decision-making processes that result in measures and strategies to achieve the fishery-specific objectives. SCORE: 95 Decision-making processes respond to all issues identified in relevant research, monitoring, evaluation and consultation, in a transparent, timely and adaptive manner and take account of the wider implications of decisions. Decision-making processes use the precautionary approach and are based on best available information. 185 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 Management decision making processes are clearly outlined in the Federal Fishing Law 24.922, the Federal Decrees N° 571/2008 and N° 373/2007, amongst other legal documents. The Federal Fisheries Council (FFC), composed by the Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture, who chairs the sessions, one representative from each of the five littoral provinces, a representative of the Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Development, a representative of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Cult, and two representatives of the Federal Administration, is the maximum authority who establishes the TAC based on INIDEP biological recommendations and other social and economic aspects. The FFC has the responsibility to ensure that he is provided with carefully analyzed alternatives for consideration before making any decisions. There is no a Follow-up Commission of Anchovy fishery, as happens in other Argentinean fisheries (Hake, shrimp, Hoki, Patagonian Touthfish and Demersal Costal Resourses). The creation of a Commission monitoring the fishery with the participation of all interested parties would be a recommended decision in the consideration of the assessment team. The National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) Resolution N° 133/2010 establishes a research program to obtain information and knowledge in order to advice the Management System (www.inidep.gov.ar). An Honorary Commission at the Federal Fisheries Council exists and is used to work on specific issues where involved stakeholders are invited to participate. All consultative commissions and stakeholders are called by the Federal Fisheries Council or by the Undersecretary of Fisheries an Aquaculture when required. Any stakeholder may request a hearing with the administration bodies and is heard prior to the decision-making process. Frequently workshops are conducted with all interest parties to analyze the issues prior to the decision-making, even when there are no so much records reporting the use of such methodology in Anchovy fishery. However, the same is of current use of both the administration and research systems, so it can be used if necessary. The Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Development also makes reunions with stakeholders on specific issues. Stakeholders are encouraged to participate in different meetings according to the issue involved. Formal reporting to all interested stakeholders describes how the management system responded to findings and relevant recommendations emerging from research, monitoring, evaluation and review activity. 186 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 INIDEP Technical Reports are referred to the FFC and its reception published in the records of its meetings, which in turn are published on its website (www.cfp.gob.ar). Once they have been published by the FFC, are available for anyone who wants to obtain a copy. Fishery statistics are also published in the web sites of the FFC and the Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture (SSPyA), like the positioning of fishing vessels, which is updated twice a day (www.minagro.gob.ar). The FFC makes public in their Minutes any considerations and technical and legal advice taken into account in decision-making as well as the concerns being submitted or exposed for any stakeholders to FFC. 187 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 3.2.3 Compliance and Monitoring, control and surveillance A monitoring, control and A comprehensive monitoring, enforcement mechanisms exist, are implemented surveillance system has been control and surveillance system in the fishery under assessment and implemented in the fishery under has been implemented in the Monitoring, control and there is a reasonable expectation that assessment and has demonstrated an fishery under assessment and has surveillance mechanisms they are effective. ability to enforce relevant demonstrated a consistent ability to ensure the fishery‟s management measures, strategies enforce relevant management management measures and/or rules. measures, strategies and/or rules. are enforced and complied with. Sanctions to deal with non- Sanctions to deal with non- Sanctions to deal with non- compliance exist and there is some compliance exist, are consistently compliance exist, are consistently evidence that they are applied. applied and thought to provide applied and demonstrably provide effective deterrence. effective deterrence. Fishers are generally thought to Some evidence exists to demonstrate There is a high degree of comply with the management system fishers comply with the management confidence that fishers comply for the fishery under assessment, system under assessment, including, with the management system under including, when required, providing when required, providing information assessment, including, providing information of importance to the of importance to the effective information of importance to the effective management of the fishery. management of the fishery. effective management of the fishery. There is no evidence of systematic There is no evidence of systematic non-compliance. non-compliance. A comprehensive monitoring, control and surveillance system has been implemented in the fishery under assessment and has demonstrated a consistent SCORE: 95 ability to enforce relevant management measures, strategies and/or rules. Argentina endeavors to deter fisheries related offending through successful prosecution and deterrent penalties. Penalties for fisheries related offences include fines and forfeiture of fish, vessels, other property and quota. A number of monitoring, control and surveillance tools are used to control the activities of vessels fishing within Argentine fisheries waters including: • Fishing permit requirements 188 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 • Requirement to hold annual catch entitlement to cover all target and bycatch species caught, or alternatively, to pay deemed values • Fishing permit and fishing vessel registers • Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) requirements • Vessel and gear marking requirements • Fishing gear and method restrictions • Observer Program (not in case oh Anchovy Fishery) • On board inspectors in many fishing travels. • Reporting (including catch and effort reporting) requirements • Vessel inspections • Control of landings (e.g. requirement to land only to licensed fish receivers) • Record keeping requirements • Auditing of licensed fish receivers by sanitary authorities • Control of transhipment • Information management and intelligence analysis • Analysis of catch and effort reporting and comparison with VMS, observer, landing and trade data to confirm accuracy • Boarding and inspection by fishery officers at sea • Aerial and surface surveillance, • Fishing and gear surveillance by on board video camera recording and transmitting (obligatory from june 1° 2011 for anchovy fishery, Provition SSPyA N° 206/2010 and 1/2011), And • Legal Catch Certification System (SSPyA Disposition N° 82009) All this control tools are well implemented and seems to be extremely efficient, to the point there are not systematic or occasional non-compliance with in force regulations, as consequence of a very strict control system, proving its ability to enforce relevant management measures, strategies and/or rules. The main rules to control in the fishery are TAC, juvenile catch and forbidden night fishing and all of them are conscientiously controlled by means of landing control system and VMS system. The newly camera control system implemented will improve the whole control and surveillance structure. Except for occasionally INIDEP researchers shipment, the fishery does not log the regular shipment of on board observers, because it is not being considered a matter of priority, compared to other Argentinean fisheries. The shipment of observers in some fishing trips would have better records on the interaction of the fishery with the environment. The assessment team strongly recommends this practice in the future. 189 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 Sanctions to deal with non-compliance exist, are consistently applied and demonstrably provide effective deterrence. There is no evidence of systematic non-compliance. Although sanctions with non-compliance exist and are thought to provide effective deterrence, no clear evidence on how consistently are applied and how demonstrably provide effective deterrence exist. No evidence of systematic non-compliance exists. There is a high degree of confidence that fishers comply with the management system under assessment, including, providing information of importance to the effective management of the fishery. As it was said the fishery clearly respect the main regulatory or customary rules established and there is a high degree of confidence on it, at least for the assessment team. During the Assessment Team interview to the National Director of Fisheries Planning, he commented that he never heard about a non-complacence sanction in this fishery but, in case that it really exist, it is unlikely to have anything to deal with something impacting negatively to fishing recourses or being cause of detriment of the stock. 190 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 191 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 3.2.4 Research Plan Research is undertaken, as required, A research plan provides the A comprehensive research plan to achieve the objectives consistent management system with a strategic provides the management system The fishery has a with MSC‟s Principles 1 and 2. approach to research and reliable with a coherent and strategic research plan that and timely information sufficient to approach to research across P1, addresses the achieve the objectives consistent P2 and P3, and reliable and timely information needs of with MSC‟s Principles 1 and 2. information sufficient to achieve management. the objectives consistent with MSC‟s Principles 1 and 2. Research results are available to Research results are disseminated to Research plan and results are interested parties. all interested parties in a timely disseminated to all interested fashion. parties in a timely fashion and are widely and publicly available. A comprehensive research plan provides the management system with a coherent and strategic approach to research across P1, P2 and P3, and SCORE: 85 reliable and timely information sufficient to achieve the objectives consistent with MSC’s Principles 1 and 2. The National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) annually establishes a research program to obtain information and knowledge in order to advice the Management System (i.e.: See INIDEP Resolution N° 133/2010 at www.inidep.gov.ar). Some lack of information may exist since the last research cruise. The whole INIDEP research programs include all anchovy related species and fisheries, oceanographic conditions and some other ecosystem issues, as productivity. For more details see INIDEP Resolution 133/2010. As it was said in previous sections, there are other academic institutions dealing with anchovy fishery related birds and principal mammal‟s research. These groups are in contact with INIDEP Anchovy team, but it has been not identified clear formal relationships included in the research programs of any individual group. INIDEP technical information is sent immediately to Federal Fisheries Council and Under-secretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture. Also both organisms receive information from research groups at other academic institutions. Examples of open participation are the National Action Plans (PANs) procedures to protect species, where the main stakeholders (NGOs, Research Institutions, etc.) were invited to participate and workshops were conducted. . The CTMFM is an administrative body without a research body, so there are not specific research plans for the ZCPAU. All specific and ecosystem research needs are included in each country fisheries research institutes and universities programs and coordinated within the Technicals Groups constituted by representative researchers of each country. The CTMFM‟s main Technical Groups are: Integral System of Fisheries Information (SIIP), 192 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 Cartilaginous fishes (Chondrichthyes), Hake, Evaluation of Coastal Resources, Anchovy and Multidisciplinary specialists in fishery resources (croaker). Although the Research Plan and stock assessment are considered appropriate for this fishery by management and scientific authorities, it does not comprehend the whole ecosystem aspects. Research plan and results are disseminated to all interested parties in a timely fashion and are widely and publicly available. Research results are widely and publicly available on request. RECOMENDATION To incorporate more comprehensive and explicitly environmental based studies on the resource assessment and on the fishery interaction with the ecosystem, as well as to generate discussion and information exchange instances between formal local research groups dedicated to anchovy and those engaged in research of other resources such as birds, marine mammals, reptiles and marine productivity. 193 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 3.2.5 Monitoring The fishery has in place The fishery has in place The fishery has in place and management mechanisms to evaluate some parts mechanisms to evaluate key parts mechanisms to evaluate all parts performance of the management system and is of the management system and is of the management system and is evaluation subject to occasional internal subject to regular internal and subject to regular internal and review. occasional external review. external review. There is a system for monitoring and evaluating the performance of the fishery-specific management system against its objectives. There is effective and timely review of the fishery-specific management system. SCORE: 85 The fishery has in place mechanisms to evaluate all parts of the management system and is subject to regular internal and external review. Key parts of the management system are subject to regular internal review from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fishing – Internal Audit Unit and occasional external reviews from the National General Syndication and the National General Auditory. As well, any decision of the administration affecting the rights of third parties requires a control and legal opinion prior to its sanction. Such control is carried out by a statutory body external to the agency which promotes the sanction of the rule. All this procedures are established by the Administrative Procedure Law N° 19,549 and its Regulatory Federal Decree N° 1759/72. Frequently workshops are conducted with all interest parties to analyze any issues prior to the decision-making, even when there are no so many records reporting the use of such methodology in the anchovy fishery. However, the same is of current use of both the administration and research systems, so it can be used if necessary. Fishery statistics are also published in the web sites of the FFC and the Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture (SSPyA), like the positioning of fishing vessels, which is updated twice a day (www.minagro.gob.ar). 194 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 SCORING CRITERIA SCORING GUIDEPOST 60 SCORING GUIDEPOST 80 SCORING GUIDEPOST 100 The way that FFC publishes its sessions and decisions, like the publishing of the INIDEP reports, imply the opportunity for all the stakeholders to assess the system (see www.cfp.gob.ar). Therefore, research system is discussed with researchers from Uruguay, and so must be revised periodically. 195 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery 14 Action Plan 14.1 Certification Eligibility Date The Assessment Team has agreed to accept November 5th 2010 as the Certification Eligibility Date considering that this date involves only the last trip from companies applying for certification till now. As well this date does not exceed 6 months respect to the date the First Draft Report was sent to MSC for publication. 14.2 Steps followed by the Clients A first meeting with Assessment Team representatives and companies‟ managers and technical staff was conducted to promote the Action Plan. In a second meeting (June 17th, 2011) the technical staff from the companies received the approval from INIDEP authorities, Lic. Daniel Bertuche, Pelagic Area Director, and Dr. Otto Weller, INIDEP Research Director, for the Head of Pelagic Fisheries Programme at INIDEP, Dr. Marcelo Pájaro to collaborate in the Action Plan, particularly on Principle 1 Conditions. A third meeting (June 23rd, 2011) was conducted with the companies, Dr. Marcelo Pájaro and Assessment Team representatives to further analyse issues related to Conditions on both Principle 1 and 2. It was considered the importance of anchovy (Engraulis anchoita) as a forage species for Argentine ecosystems. It was decided to invite Dr. Marcos Favero, ACAP Advisory Committee Chair, to collaborate on Principle 2 Conditions Action Plan and Dr. Marcelo Pájaro facilitated a meeting with him. During the same day, a meeting with Lic. Gabriel Blanco, INIDEP On Board Observers Program Head, was conducted to explore incorporation of the On Board Observers Program within the Action Plan. A fourth meeting (June 28th, 2011) with technical representatives from Centauro SA, Dr. Laura Souto Martinez, and Delicias SA, Eng. Rocío González and Eng. Laura Simonetta; the Head of Pelagic Fisheries Programme at INIDEP, Dr. Marcelo Pájaro and CONICET- University of Mar del Plata Researcher, Dr. Marco Favero, was conducted. Conditions on Principle 2 were analysed, particularly in relation to fishery impacts on birds. Dr. Marco Favero, an expert on these issues, will prepare a memo specifying how his research group will collaborate and who will perform the work, as well as which will be the associated expenses. In the next meetings it will be discussed with Dr. Marcelo Pájaro (Conditions of Principle 1) and Dr Marco Favero (Conditions on Principle 2) final proposals, and will be analysed possibilities for the on board observers program to collect information. As well, meetings with fishery authorities will be conducted to analyse management implications. 196 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Fishing season occurs from mid-August to November. Therefore, the Assessment Team agreed with the Clients to allow a period of two months, from July 8th 2011, to present a specific Action Plan, including a schedule of steps to follow, according to Assessment Team milestones established; and to put in action within a framework of cooperation between the client support group (technical representatives) and the expert scientists on anchovy stock assessment and impacts on ecosystem elements, as well as fishery authorities. 197 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery 14.3 Conditions Established by the OIA Assessment Team 14.2.1. Principle 1 PI 1.2.1 Harvest strategy: There is a robust and precautionary harvest strategy in place PI 1.2.2 Harvest control rules and tools: There are well defined and effective harvest control rules in place General conditions: To ensure that: - The target reference points are explicit defined, taking into account the low trophic level of the species, are consistent with management objectives and are independent of market demand. - The formal harvest strategy takes into account target reference points that would maintain the informal harvest strategy currently in place - There is a rule to ensure that the exploitation rate is reduced as limit reference points are approached - Specific harvest controls rules should be proposed for periods of low stock productivity since the current TAC/ABC is set by the probabilistic approach taking into account normal productivity levels and the BRL. This does not seem to ensure that particular action is taken in periods of low productivity Specific conditions and deadlines: By the first annual audit, provide documented evidence that: - There are options for target reference points outlined - The stock status is assessed against the limit reference point (compute the probability that the current SSB is below BRL) By the second annual audit, provide documented evidence that: - Target reference points are agreed upon and explicit - There are discussions of rules that will ensure that the exploitation rate is reduced as limit reference points are initiated By the third annual audit, provide documented evidence that: 198 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery - Target and limit reference points are computed and the stock is assessed against them - Discussion about rules that will ensure that the exploitation rate is reduced as limit reference points are approached are performed - There are discussion of potential harvest control rules towards precaution in years when productivity can be low By the fourth annual audit, provide documented evidence that: - Target and limit reference points are computed and the stock is assessed against them - Rules that will ensure that the exploitation rate is reduced as limit reference points are approached are agreed upon - Discussion of potential harvest control rules when recruitment is low are finalized PI 1.2.4. Assessment of Stock Status: There is an adequate assessment of the stock status To ensure that: - The assessment of stock status uses all available scientific information in a more transparent and integrated way, - The report of the annual assessments includes details of the methodology as well as trends in stock status in relation to target and limit reference points, - There is exploration of different models, rather than just the current cohort analysis, that could clearly explicit target reference points that take into account the recruitment-environment coupling and the ecological role of a low trophic level species Specific conditions and deadlines: By the first annual audit, to provide documented evidence that: - Plots of trends of historical ABC, TAC, BRL, plots of trends in SSB, recruitment, fishing mortality at age, overall fishing mortality, acoustic survey estimates (and CV), egg survey estimates (and CV) over time are included in the stock assessment report. - Details of port sampling design and estimates of age-length keys are included in the stock assessment report - There are options for target reference points outlined 199 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery - The stock status is assessed against the limit reference point (compute the probability that the current SSB is below BRL) By the second annual audit, to provide documented evidence that: - Inclusion of egg survey estimates are used for tuning the cohort analysis - Target reference points are agreed upon and explicit - There are discussions of rules that will ensure that the exploitation rate is reduced as limit reference points are initiated By the third annual audit, to provide documented evidence that: - Formal reference points are computed and the stock status is compared to those points. - Alternative stock assessment models that explicit target reference points which take into account the recruitment-environment coupling and the ecological role of this low trophic level species are being proposed. - Target and limit reference points are computed and the stock is assessed against them. - Discussions about rules that will ensure that the exploitation rate is reduced as limit reference points are approached are performed. - There are discussions of potential harvest control rules towards precaution in years when productivity can be low. By the fourth annual audit there is documented evidence that: - Alternative stock assessment models that explicit target reference points which take into account the recruitment-environment coupling and the ecological role of this low trophic level species are being used. - Target and limit reference points are computed and the stock is assessed against them - - Rules that will ensure that the exploitation rate is reduced as limit reference points are approached are agreed upon. - Discussions of potential harvest control rules when recruitment is low are finalized. 200 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery 14.2.2. Principle 2 PI 2.2.3. Information/ Monitoring: Information on the nature and amount of bycatch is adequate to determine the risk posed by the fishery and the effectiveness of the strategy to manage bycatch. General condition: To continue collecting sufficient data to detect any increase in risk to main bycatch species (e.g. due to changes in the outcome indicator scores or the operation of the fishery or the effectiveness of the strategy) for example applying the current video camera system and/ or on board observers. Specific conditions: - To sample fishing trips in order: - To estimate number of individuals of the main bycatch species impacted by fishing gears (including bycatch birds) - To estimate size of all individuals impacted by fishing gears (including bycatch birds) - To discriminate mortal impact from injury impact in bycatch birds. - To maintain estimation of the amount of main bycatch species, including jurel. - To ensure that population studies on birds keep going. Deadlines By the first annual audit: to provide documented evidence that data on main by-catch species impacted by fishing gears has been started to be collected. By the second, third and four annual audit: to provide documented evidence that data on main bycatch species impacted by fishing gears has been collected and has been adequate to estimate any change in risk to main by-catch species. 201 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery PI 2.3.1. ETP-Outcome Status: The fishery meets national and international requirements for protection of ETP species. The fishery does not pose a risk of serious or irreversible harm to ETP species and does not hinder recovery of ETP species. General conditions: To assess impacts of the Bonaerense anchovy fishery on Sooty shearwater (“Pardela oscura”, Puffinus griseus) and white-chinned petrel (“Petrel barba blanca”, Procellaria aequinoctialis), ensuring: - that mortal impact and injuries on species are determined under international standards - that the assessment of fishery impacts on ETP species considers all available scientific information - that the annual reports of fishery impacts on ETP species include details of the methodology applied By the first annual audit, to provide documented evidence that: - a program to improve the quantity and quality of data on interactions with ETP species has been defined for the fishery, which should include plots and data of fishing mortality and fishing injuries to allow determination of impacts of the fishery By the second annual audit, to provide documented evidence that: - the defined program on fishery interactions with ETP species has been implemented and data is being collected and analyzed By the third annual audit, to provide documented evidence that: - outcomes of the defined program has been obtained and analyzed By the fourth annual audit there is documented evidence that: - the effects of the fishery are known and are highly likely to be within limits of national and international requirements (including ACAP requirements on Procellaria aequinoctialis) for protection of ETP species. 202 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery PI 2.3.2 The fishery has in place precautionary management strategies designed to: - meet national and international requirements; - ensure the fishery does not pose a risk of serious or irreversible harm to ETP species; - ensure the fishery does not hinder recovery of ETP species; and - minimize mortality of ETP species. General condition: To define and implement a strategy for managing the fishery‟s impact on ETP species, including Sooty shearwater (“Pardela oscura”, Puffinus griseus) and white-chinned petrel (“Petrel barba blanca”, Procellaria aequinoctialis) By the second annual audit, to provide documented evidence that: - a strategy for managing the fishery‟s impact on ETP species has been defined, which includes measures to minimise mortality and is designed to be highly likely to achieve national and international requirements (including ACAP requirements established for Procellaria aequinoctialis) for the protection of ETP species. By the third annual audit, to provide documented evidence that: - a strategy for managing the fishery‟s impact on ETP species has been implemented, which includes measures to minimise mortality and is designed to be highly likely to achieve national and international requirements (including ACAP requirements established for Procellaria aequinoctialis) for the protection of ETP species. By the fourth annual audit, to provide documented evidence that: - there is an objective basis for confidence that the strategy is working, and will work, based on information directly about the fishery and/or the species involved. - the strategy is being implemented successfully for managing the fishery‟s impact on ETP species, achieving national and international requirements (including ACAP requirements established for Procellaria aequinoctialis) for protection of ETP species. 203 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery PI 2.3.3 Relevant information is collected to support the management of fishery impacts on ETP species, including: - information for the development of the management strategy; - information to assess the effectiveness of the management strategy; and - information to determine the outcome status of ETP species. General conditions: To collect information to allow fishery related mortality and the impact of fishing to be quantitatively estimated for ETP species To ensure that mortal impact and injuries on ETP species information is collected under international standards By the first annual audit, to provide documented evidence that: - a program to improve the quantity and quality of data on interactions with ETP species has been defined for the fishery, which should include plots of fishing mortality and fishing injuries By the second annual audit, to provide documented evidence that: - the defined program on fishery interactions with ETP species has been implemented and data is being collected and analyzed By the third annual audit, to provide documented evidence that: - data continue to be collecting to allow proper assessments By the fourth annual audit there is documented evidence that: - data has been collected during the previous three years to allow proper assessments and impact estimations 204 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery 15 Evaluation Results 15.1 Determination In view of the results achieved by the Bonaerense anchovy fishery assessed against the MSC- OIA Assessment Tree included in this report, the Assessment Team has unanimously agreed to recommend the certification of the mentioned fishery against the Marine Stewardship Council Environmental Standard for Sustainable Fisheries. 15.2 Tracking and Tracing Fish and Fish Products 15.2.1. Federal regulations supporting tracking and tracing systems 15.2.1.1. GENERALITIES The Sub-Secretariat of Fishing and Aquaculture (SSPyA) has implemented an Integrated Control of Fishing Activities (SICAP, see figure below) which includes: - Satellite Position Monitoring System over the Argentine Economic Exclusive Zone. - Control and surveillance of fishing activities conducted by the PNA (Coast Guard), Navy and Air Force with corvettes, aircraft and helicopters in order to prevent illegal fishing. 205 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery This information is complemented with discharge control and on board reports. In 2009 an electronic log book per haul was partially incorporated (Secretariat of Agriculture, Fishing and Food Resolution N° 167/2009) and in 2011 an on board video fishing activity control system has been incorporated (SSPyA Dispositions N° 206/2010 and 1/2011). SENASA (National Service of Sanitary and Food Quality) is the agency responsible for sanitary inspection and certification of food products and by-products; including control of processing vessels and plants, packaging, transportation, marketing and federal traffic as well as imports and exports of products. The DGA (Customer General Directorate), a subdivision from the Federal Administration of Public Revenue (AFIP), is responsible for implementing the legislation on goods import and export, as well as on control on goods entering or leaving Argentinean territory. Its main activities involve assessing, classifying, monitoring and control of goods entry and exit, as well as transportation media, ensuring compliance with existing provisions. This institutional framework and tools applied involve the following issues including control of resource extraction and of processing and fishing products: 15.2.1.2 SATELLITE MONITORING DURING THE TRIP As set out in the SSPyA Provision No. 02/2003, all fishing vessels must carry a satellite monitoring equipment on board, in perfect operating conditions. This system must inform vessel's position and other navigation data every hour. If a vessel stops emitting signal for a period of two hours, its captain is commanded to return with the vessel immediately to port. Additionally, the SSPyA has the authority to query (polling) vessel position at any time. At present, the entire commercial fleet with more than 13 m in length, operating in national waters, are satellite-monitored, involving a total of 554 fishing vessels with a daily operation of about 225 to 300 vessels approximately. Twice a day, vessel positions are updated in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fishing website (www.minagri.gob.ar) for public open consultation. 15.2.1.3 ON BOARD INSPECTIONS The on board inspector prepares a Trip Monitoring Report to allow control authorities to evaluate his performance and to merit any non-compliance with fisheries regulations, if any. 15.2.1.4 FISHING REPORT An affidavit of catches by species and fishing area is prepared and signed by the captain for each trip. The master prepares a statement with the information for each fishing haul (haul by haul fishing report) and a statement with the information of the whole trip (end of trip). Both documents are delivered once concluded the trip, when arriving in port. 206 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery 15.2.1.5 ENTRY DECLARATION The arrival to port is documented by the PNA (Argentine Coast Guard). Additionally, a Control and Landing Verification Act is issued by the SSPyA inspectors in port. This regulation is applied to all Argentinean flagged vessels, the only ones authorized to fish in the Argentinean EEZ. 15.2.1.6 TRANSPORT, PROCESSING AND DELIVERING An Integrated Control Centre for Fishing Activities (CINCOPE) is made up by members from the SSPyA Control Service, National Enforcement Authorities from the Province of Buenos Aires, the Argentine Coast Guard (PNA), Mar del Plata Sanitary Authorities, National Service of Sanitary and Food Quality (SENASA) and the Federal Administration of Public Revenue (AFIP). Its main function is to control and validate fishing companies remit- vouchers prepared and presented by truck drivers who transport goods to and from plants. Validation is performed either by a municipality agent or SENASA. SENASA also audits and endorse the plant processing books, where all incoming goods to be processed and expended are recorded. Export controls: goods for export must be accompanied by an Export Sanitary Certificate issued by SENASA and an Export Manifest (Shipping Permit) issued by the AFIP. 15.2.1.7 CERTIFICATE OF LEGAL CAPTURE A Legal Capture Certification Federal System is established by the Sub-Secretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture Disposition 8/2009. The certificate is issued by the National Direction of Fisheries Coordination against presentation of the Export Declaration and Sanitary Certification (issued by the National Food Sanitary Service-SENASA). The main markets where the Bonaerense anchovy products are exported require a certificate of legal capture. 15.2.2. Tracking and tracing system in the Bonaerense anchovy fishery H&G salted anchovies and oiled anchovy fillets are the main products in this fishery. 207 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Ice chilled anchovies are landed in boxes of around 25-34 kg, washed, salted, headed, gutted, size-classified, put in barrels and left in maturation to finally be sold or processed as fillets or other by-products. Main exporting markets are South America and Europe. 15.2.2.1 CENTAURO S.A. Fish is landed in Mar del Plata port and follows the process below described with the indicated accompanying documentation. In/ out points (rows) and phases (columns) Local tranportation Processing Local transportation Remit N° (controlled by the r t a r Official Supervising Body): vessel o M p name and registration N°, trip n i a t N°, departure and arrival dates, g a l quantity and weight of boxes, n i P d species name, local l n e a transportation data. Containers d L are sealed. t a n t Goods in Register N° (data a l a : l p from Remit N°): date, vessel n P i g l name, transportation truck s n e i d d license N°, species name, s o r s o quantity and weight of catch a e c G M o r n i P g Production Register: Goods in s n t i Register N°, Remit N°, vessel u s s o registration N°, trip N°, year, e / t c n processing date, washed H&G fish n i o a l r l weight, quantity of barrels, barrel a P P n Id numbers, size classification. r n i e Only anchovy is processed in plant. t h t n i I w t a n t Goods out Register: loading a : l a t l p date, container and u P o g l transportation data, barrel Id n e s i d d numbers, size classification. s r s o Containers are double sealed a e o c M G (plant and shipping companies) in o r n plant. i P y Container and transportation n i o t t data s g e SENASA Certificate is issued. n d i t p Customs seals Containers (third e p i k seal). h r a S m 208 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery No risk factors are found prior to or after the point of landing. Satellite vessels monitoring system and Certificate of Legal Capture guarantee legitimacy of capture before landing. No fish-flavouring is used. Centauro S.A. track and tracing system is robust enough so that their products carry the MSC logo. 15.2.2.2 DELICIAS S.A. Fish is landed in Mar del Plata port and follows the process below described with the indicated accompanying documentation. In/ out points (rows) and phases (columns) Local tranportation Processing Local transportation Remit N° (controlled by the r t a r Official Supervising Body): vessel o M p name and registration N°, trip n i a t N°, departure and arrival dates, g a l n quantity and weight of boxes, i P d species name, local l n e a transportation data, Processing d L plant name and adress, SENASA authorization. Containers are t a n sealed. Goods in Register N° (One t a l a batch per trip, data from Remit : l p n P i N°): date, vessel name, g l s n e transportation truck license N°, i d d s o species name, quantity and r s o a e weight of catch. c G M o r n i P g Production Register: Goods in s n t i Register N°, Remit N°, vessel u s s o registration N°, trip N°, year, e / t c n processing date, washed H&G fish n i o a l r l weight, quantity of barrels, barrel a P P n Id numbers, size classification. r n i e Only anchovy is processed in plant. t h t n i I w t a n t Goods out Register: loading a : l a t l p date, container and u P o g l transportation data, barrel Id n e s i d d numbers. size classification. s r s o Containers are double sealed a e o c M G (plant and shipping companies) in o r n plant. i P y Container and transportation n i o t t data s g e SENASA Certificate is issued. n d i t p Customs seals Containers (third e p i k seal). h r a S m 209 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery No risk factors are found prior to or after the point of landing. Satellite vessels monitoring system and Certificate of Legal Capture guarantee legitimacy of capture before landing. No fish-flavouring is used. Delicias S.A. track and tracing system is robust enough so that their products carry the MSC logo. 210 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery 16 Peer Review and Assessment Team responses 16.1 First Peer Reviewer comments and Assessment Team responses Peer Reviewer Response from the Assessment Team Overall Opinion - Has the assessment team arrived at an appropriate conclusion based on the evidence presented in the assessment report? Yes. I agree with the overall scores in the assessment report and with the overall conclusion to push forward the petition of the MSC certificate included in the summary of the report. - Do you think the condition(s) raised are appropriately written to achieve the SG80 outcome within the specified timeframe? Yes. I agree with the conditions raised. Conditions raised in each PI should be summarized in a dedicated section, together with the action plan (see below). - Do you think the client action plan is sufficient to close the conditions raised? Yes. The action plan was given to me as a separate document, which did not fully integrate some of the conditions raised in each PI. The action plan should be integrated in the report and explicitly show how the conditions will be met by the actions included in the plan. In some points I believe the action plan will benefit from having more specific actions and objectives, as detailed in some of my comments. I do think that overall the action plan will be able to close most of the conditions raised. General Comments on the Assessment Report I have been provided several drafts of this report, and was asked –and agreed- to communicated some of my preliminary comments to the assessment team, which have gradually included most of them in the 211 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Peer Reviewer Response from the Assessment Team text. For the sake of transparency and to fulfill my duties as a reviewer, I have left most of my original comments in this review. Therefore there are some comments here that have already been integrated in the assessment report, while in some other cases I have added a note with an updated review. In both cases the Assessment Team can reply to this comments either indicating where they have been integrated in the text, or else justifying their answers. I have revised my final comments in relation to the scores of each principle in the last version of the report. Overall, although the interaction has generated some duplicated work in order to review the report, I think it has allowed the Assessment Team to refine and improve the report. The data included in the introductory parts of the Assessment Report provides important information to support that this stock is being harvest at a sustainable level. Stock assessment is dominated by the acoustic estimates, as it is often the case in short lived species. However, acoustic and DEPM-based biomass estimates are very consistent, and also coherent with the estimated area occupied by the stock. This indicates that the estimated stock biomass levels are robust. This message should be made more explicit and references to exactly how similar and how precise each of the estimates is will help making this message clear (as well as a figure with the time series of the assessment estimates of biomass, together with the acoustic and the DEPM based estimates). On the other hand, the level of catches is very low, indicating a low fishing pressure. This should also be accompanied by some more information (whatever available) on the Reliability of information is analysed for the reliability of the reported catches. Overall, different operating fleet on the fishery fishing mortality in the time series presented (Garciarena, A.D. 2005, Garciarena and in the Annex is between 0.01 y 0.2, which is Hansen, Análisis de las capturas comerciales 212 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Peer Reviewer Response from the Assessment Team a low value for an anchovy fishery, and much de anchoíta al norte de 41° de latitud por lower than the few existing natural mortality parte de la flota argentina durante 2005. estimates (around 0.8 – 0.9). Also, the INIDEP Technical Report 15/2006 2006, catches are dedicated to human consumption, Garciarena and Hansen, Análisis de las and not to reduction products, which reduces capturas comerciales de anchoíta al norte de the market pressure on the stock. In relation 41° de latitud por parte de la flota argentina to this, fishers are not interested in juvenile durante 2006. INIDEP Technical Report anchovies (as they are not good for the 22/2007 2007, Garciarena and Hansen, automatic processing). The scientifically Análisis de las capturas comerciales de recommended maximum catches are not anchoíta al norte de 41° de latitud por parte achieved, even when in some cases there may de la flota argentina durante 2007. INIDEP be some global market incentives such as the Technical Report 09/2008 2008, Garciarena closure of the Bay of Biscay anchovy. The and Hansen, Análisis de las capturas fishery is therefore regarded as shelf- comerciales de anchoíta al norte de 41° de managed (which has both positive and latitud por parte de la flota argentina durante negative issues; see my comments in next 2008. INIDEP Technical Report 66/2008 paragraph). This situation is typical of a 2008, Garciarena and Hansen, Análisis de las fishery still in the development phase (in the capturas comerciales de anchoíta al norte de bio-economical sense). No important issues 41° de latitud por parte de la flota argentina related to the shared management of the stock durante 2009. INIDEP Technical Report seem to take place, although no comments are 01/2010 2010) made in relation to potential conflicts with the UK in the Falkland Islands. Notwithstanding this important information The islands referred are a region in dispute, supporting the sustainability of this fishery, I between Argentina and United Kingdom, believe there are various issues that should be according to United Nations.The Assessment improved in the report to provide the Team finds this comment innapropiate and adequate information required for the unnecessary as the Engraulis anchoita stock certification, and some other issues that under assessement occurs north to 41° SL. should be addressed in the recommendations. Furthermore, the Southern Southwest First, one important issue that reduces some Atlantic Engraulis anchoita stock occurs of the scores is the lack of observers on board north to 48° SL (FAO). the fishing vessels. Although it is argued that the vessels are small, and in some cases some research have fulfilled this gap, this shortcoming should be clearly stated in the conclusions, and a clear identification of The final conditions established by the priority monitoring issues and a plan to Assessment Team, both in Principle 1 and 2, achieve those objectives would be desirable. involve directly or indirectly monitoring Also, there is a general sense that issues to achieve the goals included. management rules are not required to deal with issues such as retained species and habitat and ecosystem impacts. Although I 213 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Peer Reviewer Response from the Assessment Team support the conclusions that impacts are currently low, a medium-to-long-term management strategy should be designed to minimize impacts in the case that the fishery starts to develop at a faster pace than today and therefore impacts quickly increase. The fact that the fishery is believed to be shelf- regulated based on marked rules and that currently established maximum catches are not attained can in principle allow for a fast See rationales in PIs 2.1.2, 2.4.2 and 2.5.2 of development if market rules change. A plan the Assessment Tree. to monitor the status of the stock under a quickly rising fishing pressure which allows to quickly revise the maximum catches if a fast development does happen is required. Although I was told the deadline to present the final report is tight, I do believe that a thoughtful revision of the language and the figures of the report is required. In general, the language used difficult the reading. Also the quality of the figures should be improved, English language used has been improved. as in some cases it is very difficult to see the Some texts are in Spanish, as originals are information included in them (in some cases, from this language, e.g. peer reviewer there are information in Spanish, which when comments. Figures quality is limited to their possible should also be translated). An initial original sources. figure with all or most geographical references included in the text will much help the reader. Below some more specific comments section by section. I am also including a large number of comments and typos in the text. I have been provided first with a preliminary report, which was later updated, so in my specific comments below some sections show an updated revision Sections 1 to 3: These sections contain the required information. Section 2.3 can include a summary of the sections of the report and how they relate to the main issues that are to be dealt with (currently described in that 214 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Peer Reviewer Response from the Assessment Team section). Section 4: Section 4.1 and 4.2: These two sections in general contain the required information to describe anchovy biology. The text will however benefit from some reorganization, as there are reiterative paragraphs that can be aggregated together and synthesized (see related comments in the text). There are two issues that deserve further explanations/ check; i) On section 4.1 it is said that anchovy has a high lipid content. This is very uncommon for an anchovy species; usually anchovy Although it is not the purpose of this is one of the small pelagic fish assessment to evaluate the physiology of the species with lower lipid and fat species, fluctuations in the annual cycle of content, which implies that does lipids as analyzed through a not have large energetic reserves. simulation model seems to indicate that This in turn affects the energetic energetic reserves incorporated during the requirements, forcing the intensive nutrition period of adults (summer- requirement to continue feeding autumn) are utilized for the individuals' during spawning. If that were the survival throughout the cold season, whilst case for Argentinean anchovy, the energy incorporated through trophic then the sentence at the end of the means in springtime is transferred to gonad second paragraph of page 7 (“… development (Angelescu y Anganuzzi 1986). when the feeding rhythm decreases or stop”) would also be incorrect. Some scientific justification (or a reference) will be required to defend that this specific anchovy show a different physiology than others in relation to reserves and lipid content. ii) The paragraph related to sex-ratio (4th paragraph on page 5) may The information provided was in reference to imply some potential problems in Brazilian stocks. Bonaerense anchovy adults the representability of the for the period 1993-2008 was analysed and samples. The fact that there is a proportion of females was found to be female dominance on the inactive generally higher respect to males (Dr. Pájaro, period and a male dominance in personal comment). the reproductive period is more 215 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Peer Reviewer Response from the Assessment Team probably related to changes in the availability of both sexes to the sampling (fishing) gear, than real changes in the population (and there is a large body of related literature on this issue in the context of Egg Production Methods applied to small pelagic fish). This should be somehow discussed and/or acknowledge in the text. Apart from this issues, it is quite remarkable the low catches, the large area occupied by the stock and the longevity of Argentinean anchovy. The low volume of catches implies that fishing mortality is probably low, which is important for the sustainability of the fishery. The longevity of the species in this stock is also coherent with a low fishing pressure. Finally the large area occupied by the stock somehow reinforces the high biomass estimates. In fact I believe that the occupied area estimate can be compared with the area occupied by other stocks to further increase the confidence on the absolute biomass levels of this stock. Section 4.3: This section provides the important information Section 4.4: This section provides the important information on the level of catches on the time series, with some extra information for two years (2008 and 2009). Information for 2010, which should also be Information for 2010 was not available to the available, should be also included in the Assessment Team, except Table 1 in Annex report. This information is very important to 3. understand the potential influence of the fishery in the stock. The trends of catches for two of the fleets (coastal and long range chilled boats) show some increase until mid 2000‟s but seem to be approximately stable 216 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Peer Reviewer Response from the Assessment Team afterwards. It is important to check that the In both cases the information comes from the information on the relative level of catches of same source, although in Section 7 it is anchovy and other species for 2008 and 2009 splitted by fleet. mention in this section is coherent with the one described in section 7 – bycatch. Section 4.5: I find the information on this section adequate. However, the authors should ensure that any fleet denomination included in the rest of the report (e.g. in Section 7 – bycatch) is described here. Section 5: No information on this section was provided at the time of this first review. This section should include information on the legal and administrative issues that apply to this fishery (see comments in section 8) (UPDATE: in a second version this section is now filled with information that was The Assessment Team considered pertinent previously included in section 8. Although to provide all available information. It is not some of the information included is relevant the purpose of this work to produce a deeper and necessary, I still find this section too analysis on these issues, but to facilitate long; a summary of main issues will help). elements of consultation to readers. Section 6: Section 6 has been improved in this last Section 6.1: The information on spatial version of the report, considering the peer distribution of fishing effort (figures 9 to 12) reviewers‟ comments. provides a nice overview of the comparative distribution of the different fleets. Some improvement of the figures (quality and if Figures quality is limited to their original possible inclusion of geographical references) sources. will be desirable. Section 6.2: Most of the required information for this section is included in the text, however this section is difficult to read due to its English. An explicit explanation of the assessment methodology is required (i.e. the use of ADAPT and which series are the tuning indexes). There are some important figures missing from this section; biomass estimates, stock-recruitment, F. (some may be taken from Hansen et al 2010 INIDEP Tec. Rep. N 05/2010). My main concern in this Information on recruitment has been 217 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Peer Reviewer Response from the Assessment Team section (which will affect the next one as provided in this new version of the report. well) is that no information on recruitment is provided. The only reference to recruitment is made in page 23 (section 6.3: Management advice), in relation to stock-recruitment curve. Some discussion on recruitment variability, frequency of high recruitments, periodicity, etc. is required in section 6.2 and will help on the discussion on management strategies. Although the stock is more long- lived than other anchovy stocks worldwide (which probably relates to the low fishing pressure), it is still a short-lived species and biomass should show a large dependency on recruitment. Another important issue to note is that acoustic and egg production based estimation of SSB, although highly variable, provides a similar magnitude. It will be important from a scientific point of view to compare these estimates and the area covered by the stock with the area covered by other anchovy stocks, as it will reassure that the biomass levels are in line with estimates in other parts of the world (and therefore will allow to defend that the absolute biomass levels obtained are correct). Section 6.3: This section also requires some improvement on the language. The clear message from the text is that current catches are far from the maximum catches used as reference (above which some problems may occur), and are a very low percentage of the estimated SSB. It may be important to note however that any increase in the fleet capacity towards achieving the current maximum catches should be done in a gradual way, as the fishery have been far from the scientifically estimated maximum catches, and therefore there are no evidences 218 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Peer Reviewer Response from the Assessment Team on what will be the real effect of sustaining those catches. More scientific information and revisiting the catch limits as the fleet increases its capacity and the effects of increasing fishing mortality may have in the stock will therefore be appropriate. Section 7: Section 7.1: The information in the introduction is generally adequate, however I miss some information on other species in the ecosystem. Even if the information is poor in relation to abundance or distribution, a general description of which are the main other fish species, top predators etc. will be desirable and will also introduce the following sections (bycatch, accompanying species, etc.). Section 7.2: This section contains some information of importance in Tables, however, text explanation should also be added. Section 7.3: At the time of my first review, this section seems to be unfinished. Some information on the various top predators compartment will be desirable, or else some text pointing out that scarce or no information is available (improving this situation should be recommended in the conclusions). There is a sentence on cannibalism that sounds inconsistent to me; on one hand it is said that contribution on cannibalism on required energy for spawning shouldn‟t be significant, but immediately after it is said that in some places it may help. This should need rephrasing (see also comments in the text). UPDATE: In a second version this section is 219 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Peer Reviewer Response from the Assessment Team much improved. I think the new section does contain the required information (some minor typos and comments were included in the text) Section 7.4: Very little is said in relation to the pelagic or benthic habitats in the regions covered by the anchovy stock. I believe this section have to be improved. The text here In the south-east Pacific the spawning area of mainly belongs to other sections the central south stock of Engraulis ringens is placed. This stock lives along the Chilean Section 8: I found this section too long and coast, at similar latitudes with the too focus on the norms that regulate the northern population of E. anchoita. During organisms, not the fishing and human related midwinter–early spring E. ringens spawns in activities. Section 8.2.1 provides important the central-south area off Chile, from 35°S to information on multilateral agreements with 41°30‟S, covering an area of 7,000–9,000 Uruguay and how the common resources are km2 (Cubillos et al., 2005, fide Pájaro et al., managed (but see below comment related to 2009). In the same way with the northern whether some extra info on Malvinas may Argentine anchovy stock, the E. ringens also be necessary). Section 8.5 provides some spawning is coastal and related to depth useful information (organization of SICAP), lower than 50 m (Cubillos et al., 2005 fide but there is no information on whether there Pájaro et al., 2009). However, contrasting are fishing regulations (e.g. maximum power, with the Chilean anchovy, the spawning area regulation on fishing gear, capacity, days at was greater in the case of E. anchoita. This is sea, etc.), both in general and in particular for probably a consequence of the largest anchovy. I will largely synthesize the continental shelf width in the E. anchoita information on section 8 and expand the spawning area off Argentina, with more than general legal framework for fisheries (not in 170 km, in contrast with the narrow terms of organism in charge, but in terms of continental shelf in the E. ringens spawning how fisheries and other human activities area off Chile with less than 45 km in width related to the marine environment and fish (Camus, 2001 fide Pájaro et al., 2009 ). stocks are regulated). This information can be The comparison of both species showed that placed on Section 5 (not available on the first the spawning stock biomass of E. anchoita review). There is no information regarding was much higher than the spawning biomass relations with Malvinas that may have any of E. ringens (See figure 4 at Pájaro et al., relevance for fisheries. This is explicitly 2009) principally due to the largest spawning referenced in the MSC guidelines (treaties, area of the Argentine anchovy. multilateral management, etc.), and although it is well covered for Uruguay in the report, I am wondering if some mention to Malvinas 220 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Peer Reviewer Response from the Assessment Team may be also necessary. UPDATE: in a revised version, section 8.1.3 includes the main issues related to the Section 7 has been improved in this last regulation of Bonaerense anchovy. version of the report, considering the peer reviewers‟ comments. Section 9: This small section is expected to include information on other fisheries relevant to the assessment of Argentinean anchovy in the context of the MSC. The section is currently incomplete. Sections 10-13.1: These sections provide the required information to summarise the Assessment Team characteristics, criteria and scores of the different principles. Section 13.2: See my comments in each of the principles in the attached reviewer table. Annexes: Interviews contains lots of important information, special in relation to the SICA assessment of PI 2.* 221 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Performance Indicator Review Question A: Has all the relevant information available been used to score this Indicator? (Yes/No) Question B: Does the information and/or rationale used to score this Indicator support the given score? (Yes/No) Question C: Will the condition(s) raised improve the fishery‟s performance to the SG80 level? (Yes/No/NA) Performance Question Question Question C Justification Indicator A B Please support your answers by referring to specific scoring issues and any relevant documentation where possible. Please attach additional pages if necessary. 1.1.1 Yes yes I agree with the conclusion reached. Early comments on some issues related to lack of support have been correctly dealt with. 1.1.2 Yes yes The reference point is set based on a precautinary approach based on the time series of estimates, and conditions for SG80 seem to be met. My only (minor) concern is that for long-term reference points, due to the lower trophic level of the species, recruitment forecast should at some point incorporate potential climate and regime shifts effects. 1.2.1 Yes Yes Yes I agree with the score. Early comments made on the concern that there is no plan to deal with a potential increase of catches to fulfil the TAC have been incorporated. The proposal that management plan in the case the fishery start developing at a faster pace has been adopted by the Assessment Team. 1.2.2. Yes Yes Yes I agree with the score and the suggested conditions 1.2.3 Yes Yes I agree with the evaluation. I would however argue that there may not be a need for yearly surveys, at least not to have both acoustic and DEPM surveys each year (this has been discussed in other parts of the world). However, the part of the SG100 second principle that may not be met is to have a complete knowledge on the inherent uncertainties in the information (data)and the robustness of assessment and management to this uncertainty. I also support the recommendation to make the reports more available to interested parties. 222 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Performance Question Question Question C Justification Indicator A B Please support your answers by referring to specific scoring issues and any relevant documentation where possible. Please attach additional pages if necessary. 1.2.4 Yes Yes Yes I agree with the score, which takes into account some previous comments on “peer-review” process. I also agree with the recommended plan of action. 2.1.1 Yes Yes I agree with the evaluation done 2.1.2 Yes Yes It seems reasonable to assume that in general the fishery does not pose a risk of serious harm to retained species. However, I would like that the management plan suggested to be designed in Condition 1 (for principles 1.2.1 and 1.2.2 above) deals also with the potential increase in hazard to retained species if the fleet increases it size to attain the TAC. Indirectly it is contemplated. 2.1.3 Yes Yes I generally agree with the score and rationale. New management plan should however consider ways to improve data adquired on board the specific anchovy fleet. Improvement is however more neccesary in relation to ETP species, so see my comments to indicator 2.3.3 (and also 2.2.2) below. 2.2.1 Yes Yes I agree with the score and rationale 2.2.2 Yes Yes Fleet strategy to avoid other species and the low number of catches justify a high score. Also the prohibition of night trawls can be regarded as a management strategy to reduce bycatch and retained species. These two conditions support that all criteria for SG80 are met. However, some comment on the lack of formal management measures should be made. Observers on-board should certify that this is currently the case. Elsewhere in the report it is said that having observers on board is difficult due to the boat size, and that everything fished is landed. However, a medium-to-long-time plan to improve this would be desirable. 223 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Performance Question Question Question C Justification Indicator A B Please support your answers by referring to specific scoring issues and any relevant documentation where possible. Please attach additional pages if necessary. 2.2.3 Yes No No Same comment as above applies. I agree with the score decided; however, the justification should be improved (explicitly saying which conditions are not met) and the action plan should be specific to meet those conditions. This can be easily improved by the Assessment Team Response from the Assessment Team: condition established for this indicator has been improved 2.3.1 Yes No Yes I agree with the score given, but the rationale should be improved, by specifically saying with conditions are not met. The action plan seems appropriate, but once the justification is made more explicit, the Assessment Team may also want to make the action plan more related to achieve the conditions not previously met. Response from the Assessment Team: condition for this indicator has been improved 2.3.2 Yes No Yes Same comments as above, improvement on the justification is needed (I believe for this PI and the one above changes can be easily done by the assessment team to change my evaluation of the justification to positive) Response from the Assessment Team: condition for this indicator has been improved 2.3.3 Yes Yes Yes I agree with the score, justification and plan of action. A specific scientific plan to estimate mortality should be decided by the committee suggested in Condition 1 Response from the Assessment Team: condition for this indicator has been improved 2.4.1 Yes Yes I agree with the score and justification 2.4.2 Yes Yes I agree with the score and justification 2.4.3 Yes Yes I agree with the score and justification 224 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Performance Question Question Question C Justification Indicator A B Please support your answers by referring to specific scoring issues and any relevant documentation where possible. Please attach additional pages if necessary. 2.5.1 Yes Yes I agree with the score and justification. some mention on pollution from fishing vessels may be added. Although I am sure the effect is low for this specific fishery, due to the low number of boats operating, there are measures to reduce human pollution from fishing vessels in other parts of the world, with both a target objective to reduce pollution and also as an educational process. 2.5.2 Yes Yes I agree with the score and justification 2.5.3 Yes Yes I agree with the score and justification. I also agree with the recommendation 3.1.1 Yes Yes I agree with the score and justification 3.1.2 Yes Yes I agree with the score and justification 3.1.3 Yes Yes I agree with the score and justification 3.1.4 Yes No A explicit note is required to justify the score (which conditions of SG100 are partially not met) Response from the Assessment Team: the rationale has been improved. 3.2.1 Yes Yes I generally agree with the score and justification. The Assessment Team should however state, in agreement with previous PI, that some of the objectives are still implicit (e.g. the target Biomass), and that should be improved (this is included in the action plan proposed). The table in this section is however in Spanish, the Assessment Team should translate it. 3.2.2 Yes Yes I agree with the scores and justification 225 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Performance Question Question Question C Justification Indicator A B Please support your answers by referring to specific scoring issues and any relevant documentation where possible. Please attach additional pages if necessary. 3.2.3 Yes No Only 2/4 criteria for SG100 are met, therefore I think a score of 90 may be more adequate than 95 (the score given by the assessment team). I do think that this is however a minor comment, and any further justification will change my reply in relation to the justification to positive. Response from the Assessment Team: the rationale has been improved. 3.2.4 Yes No In coherence with previous comments in the report, the two criteria that are not completely met is the ecosystem information, and the requirement made previously from the assessment team to improve transparency and avaialability of assessment reports. I agree with the overall score, but some improvements in the justification should be made 3.2.5 Yes Yes I agree with the score and justification. However, a more detailed justification in relation to the issues not accomplish will be beneficial 226 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery 16.2 Second Peer Reviewer comments and Assessment Team responses Peer Reviewer Response from the Assessment Team Overall Opinion - Has the assessment team arrived at an appropriate conclusion based on the evidence presented in the assessment report? Yes. - Do you think the condition(s) raised are appropriately written to achieve the SG80 outcome within the specified timeframe? Yes - Do you think the client action plan is sufficient to close the conditions raised? Yes General Comments on the Assessment Report 1. Conceptualmente la anchoita se Based on FAO and INIDEP, the Assessment distribuye con tendencia al norte en el Team has considered both anchoíta invierno, y al sur en el verano. En sentido Bonaerense and anchoíta patagónica as two longitudinal anchoita es un habitante de differentiated stocks (Pastous Madureira et la plataforma y de sus bordes, lo cual es al. 2009, J. Hansen, Anchoita (Engraulis común para especies similares y se anchoita) 2004). comprueba que está disponible abundante información de respaldo para describir el ecosistema y la diversidad biológica que contiene. Sin embargo se suele hablar del „stock Bonaerense‟ y del „stock patagónico‟ en función a la información recogida durante campañas científicas y en relación con las operaciones de las flotas pesqueras que actúan sobre anchoveta. En este sentido es prematuro hablar de dos sub- poblaciones de manejo cuando no se tienen estudios o resultados sobre marcaje, parasitos o ADN de anchoíta. 2. La descripción y discusión de los métodos de cálculo de límites The Assessment Team agrees with the peer precautorios de pesca ha sido amplia y reviewer and conditions in Principle 1 have 227 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery consistente. Sin embargo quedan como been established consequently. tareas pendientes la asignación específica de BRP en tanto se estima que los métodos de asignación de cuota global se encuentran razonablemente por debajo del MSY. Cualquier posible error queda enmascarado por los desembarques que se ubican actualmente al nivel de 30% de la TAC. En todo caso, la estimación de la abundancia en la edad 1 (reclutamiento) se basa en la aplicación de métodos acústicos sustentados en muestreos en un número aparentemente insuficiente si se le compara con el tamaño del área de distribución. Sin embargo, se considera que esto no es un problema en este momento, pero se tendrá que incrementar los muestreos científicos biométricos ya sea a bordo de las naves de pesca o bien en puntos de desembarco a fin de dar mayor solidez a la estimación de la demografía de la población. En todos los temas relacionados con la evaluación de recursos se requiere de estándares y protocolos, y agregar métodos de evaluación que permitan auditorías independientes sobre los resultados a fin de dar mayor solidez a las posteriores acciones de manejo. 3. La legislación Argentina es completa en tanto considera los aspectos The Assessment Team agrees with the peer fundamentales que buscan asegurar la reviewer and conditions in Principle 2 have sostenibilidad de la especie y del been established consequently. ecosistema en su conjunto. Sin embargo, y aunque existe un programa de Muestreadores a bordo, no están claras las atribuciones que tienen los observadores abordo, aunque se reconoce que hay un problema de espacio disponible a bordo de las embarcaciones. Tal vez la legislación podría contemplar la participación de las tripulaciones como observadores del ecosistema en aquellos tipos de flota donde no es posible la presencia de 228 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery observadores científicos. Específicamente se requiere colectar datos sobre las interacciones con depredadores superiores y capturas incidentales de cualquier otra especie diferente a anchoíta, pues este tipo de información georeferenciada será utilizada en el progresivo modelamiento ecológico del ecosistema de manera de construir a lo largo del tiempo un Enfoque Ecosistémico para la administración de pesquerías. De otro lado no se ha establecido la obligatoriedad de realizar muestreos biométricos a las capturas al menos en los puntos de desembarque, lo cual es imprescindible para la correcta estimación de biomasa y de la fracción juvenil. Asimismo las acciones de manejo (vedas, zonas protegidas, TAC etc) deben estar contempladas en un dispositivo técnico del más alto nivel posible, a fin de garantizar un manejo técnico en la explotación de recursos vivos. 4. Aunque no tiene atribuciones específicas en el manejo pesquero, el fortalecimiento These issues are generally beyond the scope científico del INIDEP es esencial en el of this assessment. desarrollo de los modelos ecológicos requeridos para un Enfoque Ecosistémico, así como es esencial la participación de un mayor número de entidades académicas en el estudio y monitoreo de los diversos componentes del ecosistema. Aunque existe un plan anual de investigación no se conoce cuáles sus necesidades tecnológicas y operativas actuales para el desarrollo de monitoreos e investigaciones científicas. En cuanto a la gestión científica del INIDEP es conveniente que sus más altos cargos sean concursables y temporales bajo estrictas pre-requisitos de idoneidad científica y experiencia de campo a fin de asegurar un manejo estrictamente técnico 229 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery y científico de la institución. Asimismo las leyes que sustentan la administración pesquera carecen (en el caso de anchoíta por lo menos) de un estudio socioeconómico sobre la pesquería y de su huella ecológica, que son aspectos que deben ser monitoreados durante el desarrollo de esta pesquería a fin de cautelar el efecto de la misma sobre la economía del sector dependiente de ella, y de la calidad del ecosistema. 5. Las evaluaciones acústicas de la biomasa y demografía de anchoíta son esenciales Recommendations have been included in PI para proveer información actualizada 1.2.3. para su uso en modelos de dinámica poblacional. La serie acústica disponible no ha cubierto todos los años aunque se observa consistencia en los resultados de cálculos de abundancia. Sin embargo, se recomienda revisar a través de diversos métodos la relación específica que existe entre la talla de anchoíta, su factor de condición y su reflectividad, ya que de esto depende la calidad de la medición de biomasa. En ese sentido se ha observado que en diversas publicaciones e informes se han utilizado dos ecuaciones de reflectividad (TS) de la forma a*Log(Talla)-b, donde el valor del intercepto (a) y de la reflectividad (b) ha estado fijado en 20 y -71.9 dB respectivamente según la ecuación general para clupeidos de Foote et al (1987), o en 34.5 y -86.5 dB según los resultados de informes internos INIDEP (INIDEP 2003, Cabreira & Madirolas 2007), por lo que se espera que los resultados de abundancia que se obtienen a través de una u otra ecuación sean significativamente diferentes. Se recomienda realizar un estudio comparativo a fin de determinar la consistencia entre una y otra relación en función a las ecuaciones de TS-Talla que se utilizan para especies similares en 230 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery otros ecosistemas, así como describir toda fuente de sesgo o limitación o subestimación que se haya observado en las evaluaciones acústicas de anchoita. Otro importante método de evaluación directa es el de Producción de Huevos (MPH), el cual tiene la dificultad de ser lento en su aplicación y en la obtención de resultados. Sin embargo, todos los métodos de evaluación directa deben ser fortalecidos, incluyendo la modelización geográfica del ecosistema de la anchoíta, a fin de llegar a utilizar información de oceanografía satelital y de VMS en el cálculo de la variación del volumen del hábitat de la especie, ya que bajo un futuro enfoque ecosistémico esta variable tendría que ser incorporada en el manejo. 6. Otro aspecto que podría ser revisado es el de la relación edad-crecimiento. Una Recommendations have been included in PI edad de 9 años parece excesiva a la luz 1.2.3. de investigaciones recientes que indican que la tasa de crecimiento es más alta de lo que se pensaba para peces pelágicos pequeños, así como su esperanza de vida es un 50% menor a lo que anteriormente se había determinado. Asimismo podrían existir discrepancias en la medición del peso de anchoíta por edades o tallas, lo cual podría estar subestimado si se le compara con patrones de especies similares, lo que también se reflejaría en la estimación acústica. Esta aparente discrepancia requeriría una revisión de los resultados y de los métodos utilizados. (Garciarena, A.D.;, 2005) 7. Inidep ha desarrollado métodos de identificación de peces acústicamente Recommendations have been included in PI (Cabreira et al 2009), y se halla en la 2.5.3. capacidad de producir estimaciones de biovolumen, eufáusidos y macrozooplancton en general además de la estimación de la profundidad de la oxiclina a través de métodos accesibles 231 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery como los presentados en Bertrand et al 2010 y Ballón et al 2011. Toda esta información que se puede procesar durante campañas acústicas pueden constituir una significativa contribución en relación con los objetivos del enfoque ecosistémico que requieren la construcción previa de modelos conceptuales sobre escenarios que integren todos los compartimentos y nichos ecológicos del ecosistema antes de pasar a una fase cuantitativa (modelamiento). También la sobreposición geográfica de anchoíta con otras especies puede ser medida con datos de pesca (por ejemplo, en el caso de merluza), por lo que se requiere generar un conjunto de indicadores sobre las interdependencias entre grupos de especies.. 8. En cuanto a la pesca incidental las cifras actuales son pequeñas, por lo que se Recommendations have been included in PI estima que no hay un impacto sensible 1.2.1. sobre otras especies, incluyendo el bentos, pues se utilizan redes de arrastre de pesca de media agua que no tienen contacto con el fondo. Sin embargo no hay regulaciones sobre tamaño mínimo de malla, las que podrían ser introducidas a la luz de nuevos estudios sobre edad- crecimiento. En conclusión, las condiciones actuales del ecosistema marino argentino, la legislación, monitoreo científico, experiencia y estado del conocimiento son adecuados, modernos, confiables y reúnen por ello los requisitos esenciales para obtener la certificación bajo los principios MSC. Sin embargo, se requerirán acciones especiales de auditoría científica a cargo de las mismas entidades gubernamentales argentinas a fin de alcanzar una plena consistencia tanto en las evaluaciones como en el manejo pesquero, lo cual permitirá mejorar las condiciones para 232 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery el desarrollo progresivo de un enfoque ecosistémico en las pesquerías argentinas en general y en el de la anchoíta en particular. 233 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Performance Indicator Review Question A: Has all the relevant information available been used to score this Indicator? (Yes/No) Question B: Does the information and/or rationale used to score this Indicator support the given score? (Yes/No) Question C: Will the condition(s) raised improve the fishery‟s performance to the SG80 level? (Yes/No/NA) Performance Question Question Question C Justification Indicator A B Please support your answers by referring to specific scoring issues and any relevant documentation where possible. Please attach additional pages if necessary. PI 1.1.1 Yes Yes NA Punctuation of 100 comes from the fact that all consulted experts and stakeholders agree that population level is well above any risk limit, but there is a certain degree of uncertainty about target reference points. Specifically standard MSY calculations should be performed once all elements of ecological modeling become available including a revision and agreement of standard procedures/protocols for several aspects of fish stock assessment including the intensive use of biometric data collected both aboard of fishing vessels and/or at landing points. PI 1.1.2. Yes Yes NA TAC was set as a limit (BRL) in 33% of the largest spawning stock biomass between 1990 and 2009 as estimated by a cohorts model. Then the catches are well below it providing confidence in the fact that current strategy suports sustainability to the stock. There is no evidencie of impaired recruitment along the 75 years of fisherey. PI 1.1.3 NA NA NA NA PI 1.2.1. Yes Yes NA The current harvest strategy lacks however of an action plan to prevent IUU fishing, e.g. there is no indication of how the state should proceed when 10% of reported caught fish are juveniles. Furhtermoe the current strategy does not consider the obbligation of the fishermen to supply key information due to the impossibility of having a scientific observer aboard. Also the harvest strategy is not considering the need of performing data collection about biometrics for use in fish stock assessment. 234 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Performance Question Question Question C Justification Indicator A B Please support your answers by referring to specific scoring issues and any relevant documentation where possible. Please attach additional pages if necessary. PI 1.2.2. Yes Yes Yes There are several asumptions that harvest strategy is effective and out of risk due to the fact that there are no fishing activities in Uruguay, or that current catches are far below the TAC. This shoudn‟t stand as an argument since the harvest strategy must be strengthed to all circunstances. For instance VMS system is not open to public, and there is no known verification of catch reports provided by fishermen. PI 1.2.3. Yes Yes NA Altough INIDEP collects biometric data from landings it is not known the number of sampled fishing trips and on the nature of the gathered information. Also, altough there is a formal obbligation of a scientific observer to participate during fishing trips this is not possible in practice due to reduced space aboard, then biometric sampling at landing points should be higher and higuer as possible, There are important innitiatives underway (such as the creation of a GIS by INIDEP based on VMS data) but the whole system lacks of direct information from the fishery itlself. PI 1.2.4. Yes Yes Yes This indicator might reach 100 in the short time, there are uncertainities which should be reduced by increasing sampling and adopting an specific action plan for sampling, monitoring and assessment. It is however relevant the need of revisiting the age at length pattern which might be conducing to a sub-estimation of abundance. Also there is certain evidence of sub-estimation of biomass as derived using acoustics since used TS-Length relationships significantly differs for the juvenile fraction. 235 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Performance Question Question Question C Justification Indicator A B Please support your answers by referring to specific scoring issues and any relevant documentation where possible. Please attach additional pages if necessary. PI 2.1.1. Yes No Yes The high score (100) es based upon recent consistent evidence that retained species are not significantly affected by the fishery. However availble information is collected though apparently not used in producing by catch indexes which might be followed up in routine by fishery managers and scientists.Some level of effort should be allocated to construct indicators of retined species by groups of species. Response from the Assessment Team: The score assigned is based on a qualitative analysis result obtained from a workshop with participation of relevant stakeholders and applying the Scale, Intensity, Consequence Analysis (SICA) methodology from the MSC. PI 2.1.2. Yes No Yes According to supplied information no difference is made of two different concepts: retained species and by-catch/discard. This might be due to the fact that there are no especific records of species discarded at sea. There are no observers aboard in despite of the fact the law enforces to it. An expensive TV monitoring system is being proposed though its efectiveness would probably be under questioning due to the considerable effort necessary to maintain, collect and analyze the recorded data.Interviews to skippers/fishermen could be more effective to build up a baseline in which realible indications be incorporated into the action plan. Respond from the Assessment Team: Conditions have been established in PI 2.2.3 in relation to information and monitoring of bycatch species. 236 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Performance Question Question Question C Justification Indicator A B Please support your answers by referring to specific scoring issues and any relevant documentation where possible. Please attach additional pages if necessary. PI 2.1.3. Yes Yes Yes It has been pointed out that there are no observers aboard most fishing vessels due to space limitations. Instead effors might be made for gathering information directly obtained/observed. The proposed TV system might not be useful, e.g., for colecting data on diversity of catches altough may prevent discards. Instead a fishermen as observers schemes might be implemented since there is already the obbligation of skippers to submit fishing-trip formats which might be modified to include several aspects which are important for the ecosystem functioning monitoring. PI 2.2.1. Yes Yes Yes There is uncertainty regarding by-catch in relation to accidental damage or catch of unwanted species (e.g. seabirds). Altough it might exceed the scope of the current assessment process, information on other fisheries (e.g. hake) eventually targeting anchovy (as by catch specie) might be useful to contribute information (e.g. interactions of top predators with fishing vessels) for the ecosystem functioning monitoring including the status of by catch species. In this way trohic level and vulnerability might be continuously tracked for groups of species. PI 2.2.2. Yes Yes Yes There is no strategy since curent by catch levels seems low and apparently affects to two species only (Jurel Trachurus lathami, and to Caballa Scomber japonicus). It is necessary to assemble a system to measure the temporal overlap among populations distributions as an initial strategy to overcome any future possible increase of by catch of those or other species. PI 2.2.3. Yes Yes Yes Informating came from a relativeli small amount of sampling. As stated several times in previous PIs, there are no currently observers aboard due to room problems, it might be overcome by introducing the use of special formats (logbooks) continupusly audited by observers at landing points. 237 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Performance Question Question Question C Justification Indicator A B Please support your answers by referring to specific scoring issues and any relevant documentation where possible. Please attach additional pages if necessary. PI 2.3.1. Yes Yes Yes This indicator might reach a 100 score if it is included in the Action Plan the strategy of performing annual surveys among skippers for they to respond a key qualitative/quantitative questionary. It is not enough to argue that observations made in a different fleet can be extrapolated to the anchoita vessels. PI 2.3.2. Yes Yes Yes Several measures are bieng implemmet to met the 100 score for reaching international estandards. Meanwhile it is reliable the analysis about the low impact of anchoita fisheries on ETP species. PI 2.3.3. Yes Yes Yes There is no information to produce quantitative analysis on this topic. As previously noticed (e.g. for PI 2.2.3.) it is necessary to include the use of logbooks aboard vessels for the crew to register interactions and identification of ETP species. PI 2.4.1. Yes Yes Yes Altough the supply information is not abundant experience en several similar ecosystems indicates no effects of mid water trawling in the habitat. Instead purse seining is harmful when the net touched se aea bottom. It is has not been reported neither technical details of used nets (but trawling) nor the portion of ocean whose depth would be accesible to this kind of device. PI 2.4.2. Yes Yes Yes This PI would score 100 if a regulation is produced to limit the use of purse seines in shalower areas which might be delimited. PI 2.4.3. Yes Yes NA There is no information to quantify the impacts of fishing gears on habitat, and specifically on purse seining in shallower areas. This might be resolved through out annual cuantitative and qualitative interviews to skippers (as noticed e.g. in PI 2.3.1).. PI 2.5.1. Yes Yes NA To get the 100 score some review is needed on the predation of hake on anchovy. It has been pointed out that anchovy comsuption by hake would range between 6 and 2.7 million of tonnes, which are numbers that exceed the current biomass level. 238 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Performance Question Question Question C Justification Indicator A B Please support your answers by referring to specific scoring issues and any relevant documentation where possible. Please attach additional pages if necessary. PI 2.5.2. Yes Yes Yes If the hake predation on anchovy is high then a review of abundance calculations is needed in order to resolve the apparent discrepancy between the biomass, distribution and overlap of this important components of the ecosystem. It is not expected that current TAC levels would affect hake, but the annual variability between the two populations should correctly be establised. PI 2.5.3. Yes Yes Yes The surveys conducted by INIDEP might increase the numer of fishing stations in order to collect high quality data on geographical species composition and the calculation of the probability of effects of fishing on ecosystems (e.g. to not permit high catches on anchoita in areas of high biological diversity). Also the acoustic research might increase the number of assessed species (both in terms of relative or absolute biomass). Breeding seasons for different species of sea birds are known then specific areas can be closed to fishery. And the most importan measure is to increase the degree of sampling to catches. PI 3.1.1. Yes Yes NA This high score of 100 is based in the complete framework of the national laws and regulations. However, altough stated by law some important regulations are not possible to be executed, for instance the obbligation of carry scientific observers aboard. Resolving discrepaancies like this by introducing new formal mechanisms would facilitate better performances. PI 3.1.2. Yes Yes Yes To keep a high score it is necessary that all technical protocols used in the differents sides of assessmet be made public in all it is details, as well as results of monitoring, in order to let stakeholders to track the effectnivess of decistion making related to fishery management. 239 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Performance Question Question Question C Justification Indicator A B Please support your answers by referring to specific scoring issues and any relevant documentation where possible. Please attach additional pages if necessary. PI 3.1.3. Yes Yes NA This PI is scored mainly based on the current prohibition of the use of anchoita for reduction (production of fish meal and oil). It is not a MSC principle and no distinction can be made on the use of anchoita after landed while catches are mantained below BRLs.Long term objetives must be based on the ecological modeling and on consistent scientific research in order to advance toward an ecosystem apoproach to fisheries management. PI 3.1.4. Yes Yes NA In order to promote exports some countries refund part of taxes to private companies. This is however not exclusively applied to fisheries in Argentine, then cannot be considered as an subside at least in the current context of low catches. PI 3.2.1. Yes Yes NA An aspect that has not been clarified is about what are the measures that follow to the detection (e.g.) of more than 10% of juveniles in catches. It is unknown why is this limit set at that level. It would be desirable to not to imposse punishment that limit exceed because it would alent discards. PI 3.2.2. Yes Yes NA There are uncertainties which derive from biases of used models for both direct and indirect assessments. Direct methods usually produce understimations, and indirect estimations are not currently based upon abudant data from the fisheries. This is why more analysis tools (e.g. modelling of the biomass/area relationship and related variability) are needed for the mid term. Present status of anchoita preserve it of any error in the decision making process but accordingly with available information TAC still permit a significant increase in catches and that possibility cannot be underlined by using market considerations only. 240 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Performance Question Question Question C Justification Indicator A B Please support your answers by referring to specific scoring issues and any relevant documentation where possible. Please attach additional pages if necessary. PI 3.2.3. Yes Yes NA All the condicions are met to fulfill the 100 score of this PI. However, based in oterh countries experiences it must be noticed that it might be conveniente to prevent illegal use of VMS devices and other monitoring procedures. Also, the access to VMS data is no opne to public and no evidence existe on its use for scientific/economic purposes. PI 3.2.4. Yes Yes Yes INIDEP is a prestige international scientific institution, its professional staff, experience and outstanding capacity is unanimously recognized. However, altough INIDEP publishes its Scientific Plan on an annual basis little is known about its budgetary and technological needs to achieve and fulfill the present status of marine science regarding climate change. Its higher positions are open to concourse for fixed periods of time which guarantee independence. Neverthless it is unclear if those are positions which should be reserved to well quaslified scientific level persons. Any Other Comments It might be added to the Action Plan the following actions/audits for the coming years: 1. Fishers as observers, a program to introduce the use of Logbooks to register interactions, ETP, catches, by catch, biometric etc etc data at sea. 2. Implement VMS as assessment tool including the efficiency of the fleet. In the future even the effro might be shared. 3. Increase biological sampling at landing points. 4. Use interviews to skippers/fisherman to numerically create or update our knowledge about several aspects (e.g. ETP species). 5. Develop GIS using overlap distribuition data on several species. 6. To define a shallow water zone to be protected. 7. Review the anchovy-hake relationship 8. Review the biomass levels of anchovy. 241 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery 16.3 Final considerations Both Peer Reviewers have been proposed as Peer Reviewers on the basis of their experience of one or more of the following: the fishery under assessment, fishery management, stock assessment issues and relevant ecosystem interactions. The intent of the Assessment Team has been to assess the fishery as it is at the current scenario, providing conditions on Principle 1 and 2 to guarantee a successful future development of the fishery, even if the scenario changes. All comments from Peer Reviewers are found by the Assessment Team to be pertinent and relevant, and have been considered for this last version of the report. 242 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Appendix I: Stakeholders Consultation Stakeholders comments Mr. Carlos Rodríguez, Production Manager of CENTAURO Dr. Leszek Prenski, Assessment team S.A. and vice Chairman of the Fishery Industrial Chamber Mar del Plata, Lic. Raúl Bridi, Assessment team Dra. Laura Martínez Souta, Veterinary 10/03/2011 Lic. Marcelo Morales, Assessment team IMPORTANT REMARKS: The anchovy fishery is accompanied in some hauls with the “jurel” Trachurus lathami , which is separated on the ground when the anchovy enters the processing line, targeting conserve production. The most that appears is half a kilo of “jurel” per box (box=34kg),( half kilo, total of individuals: 40 pieces). The fishing can take an individual of mackerel, but this rarely because the anchovy is fished during the day (when the schools goes up in the water column) or late (when the schools drops) and the mackerel is fished at night or when does not appear anchovy. However, in recent years, at south of Claromecó, have coexisted catchment areas of anchovy and mackerel. It is discarded anything when the fishing vessel are making hauls of anchovy. Sometimes are landed in port, 2 to 3 boxes of Stripped weakfish (Cynoscion guatucupa), Parona leatherjack (Parona signata) or blue fish (Pomatomus saltatrix). Individuals of anchovy of larger size are close to the coast in times of spawning, and that individuals are eating and getting fatter. On a commercial level, the issue is sold by size and not by weight. In 15 years, 2 tides have been rejected due to poor maintenance problems. But never had discards of anchovy. Mar del Plata, Dr. Leszek Prenski, Assessment team Dr. Marco Favero, Chairman of the Adviser Commity of the 10/03/2011 Lic. Raúl Bridi, Assessment team ACAP and Researcher of CONICET Lic. Marcelo Morales, Assessment team IMPORTANT REMARKS There are several shore birds that feed in anchovy 25% of its diet. The several birds are composed by 5 to 6 coastal species where anchovy resource is part of the food chain Mar del Plata, Dr. Leszek Prenski, Assessment team Dr. Ricardo Bastida, Senior Researcher of CONICET, and 10/03/2011 Lic. Raúl Bridi, Assessment team University of Mar del Plata Lic. Marcelo Morales, Assessment team IMPORTANT REMARKS: With regard to the anchovy fishery and the effect of semi-pelagic nets, concludes that the only effect would be turbulence, but no studies on the subject 243 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Mar del Plata, Dr. Leszek Prenski, Assessment team Dr. Diego Rodríguez, Independent Researcher of CONICET, 10/03/2011 Lic. Raúl Bridi, Assessment team and University of Mar del Plata Lic. Marcelo Morales, Assessment team IMPORTANT REMARKS: There are occasional cases of death of wolves, but does not affect the population. The effect of competition is higher than the catch. Has not been registered important events related to turtles, mostly they are near the coast. The anchovy is a very important trophic factor. The Southamerican fur seal (Arctocephalus australis) directly exploits directly the anchovy and has no interaction with other colonies foraging throughout the year. The researcher are interested mainly if the lactating coincides with the months of the fishery. Females gestate a new individual while are nursing another. It is believed that the fur seal foraging farther in the slope. Notes that it is putting together a project that will analyze the movement of wolves and fleet by a GPS tracer to see the relationship that might exist. Even if they concur in same time and space with the fleet, there seems that there are no catch incidents of wolves, as they evade the nets and eat in the net and escape. The major interactions seem to be - according to the proposals of the crew, would be among the wolves and fishing activity (breakdown of networks), having a negative impact specially in the Southamerican sea lion (Otaria flavescens) mainly in the coastal fleet. The population of the Southamerican fur seal (Arctocephalus australis) at the present are increasing, the figers are around 250000individuals. On the contrary the Southamerican sea lion (Otaria flavescens) are decreasing. As was explained both species has different strategies related to its feeding strategies. The first one even if they go to deeper water they dive to shallow waters where the schools of anchovies are. On the contrary the second one they go to shallow coastal water but they dive to the bottom due that the main food are demersal fishes, by less content of lipids. Martín Di Scala (Fader), President of the DELICIAS S.A. Mar del Plata, Dr. Leszek Prenski, Assessment team Martín Di Scala (Son) 10/03/2011 Lic. Raúl Bridi, Assessment team Lic. Marcelo Morales, Assessment team IMPORTANT REMARKS: Comment that there is stock available for the European market to individuals less marketable size, which are bought cheaper due to the crisis. This allows to ensure the marketing of anchovy throughout the year. Moreover, the Patagonian anchovy do not have good income, as being oilier is good for the process. In contrast, those found in the north (limit of the range with Uruguay) length rate less, than 13 to 14mm of filet, but they are the tastiest, while that coming from “Bahìa Blanca” is less greasy than the other and yields approximately 22mm. There are no discards, except when it comes to catch horse mackerel “Jurel”. It is very rare. Than 2,500 boxes that are removed, 20 of them is horse mackerel “Jurel”. Frequently performed short hauls (200 to 400 boxes) to avoid damaging the product. Each weighs approximately 34 to 35kg. As for the fishing period, should enact a law establishing the start of the anchovy fishery, because as many anticipated and removed the individuals that have not reached commercial size, so then it is difficult to capture individuals who meet Market demands to not let weight gain. The boat company S.A. “DELICIAS SA” fish four months of anchovy resource. 244 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Sr. Guillermo Cañete, Coordinador del Plan Marino de Vía Comunicado vía email, Dr. Leszek Prenski, Assessment team Silvestre 11/03/2011 Lic. Raúl Bridi, Assessment team IMPORTANT REMARKS: The anchovy is a forage species, and is a basic element of the food chain, adding additional elements to the consideration of the fishery. The reference document discusses in great detail the impacts of the fishery on the ecosystem. It is equally necessary to consider the balance of the fishing activity as a trophic predator that has more demands (Catch) on the ecological system. Would be necessary to value the available knowledge base on environmental, ecological and biological marine system in operation, identify eggs or missing and included in the concrete research recommendations to adequately incorporate the environmental dimension in the fishery and certification. If the available information permits, would be highly desirable to achieve advances in ecosystem modeling, to have at least a framework on possible changes or impacts. This framework for understanding ecosystem trends should incorporate environmental changes in different cycles, including climate change as a vector of changes in the medium and long term. All these factors add risk and uncertainty management. For indicators of sustainability and resilience of the ecosystem will facilitate decision-making processes based on adaptive management, basing on the ecosystem. It would be highly desirable to also design an adequate system of monitoring and making scientific information, raising campaigns of investigation required, inter alia, to advance these approaches. The current assessment methodology of MSC does not incorporate these aspects. However, the MSC is in a process of reviewing its methodology, yet a term of conclusion. It would be highly desirable that this certification is made by incorporating the new concepts under discussion and even that can serve as testing its application. It is also necessary that the current system of fisheries management (FFC - SSPyA - CTMFM - DINARA) can adequately incorporate adaptive management mechanisms based on the ecosystem, with special emphasis on the precautionary approach to fisheries management. Another condition for this certification is that the fishery is intended to satisfy human consumption. Should not be allowed to change the industry to reduce the production of feed (the main destination: aquaculture industry). The certification of the fishery for northern anchovy stock could become an example of consideration of ecosystem-based management and precautionary approach. Cap. Jorge Frías, General Secretary Cap. Jorge Garavano, Adjunct Secretary Cap. David Rivera, 1º Titular Vocal Cap. Álvaro Arbeleche, 2º Titular Vocal Mar del Plata, Dr. Leszek Prenski, Assessment team Cap. Juan José Velich 11/03/2011 Lic. Raúl Bridi, Assessment team Cap. Arturo Abascal Lic. Marcelo Morales, Assessment team Asociación Argentina de Capitanes Pilotos y Patrones de Pesca IMPORTANT REMARKS The anchovy resource is easy to recognize, as it is a school is concentrated. There is a change in fishing, not attributable to climate change, but trophic changes. Previously, the company Delicias SA fished off the coast of Mar del Plata, now had to move to the platform.Fishing is clean, because the net is placed at the concentration height of the school. 245 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Dr. Marcelo Pájaro, Pelagic Program Director Lic. David García Arena, Pelagic Fishery Assessment Expert Lic. Ana Massa, Condrychthies Prog Responsible Comunicación Dr. Leszek Prenski, Assessment team Lic. Gabriel Blanco, On Board Observer Program Responsible Vía telefónica y escrita, Lic. Raúl Bridi, Assessment team 01/04/2011 Lic. Marcelo Morales, Assessment team INIDEP IMPORTANT REMARKS: Additionally, the work of observers in the campaign, held individuals classified by species, sex, weight and height. The by-catch in the anchovy fishery is less than 1% of the total catch. In short, this is pretty neat, it can happen to capture a mixture of anchovy with horse mackerel and mackerel, which are commercial. According to the use of indices of abundance of recruits, you can get through two concepts (See table I and II): 1) Number of copies at age 1 estimated by research campaigns a few years, which were used to calibrate the amount of copies of the estimated age of the model. 2) Generation of future recruitment, ie the annual recruitments (Ry) from 2011, were generated assuming log-normal distribution around the value predicted by the stock- recruit function of Ricker (1954) adjusted estimates of years above, and using the standard deviation for the logarithms of the numbers of recruits that would have been built each year between 1991 and 2009 (n = 20), according to analysis of seasonal cohorts. Formally, consider that in recent years, the number annually as recommended acceptable biological catch, is not based on the concept of MSY or BMSY, but Precautionary Reference Point known as "biomass Cautionary Players" (GAP). This is estimated on the basis of calculating the biomass limit of players that would not compromise reproduction (Blim, defined here on the basis of maximum spawning stock biomass observed in the past), but also considering the uncertainty associated with estimating latter. In previous reports, the recommendations were based solely on yield per recruit models. Regarding the relationship between anchovy biomass productivity with primary and secondary school, although not observed any relationship strong enough, although it is working and analyzing this particular issue. However, a presentation of Marrari et al. (2010) concludes that the variability of chlorophyll in the waterfront of Buenos Aires (located between 37 º S and 41 ° S approximately) influence on the reproductive success of the population of Buenos Aires of anchovy by affecting the availability of adequate food for the larvae (eg zooplankton). Anyway, there is abundant literature that argues that the abundance of fish a year class is determined by the availability of food during the critical period of larval development. Variations in food availability between years, probably due to differences between the coupling of planktonic production period and production of fish larvae determines the levels of larval survival and abundance after the adults join the fishery. Anchovy larvae are zooplanctófagas from first feeding (Viñas and Ramírez, 1996), constituting the copepods and their developmental stages the main prey. Consequently, the production cycle of crustaceans, is strongly dependent on variations in primary production of phytoplankton, have a strong impact on larval survival. Has also been suggested that planktivorous fish production as well as the growth and survival of larvae (and therefore recruitment) depend primarily on the production of mesozooplankton in the spatiotemporal discontinuities of the ocean. In the study area were found high biomass of phytoplankton and zooplankton (Viñas et al., 2002) associated with salt gradients caused by the influence of the Río de la Plata. Finally, the information requested on the retained species are presented in Table III with the catch data (kg) by species in each season of anchovy Buenos Aires between 1993 and 2008, both during the spring and fall. There are no published reports on the “Jurel” (Trachurus lathami) as by-catch species of anchovy Aires in commercial catches. However, the experience you have in the subject product from 10 to 18 shipments of Fisheries Program staff of pelagic fish in anchovy fishing boats in the Province of Buenos Aires, said that the disposal of Surel is very low or nonexistent, especially in the area of El Rincón, where the largest catches occur. 246 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Ing. Marcelo Santos, Fishing Coordination Director, FFC Federal District Dr. Leszek Prenski, Assessment team President. 04/04/2011 Lic. Marcelo Morales, Assessment team IMPORTANT REMARKS: The anchovy fishery in his opinion is a clear example of sustainability, because the resource is not fully exploited, rather it draws a very small fraction that is directly regulated by market demand. This to be specific, does not generate major conflicts of interest, which in turn implies no major impacts on the environment. Moreover, the lack of normal observers in monitoring the fishery, because the boats are small, so that the failure to include an observer on board would replace a crew member has a specific function. Fisheries Coordination of PIC, since 2010, has developed a resolution that would use satellite cameras placed so as not to create problems in terms of number of persons on board. And this does not mean reducing the labor pool of observers, since the recognition of species, size and by-catch would be a job that would take place on land. Part of the methodology would be based on image recognition necessary for the preparation of reports. Anyway, being a clean fishery, there never was a high need to incorporate an observer on board. Finally, says the creation of the Monitoring Committee of the anchovy fishery that would have more information and agree a comprehensive manner any decision making regarding management and stock control. Dr. Ramiro Sánchez, Fishing Planification National Director. Lic. Raúl Bridi, Asessment team Research scientist for more of 30 years in amchovy. Federal District Ing. Pedro Landa, Director Técnico OIA University of Mar del Plata Proffessor , 07/04/2011 Lic. Carolina Medina, Asistente OIA IMPORTANT REMARKS: There is no idea of the variability of natural mortality due that is adopted a constant value. As a forage species, there is no explicit concept how fishing affects the resource. However, the production is so high and what is exploited is so low that there is no danger. The biomass of some small pelagic population ranges from 1 to 25 million tonnes. It is important to note that in this case, is a pelagic species more stable than other, where the variation in total biomass is 0.9 to 3.9 million tons in the reproductive is 0, 6 to 2,800,000 tonnes. On the other hand, BRL, based on reproductive biomass is to be preserved to maintain such a high capacity for renewal, is taken as one third of the greater reproductive biomass calculated. In some fisheries, it takes values less than 30%, which would be a risk to the anchovy. While this value appears to be empirical, ensures sustainability. Calculated acceptable capture given in the order of 145,000 tonnes, taking into account that the anchovy is forage species, the evaluation team recommends 120,000 tonnes, which is accepted by the Federal Fisheries Council. There is no detailed analysis of the anchovy population size that would hold all the level of predation associated with this resource. Anyway, associated with the issue of stability of changes in biomass of anchovy, it is clear that self-regulation is important in its population. With regard to the management system, is to create a monitoring committee specific to the fishery, which will involve the industry, administration officials and INIDEP, where administrators are able to raise their concerns and information for the purpose of better management 247 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Sr. Néstor Guglielmoti, Fishing Director of the Buenos Aires Phone conference, All Assessment Team Province. 08/04/2011 Lic. Carolina Medina, Asistente OIA María Laura Laco, Asistente OIA IMPORTANT REMARKS: The Buenos Aires stock fishery is managed by the market rather than the maximum catch, so historically never exceeded 42 000 tons 1973 (about three times less than recommended). At present, this figure rounded the 25 thousand tons. As for the fate of the anchovy as a final product, 95% of production is exported as salted (drums out of port in brine) and 5% is directed to the domestic market. A very small quantity is sold as bait for the local fishing. On the other hand, companies do not buy juveniles, because they are not profitable to the filleting process. Instead, buy individuals of commercial size 24 to 25mm. This is important to take into account, since the target species is directed towards larger individuals, so that selection is preliminary. The fishing gear of "lampara" used by the old small fleet "bay or estuary, they were replace by a semi-pelagic net. This was cause by the given degree of distance from school (are significantly more than 12 miles due that the anchovies do not reach any more the 12 miles as use in the past) and for that the old fleet can not capture significant amount of anchovies to cover the salaries of the board (only $ 25/day), so the fleet has stopped the activity, at best may catch 2% of the total catch landed. The same goes for the freezer vessels; fuel costs are very high compared to the profits generated by the capture itself. That is why today, those involved with the anchovy fishery interested in having an "integrated enterprise" where the same owners of fleets have processing plants in order to minimize costs. With respect to the capture control, this is done to all ships, regardless of the type of capture. However, only occurs in those vessels fishing in provincial waters. Vessels fishing in federal waters and the Common Fishing Zone with Argentine-Uruguayan national permits are monitored by the Federal Administration. The distribution of the school is a variable that changes from year to year, since its dynamics is extrapolated to the movement of bodies of water, so that water may be relocating federal provincial or vice versa. 248 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Letter from Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina (FVSA) In the next page, a copy of a letter from Lic. Guillermo Cañete, FVSA Marine Program Coordinator, is shown where he expresses his concern on anchovy as a forage species. 249 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery 250 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Appendix II: Relevant catch data associated to the Bonaerense anchovy fishery Table I: Estimated data from the model and the research campaigns evaluations about annual reproductive biomasses, recruiting, confidence intervals, F and exploitation rates related to fishing mortality. Análisis de Cohortes Campañas (octubre) Pesca comercial Btot.Octubre B.Repr.Oct. R(y+1) -1ºenero- Biom.total Intervalo de Conf. 95% N indiv. Edad 1 Captura año Tasa F ponderada Año (y) toneladas toneladas millones ej. toneladas Lím.Inf. Lím.Sup millones ej. toneladas edades 3 a 5 F/(F+M) 1990 483.513 411.597 65.867 s/d s/d s/d s/d 11.924 0.050 0.047 1991 579.701 439.322 100.407 s/d s/d s/d s/d 20.072 0.118 0.105 1992 818.317 573.080 195.642 s/d s/d s/d s/d 19.124 0.178 0.150 1993 1.328.449 917.792 375.195 1.445.910 74.896 13.885 0.074 0.069 1994 2.500.735 1.713.173 222.268 2.721.846 96.736 18.409 0.048 0.046 1995 2.687.589 2.186.222 399.717 2.925.245 40.910 19.050 0.028 0.027 1996 3.398.543 2.524.652 154.818 5.351.452 203.496 17.607 0.012 0.012 1997 2.576.761 2.265.791 191.977 s/d s/d s/d s/d 22.320 0.021 0.021 1998 1.937.975 1.599.405 105.098 s/d s/d s/d s/d 19.188 0.022 0.021 1999 1.701.467 1.453.653 189.205 1.851.921 48.531 8.729 0.010 0.010 2000 2.105.016 1.565.143 117.643 s/d s/d s/d s/d 12.517 0.011 0.011 2001 1.730.243 1.402.898 187.530 1.883.241 62.522 14.512 0.028 0.027 2002 1.850.040 1.368.861 121.259 2.013.592 1.587.834 2.472.556 48.904 21.667 0.033 0.032 2003 1.659.372 1.334.484 412.389 1.843.750 1.363.036 2.342.945 111.786 27.939 0.068 0.063 2004 2.737.116 1.843.744 51.230 2.979.163 2.292.788 3.922.059 98.376 40.678 0.071 0.066 2005 2.008.183 1.874.108 81.385 s/d s/d s/d s/d 38.149 0.094 0.085 2006 1.397.178 1.204.807 100.953 1.615.248 1.192.718 2.079.686 89.708 46.237 0.037 0.036 2007 1.131.583 915.264 310.514 s/d s/d s/d s/d 24.552 0.043 0.040 2008 2.597.919 1.666.133 176.439 3.036.862 2.325.642 3.958.238 234.500 20.415 0.052 0.049 2009 2.129.687 1.734.273 132.815 s/d s/d s/d s/d 27.457 0.080 0.074 2010 1.819.682 1.497.706 s/d s/d s/d s/d s/d 21.682 0.030 0.029 251 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Table II: INIDEP research survey catch data (kg) by species and season for the Bonaerense anchovy fishery between 1993 and 2008 Season Fall Spring 11/93 08/94 07/95 11/95 14/96 08/99 12/01 07/02 07/04 06/06 02/08 04/94 05/96 05/97 05/98 ------ - - - - Survey H H H H OB OB EH OB EH OB OB EH OB EH OB Hauls 19 11 8 8 27 19 29 26 23 17 16 40 27 29 Species Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Engraulis anchoita 11610 26204 6584.0 9693.4 18860 14591 21872 21659 12353 6827 6232 17858 4702 3759 Acanthistius brasilianus 1.0 19.4 0.5 0.5 0.5 Anchoa marinii 41.3 0.5 0.0 Antimora rostrata 1.0 Balistidae, Gen.sp. 0.4 Brevoortia aurea 0.7 Cheilodactylus bergi 0.3 0.5 0.3 2.0 Conger orbignyanus 0.1 0.5 Cynoscion guatucupa 57.6 20.2 1.0 11.1 5.1 155.5 2.0 0.4 4.7 27.6 0.9 3.5 Dasyatis pastinaca 2.5 1.0 3.0 0.5 Discopyge tschudii 0.4 Dules auriga 0.2 1.0 Eugomphodus taurus 55.0 Galeorhinus galeus 13.7 16.0 6.0 12.0 2.0 Illex argentinus 0.2 2.9 30.2 1.0 2.4 0.5 Loligo sp. 0.3 0.1 0.5 0.1 12.8 18.8 1.8 2.0 2.3 9.0 0.5 0.2 2.2 3.3 Merluccius hubbsi 77.4 2.1 9.0 12.8 0.5 3.2 1.3 0.0 Macrodon ancylodon 0.6 Micropogonias furnieri 2.5 1.5 1.0 4.0 0.4 Mullus argentinus 0.3 0.1 Mustelus fasciatus 6.0 Mustelus schmitti 0.5 2.1 26.6 0.5 6.8 2.3 4.0 4.5 9.0 7.0 5.3 Myliobatis goodei 9.0 1.2 1.0 8.0 252 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Season Fall Spring 11/93 08/94 07/95 11/95 14/96 08/99 12/01 07/02 07/04 06/06 02/08 04/94 05/96 05/97 05/98 ------ - - - - Survey H H H H OB OB EH OB EH OB OB EH OB EH OB Hauls 19 11 8 8 27 19 29 26 23 17 16 40 27 29 Species Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Neophrinichthys 0.7 marmoratus Netuma barbus 0.3 Paralichthys isosceles 0.2 0.3 Paralichthys 0.3 orbignyanus Paralichthys 13.2 1.5 Patagonicus Parona signata 0.8 7.9 0.6 3.2 8.7 1.0 4.5 0.1 3.6 Penaeus paulensis 0.0 Peprilus paru 0.2 Percophis brasiliensis 4.6 0.5 5.2 1.6 5.4 0.4 4.0 1.0 2.8 Polyprion americanus 7.0 2.0 1.0 Pomatomus saltatrix 2.0 0.5 2.1 0.5 0.4 0.2 18.3 Porichthys porosissimus 0.2 1.0 0.8 6.7 1.8 0.8 0.2 0.5 1.2 0.5 Prionotus nudigula 5.7 2.1 0.7 1.5 1.1 0.1 0.3 35.2 1.1 Prionotus punctatus 1.7 Psammobatis scobina 2.2 Pseudopercis 1.3 semifasciata Raja cyclophora 3.6 10.0 Ramnogaster arcuata 0.1 Sarda sarda 7.5 Sardinella aurita 0.1 Scomber japonicus 12.3 135.7 87.1 1.0 0.2 3.5 33.0 2.4 94.7 Seriolella porosa 0.5 0.4 1.0 253 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Season Fall Spring 11/93 08/94 07/95 11/95 14/96 08/99 12/01 07/02 07/04 06/06 02/08 04/94 05/96 05/97 05/98 ------ - - - - Survey H H H H OB OB EH OB EH OB OB EH OB EH OB Hauls 19 11 8 8 27 19 29 26 23 17 16 40 27 29 Species Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Sparus pagrus 1.0 Sphyrna tudes 2.5 Squalus acanthias 3.3 2.0 Squatina argentina 15.0 0.7 1.3 3.0 2.0 4.0 Stromateus brasiliensis 99.6 44.5 127.4 8.1 5.5 19.4 3.0 0.2 4.1 Sympterygia bonapartei 13.0 3.5 1.2 Thyrsitops lepidopodea 10.3 0.3 0.1 6.3 0.3 0.1 0.2 Torpedo puelcha 1.3 Trachurus lathami 86.6 50.6 143.0 9.7 296.0 287.1 443.5 506.2 529.1 3865.7 292.0 241.4 696.7 104.7 Trichiurus lepturus 196.7 63.0 38.0 361.7 2.7 2.5 1.0 Urophycis brasiliensis 2.5 Xystreuris rasile 1.5 6.0 0.4 Zenopsis conchifer 1.0 1.0 TOTAL 12086.2 26368.4 6769.0 10157.0 19556.0 14966.9 22768.6 22235.3 12935.1 10760.1 6576.7 18137.1 5444.6 4000.2 Anchoíta 96.1% 99.4% 97.3% 95.4% 96.4% 97.5% 96.1% 97.4% 95.5% 63.5% 94.8% 98.5% 86.4% 94.0% 94.8% Surel 0.7% 0.2% 2.1% 0.1% 1.5% 1.9% 1.9% 2.3% 4.1% 35.9% 4.4% 1.3% 12.8% 2.6% 3.9% Caballa 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.7% 0.0% 0.4% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.5% 0.0% 0.0% 2.4% 0.2% Pampanito 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.5% 0.3% 0.6% 0.0% 0.0% 0.2% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.1% 0.2% Resto de especies 3.2% 0.4% 0.6% 4.5% 0.8% 0.3% 1.0% 0.3% 0.4% 0.4% 0.3% 0.2% 0.8% 0.9% 0.9% 254 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery References Alvarez Colombo, G., A. Cabreira, A. Madirolas, and F. Castro Machado. Resultado de las evaluaciones acústicas de abundancia de anchoita (Engraulis anchoita): Campañas OB-07/04 y OB-10/04. Inf. Téc. Int. INIDEP 32/05. Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 2005, 7. Angelescu, V, y A. Anganuzzi. «Ecología trófica de la anchoita (Engraulidae, Engraulis anchoita) del Mar Argentino. Parte III. Requerimiento trófico individual en relación con el crecimiento, ciclo sexual y las migraciones estacionales.» Revista de Investigacion y Desarrollo Pesquero (INIDEP), nº 5 (Diciembre 1986): 194-223. Angelescu, V., y A.A. Anganuzzi. «Resultados sobre la alimentación de la anchoíta (Engraulis anchoita) en el área explorada por el B/I “Shinkai Maru” durante las campañas VI (21.09- 12.10.1978) y VIII (20.10-19.12.1978) en el Mar Argentino.» Contrib. Inst. Nac. Invest. Desarr. Pesq. 383 (1981): 282-298. Angelescu, Victor. «Ecología trófico de la anchoita del Mar Argentino (Engraulidae, Engraulis anchoita). Parte II. Alimentación, Comportamiento y Relaciones Tróficas en el Ecosistema.» Ministerio de Economía. Secretaría de Intereses Marítimos. Subsecretaría de Pesca. , 1982. Bailey, R.S. “The global pelagic fish resource and its biological potential.” In Pelagic Fish. The Resource and its Exploitation, by J.R. Brut, R. Hardy, & K.J. Whittle, 1-20. Fishing News Books, University Press, Cambridge, 1992. Bellegia, M., A. Massa, y Felisa Sánchez. Puntos biológicos de referencia: El Nivel Trófico del gatuzo Mustelus schmitti. Research Report, Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 2010, 10. Beverton, R.J., and S.J. Holt. On the dynamics of exploited fish populations. Fish Fish. Ser. 11. London: Chapman and Hall, 1984. Brandhorst, W., Castello, J.P., Cousseau, M.B., y D.A. Capezzani. «Evaluación de los recursos de anchoíta (Engraulis anchoita) frente a la Argentina y Uruguay. VIII. Desove, crecimiento, mortalidad y estructura de la población.» Physis (A) 33, nº 86 (1974): 37-58. Buratti, C.C., and A.D. Garciarena. Estructura y abundancia del efectivo de caballa (Scomber japonicus) capturado al sur de 39°s y estimación de capturas biológicamente aceptables durante el año 2010. Official Technical Report, Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 2010, 19. Castello, J.P. Anchoita (Engraulis anchoita, Engraulididae, Pisces) no sul do Brasil. I. Tesis de Doctorado. Universidad de Rio Grande del Sur, Brasil, 1997, 84. Castello, J.P. “Observaciones sobre la estructura de la población de anchoíta en el período 1968- 1973.” Physis (A) 34, no. 83 (1975): 21-29. Chiaramonte, G.E., y A.D. Pettovello. «The biology of Mustelus schmitti in southern Patagonia, Argentina.» Journal of Fish Biology 57 (2000): 930-942. Ciechomski, J. de, and M. C. Cassia. “Reproducción y fecundidad del surel (Tachurus pictoratus australis).” Revista de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero 2, no. 2 (1980): 38-45. Ciechomski, J.D. & Sánchez, R.P. “Análisis comparativo de las estimaciones de biomasa de la anchoíta (Engraulis anchoita) en el Atlántico Sudoccidental en diferentes años y con distintas metodologías.” Publ. Com. Téc. Mix. Fr. Marít., no. 11 (1988): 117-131. 255 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Ciechomski, J.D. «Investigations on food and feeding habits of larvae and juveniles of the Argentine anchovy Engraulis anchoita.» Rep. Calif. Coop. Oc. Fish. Invest., nº 11 (1966): 72-81. Cortés, F., y A. Massa. Aspectos reproductivos del gatuzo (Mustelus schmitti). Technical Report N° 81, Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 2006, 10. Cortés, Federico. Sustentabilidad de la explotación del gatuzo, Mustelus schmitti, en el ecosistema costero bonaerense (34 - 42ºS). Tesis de Grado, Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 2007. Cousseau, Berta, and Ricardo Perrota. Atlas de Sensibilidad Ambiental de la Costa y el Mar Argentino. 2011. http://atlas.ambiente.gov.ar/tematicas/mt_02/peces_1.htm (accessed April 13, 2011). Cousseau, M.B. Estudios biológico sobre peces costeros con datos de dos campañas de investigación realizadas en 1981. Vol. 1, de VI. El gatuzo (Mustelus schmitti), 60-65. Publicaciones de la Comisión Técnica Mixta del Frente Marítimo, 1986. Cousseau, M.B., C.R. Carozza, y G.J. Macchi. «Abundancia, reproducción y distribución de tallas del gatuzo (Mustelus shcmitti).» En Resultados de una Campaña de Evaluación de Recursos Demersal Costeros de la Provincia de Buenos Aires y del Litoral Uruguayo.Inf.Tecn. N°21, de C.A. Lasta, 103-115. Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 1998. Díaz de Astarloa, J.M., C.R. Carozza, R.A. Guerrero, A.G. Baldoni, y M.B. Cousseau. «Algunas características biológicas de peces capturados en una campaña costera invernal en 1993, en el área comprendida entre 34ºS y 42ºS (Atlántico Sudoccidental) y su relación con las condiciones ambientales.» INIDEP Informe Técnico Nº 14, 1997, 35. Fishbase. «Fishbase.» Tachurus lathami. 2011. http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?ID=369&AT=surel (último acceso: 14 de April de 2011). Garciarena, A. D. Campaña “OB-02/08”. Evaluación del stock bonaerense de anchoíta en la primavera de 2008. Plan e informe de campaña. Informe de campaña INIDEP 21/08. Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 2008, 31 & annexes. Garciarena, A.D. & Hansen, J.E. Análisis de las capturas de anchoíta realizadas por la flota comercial y por buques de investigación pesquera durante 2009. Inf. Téc. Of. INIDEP 01/10. Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 2010, 15. Garciarena, A.D. “Análisis de la captura de anchoita bonaerense (Engraulis anchoita) obtenidas durante 2004 por embarcaciones en el puerto de Mar del Plata. INIDEP Technical Report 11/05.” 2005. Garciarena, A.D., and J.E. Hansen. “Análisis de las capturas comerciales de anchoíta al norte de 41° de latitud por parte de la flota argentina durante 2005. INIDEP Technical Report 15/2006.” 2006. Garciarena, A.D., and J.E. Hansen. “Análisis de las capturas comerciales de anchoíta al norte de 41° de latitud por parte de la flota argentina durante 2006. INIDEP Technical Report 22/2007.” 2007. Garciarena, A.D., and J.E. Hansen. “Análisis de las capturas comerciales de anchoíta al norte de 41° de latitud por parte de la flota argentina durante 2007. INIDEP Technical Report 09/2008.” 2008. Garciarena, A.D., and J.E. Hansen. “Análisis de las capturas comerciales de anchoíta al norte de 41° de latitud por parte de la flota argentina durante 2008. INIDEP Technical Report 66/2008.” 2008. 256 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Garciarena, A.D., and J.E. Hansen. “Análisis de las capturas comerciales de anchoíta al norte de 41° de latitud por parte de la flota argentina durante 2009. INIDEP Technical Report 01/2010.” 2010. Garciarena, A.D., M. Rey, and J.E. Hansen. Análisis de las capturas comerciales de anchoíta obtenidas por la flota uruguaya en la zona común de pesca argentino - uruguaya (ZCPAU) durante el año 2005. Inf. Téc. Int. INIDEP 40/07. Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 2007, 11. Garciarena, A.D., M. Rey, and J.E. Hansen. Composición de las capturas de anchoíta por la flota comercial uruguaya durante el año 2006. Inf. Téc. Int. INIDEP 27/07. Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 2007, 11. Gaschutz, G., Pauly, D. & David, N. “Aversatile BASIC program for fitting weight and seasonally oscillating length growth data.” Copenhagen: ICES Council Meetig papers, 1980. 14. Hansen, J.E. Anchoita (Engraulis anchoita). Vol. 4, de El Mar Argentino y sus recursos Pesqueros, de INIDEP, 101-115. Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 2004. Hansen, J.E. Anchoíta (Engraulis anchoita). Vol. Contrib. INIDEP 996, in Informe sobre el muestreo bioestadístico de pescado en el puerto de Mar del Plata. Período 1986- 1990. Inf.Téc. INIDEP 15, by INIDEP, 1-24. INIDEP, 1997. Hansen, J.E. Anchoíta (Engraulis anchoita). Vol. 15, in Informe sobre el muestreo bioestadístico de pescado en el Puerto de Mar del Plata. Período 1986-1990., by M.B. Cousseau, 24. Mar del Plata: INIDEP Inf. Téc., 1997. Hansen, J.E. “Anchoíta (Engraulis anchoita).” In Síntesis del estado de las pesquerías marítimas argentinas y de la Cuenca del Plata. Años 1997-1998, con la actualización de 1999, by S.I., Akselman, R. Bezzi, & E.E. Boschi, 205-216. Mar del Plata: Publicaciones Especiales INIDEP, 2000. Hansen, J.E. Campaña “EH-05/97”. Evaluación parcial de anchoíta bonaerense (35°-38°s) en el otoño de 1997 y aprovechamiento comercial. Plan e informe de campaña. Informe Interno INIDEP no publ. Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 1997, 22 & annexes. Hansen, J.E. Campaña “EH-05/98”. Evaluación parcial de anchoíta bonaerense (35°-38°s) en el otoño de 1998 y aprovechamiento comercial. Plan e informe de campaña. Informe Interno INIDEP no publ. Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 1998, 30 & annexes. Hansen, J.E. Campaña “EH-06/06”. Evaluación del stock bonaerense de anchoíta en la primavera de 2006. Plan e informe de campaña. inf. interno INIDEP no publ. Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 2006, 26 & annexes. Hansen, J.E. Campaña “EH-07/02”. Campaña conjunta argentino – uruguaya de evaluación de anchoíta bonaerense (34º - 41º 45´s) en la primavera de 2002. Plan e informe de campaña. Inf. Interno INIDEP no publ. Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 2002, 26 & annexes. Hansen, J.E. Campaña “EH-08/99”. Evaluación de anchoíta bonaerense en la primavera del año 1999. Plan e informe de campaña. Inf. Interno INIDEP no publ. Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 1999, 20 & annexes. Hansen, J.E. Campaña “OB-07/04”. Evaluación del stock bonaerense de anchoíta en la primavera de 2004. Plan e informe de campaña. Inf. Interno INIDEP no publ. Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 2004, 30& annexes. Hansen, J.E. Campaña “OB-10/03”. Evaluación del stock bonaerense de anchoíta en la primavera de 2003. Plan e informe de campaña. Inf. Interno INIDEP no publ. Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 2003, 29 & annexes. 257 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Hansen, J.E. Campaña “OB-12/01”. Evaluación de anchoíta bonaerense en la primavera del año 2001. Plan e informe de campaña. Inf. Interno INIDEP no publ. Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 2001, 20 & annexes. Hansen, J.E. «Capturas máximas de anchoíta aconsejadas para el año 1999.» Inf. Téc. Int. DNI-INIDEP 8/99, 1999, 5. Hansen, J.E. Capturas máximas de anchoíta aconsejadas para el año 1999. Inf. Int. INIDEP 8/99. Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 1999, 5. Hansen, J.E. «Diferencias entre parámetros vitales de las poblaciones bonaerense y patagónica de anchoíta argentina.» Rev. Invest. Desarr. Pesq., nº 9 (1994): 11-24. Hansen, J.E., A.D. Garciarena, and C.C. Buratti. Análisis de cohortes 1990 – 2007 de la población de anchoíta (Engraulis anchoita) al norte de 41ºs, y estimación de una captura biológicamente aceptable . Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 2008, 23. Hansen, J.E., A.D. Garciarena, and C.C. Buratti. Estimación de la abundancia y la composición de la población de anchoíta bonaerense durante el período 1990 – 2008, y de. Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 2009, 22. Hansen, J.E., A.D. Garciarena, and C.C. Buratti. Evolución entre los años 1990 y 2006 de la población de anchoíta (Engraulis anchoita) al norte de 41ºs, y estimación de una captura biológicamente aceptable durante el año 2007. Inf. Téc. int. INIDEP 53/07. Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 2007, 23. Hansen, J.E., A.D. Garciarena, and C.C. Buratti. Recomendación de capturas biológicamente aceptables de anchoíta bonaerense durante el año 2010, a partir de estimaciones de la estructura y abundancia de la población en el período 1990 – 2009. Inf. Téc. Of. INIDEP 05/10. Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 2010, 22. Hansen, J.E., and A. Madirolas. “Algunos resultados de las campañas primaverales de evaluación anual de anchoíta bonaerense efectuadas entre 1993 y 1996. Contrib. INIDEP 1110.” In Ser. Inf. Téc., by INIDEP, 18. Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 1999. Hansen, J.E., and A. Madirolas. “Distribución, evaluación acústica y estructura poblacional de la anchoíta (Engraulis anchoita). Resultados de las campañas del año 1993.” Invest. y Des. P. 10 (1996): 5-21. Hansen, J.E., and A.D Garciarena. Análisis secuenciales de la población de anchoíta (Engraulis anchoita) al norte de 41ºs, y estimación de una captura biológicamente aceptable durante el año 2005 Inf. Téc. int. INIDEP 68/05. Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 2005, 25. Hansen, J.E., and A.D. Garciarena. Abundancia y explotación de la población de anchoita (Engraulis anchoita) al norte de los 41ºs, y consideraciones sobre niveles aconsejables de captura en el año 2002. Inf. Téc. int. INIDEP 111/02. Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 2002, 20. Hansen, J.E., and A.D. Garciarena. Análisis de población virtual de anchoíta (Engraulis anchoita) al norte de los 41ºs, y estimación de capturas biológicamente aceptables durante el año 2003. Inf. Téc. int. INIDEP 63/03. Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 2003, 20. Hansen, J.E., and A.D. Garciarena. Diagnóstico de la población de anchoíta (Engraulis anchoita) al norte de los 41ºs, y estimación de capturas biológicamente aceptables durante el año 2004. Inf. Téc. int. INIDEP 15/04. Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 2004, 20. Hansen, J.E., C.C. Buratti, and A.D. Garciarena. Diagnóstico de la población de anchoíta (Engraulis anchoita) al sur de 41ºs, y estimación de capturas biológicamente aceptables durante el año 2006. Inf. Téc. int. INIDEP 02/06. Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 2006, 13. 258 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Hansen, J.E., Cousseau, M.B. & Gru, D.L. «Características poblacionales de la anchoíta (Engraulis anchoita) del Mar Argentino. Parte I. El largo medio al primer año de vida, crecimiento y mortalidad.» Rev. Invest. Desarr. Pesq., nº 4 (1984): 21-48. Hansen, J.E., Gru, D.L. & Perrotta, R.G. «Resultados de una campaña de investigación sobre la anchoíta (Engraulis anchoita) del sector bonaerense en el otoño de 1983.» Rev. Invest. Desarr. Pesq., nº 5 (1986): 49-68. Hansen, J.E., y A. Madirolas. «Algunos resultados de las campañas primaverales de evaluación anual de anchoíta bonaerense efectuadas entre 1993 y 1996.» XII Simp. Cient. Tec. Com. Téc. Mix. Fr. Mar., Resúmenes, Montevideo, 1997, 6-7. Hansen, Jorge, Ricardo Perrota, y Adrián Madirolas. «Otros peces pelágicos: sardina fueguina, pejerreyes, surel, saraca y anchoa de banco.» En El Mar Argentino y sus recursos pesqueros, de INIDEP, 4: 141-156. INIDEP, 2004. Menni, R.C. «Distribución y biología de Squalus acanthias, Mustelus schmitti y Galeorhinus vitaminicus en el Mar Argentino en agosto-septiembre de 1978 (Chondrichthyes).» Revista del Museo de la Plata (Nueva Serie) Sección Biólogía 13 (1985): 151-182. Menni, R.C., M.B. Cousseau, y A.E. Gosztonyi. «Sobre la biología de los tiburones costeros de la Provincia de Buenos Aires.» Anales de la Sociedad Científica Argentina. 1986. 3-26. Mertz, G., and R.A. Myers. “An extended cohort analysis: incorporating the effect of seasonal catches.” Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 53 (1996): 159-163. Nión, H. & Ríos, C. «Los recursos pelágicos del Uruguay.» Atlantica 13, nº 1 (1991): 201- 214. Olsen, K.B. “Shipboard handling of pelagic fish with special emphasis on fast handling, rapid chilling and the working environment.” In Pelagic Fish. The Resource and its Exploitation., by J.R. Hardyt, R. Burt, & K.J. Whittle, 55-69. Fishing News Books, University Press, Cambridge, 1992. Pájaro, M. «Alimentación de la anchoita argentina (Engraulis anchoita Hubbs y Marini, 1935) (Pisces: Clupeiformes) durante la época reproductiva.» Revista Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero (INIDEP) 15 (2002): 111-125. Pájaro, M. El canibalismo como mecanismo regulador denso-dependiente de mortalidad natural en la anchoíta argentina Engraulis anchoita. Su relación con las estrategias reproductivas de la especie. Tesis de Doctorado, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Mar del Plata: Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, 1998, 187. Pájaro, M., Macchi, G.J. & Sánchez, R.P. «Fecundidad y frecuencia reproductiva de las poblaciones bonaerense y patagónica de anchoíta argentina (Engraulis anchoita).» Rev. Invest. Desarr. Pesq., nº 11 (1997): 19-38. Pájaro, Marcelo, Gustavo Macchi, Ezequial Leonarduzzi, and Jorge Hansen. “Spawning biomass of Argentine anchovy (Engraulis anchoita) from 1996 to 2004 using the Daily Egg Production Method.” Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 89, no. 4 (2009): 829-837. Pastous Madureira et al. . «Current and potential alternate food uses of the Argentine anchoita (Engraulis anchoita) in Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil.» En Fish as feed inputs for aquaculture. Practices, sustainability and implications., de Mohammad R. Hasan, & Matthias Halwart. Rome: FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, 2009. Pauly, D. “On the interrelationships between natural mortality, growth parameters and mean environmental temperature in 175 fish stocks.” J. Cons. Int. Expl. Mer 39, no. 2 (1980): 175-192. 259 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11 Organización Internacional Agropecuaria Bonaerense Anchovy Fishery Perrotta, R.G. Campaña “EH-04/94”. Evaluación parcial de anchoíta bonaerense en el otoño de 1994. Plan e informe de campaña. Inf. interno INIDEP no publ. Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 1994, 10 & annexes. Perrotta, R.G. Campaña “EH-05/96”. Evaluación parcial de anchoíta bonaerense (35°- 38°s) en el otoño de 1996 y aprovechamiento comercial. Plan e informe de campaña. Inf. interno INIDEP no publ. Mar del Plata: INIDEP, 1996, 6 & annexes. Prenski, B.L. & Angelescu, V. «Ecología trófica de la merluza común (Merluccius hubbsi) del Mar Argentino. Parte 3. Consumo anual de alimento a nivel poblacional y su relación con la explotación de las pesquerías multiespecíficas.» INIDEP Doc. Cient., 1, Mar del Plata, 1993, 118. Ramírez, F.C., H. Mianzan, y B.: Viñas, M.D. Santos. «Synopsis on the reproductive biology and early life of Engraulis anchoita, and related environmental conditions in Argentine waters.» Zooplankton.IOC Workshop Rep. 1990. Ratti, M.M. «Estudio comparativo de caracteres merísticos y morfométricos de la anchoíta (Engraulis anchoita).» Rev. Invest. Desarr. Pesq., nº 5 (1986): 169-183. Revina, N.I., and A.V. Baranov. “Some data on the ecology and distribution of the Argentine anchovy (Engraulis anchoita Hubbs y Marini).” Proc. VNIRO 93 (1973): 102-111. Sánchez, R.P., and J. Ciechomski. “Spawning strategies of Engraulis anchoita in response to different environmental conditions: implications on larval growth and survival.” 13th Ann. Larval Fish Conf., Early Life Hist. Sect. Merida: Soc., Am. Fish., 1989. Sánchez, R.P., and P. Martos. “Synopsis on the reproductive biology and early life history of Engraulis anchoita, and related environmental conditions in Argentine waters.” Second IOC Workshop on Sardine/Anchovy Recruitment Project (SARP) in the Southwest Atlantic. Montevideo, 1989. 7. Sánchez, R.P., Ciechomski, J., Pájaro, M., and A. Aubone. “Análisis comparativo del crecimiento larval de la anchoíta (Engraulis anchoita) en diferentes áreas de cría del Mar Argentino y Zona Común de Pesca.” V Simp. Cient. Com. Téc. Mixta Fr. Mar. Mar del Plata, 1988. Sánchez, R.P., y J. Ciechomski. «Spawning and nursery grounds of pelagic fish species in the seashelf off Argentina and adjacent areas.» Sci. Mar. 59, nº 3-4 (1995): 455-478. Thompson, W.F., y F.H. Bell. «Biological statistics of the Pacific halibut fishery. 2. Effect of changes in intensity upon total yield and yield per unit of gear.» Rep. Int. Fish. (Pacific Halibut) Comm., s.f., 49. Uriarte, A., P. Prouzet, y B. Villamor. «Bay of Biscay and Ibero Atlantic anchovy population and their fisheries.» Sci. Mar. 60, nº 2 (1996): 237-255. 260 File OIA FINAL PUBLIC REPORT 08/07/11