Argentine-Uruguayan Hake Fishery Improvement Project Archive Date: March 2014
The Argentine-Uruguayan Hake FIP was transitioned from SFP to CeDePesca in March 2014; the following FIP report reflects the status of the FIP at the time of transition. The project was later reclassified as a CeDePesca Improvement Project (CIP) because it did not meet the criteria for a basic FIP. The current CIP public report can be found on CeDePesca’s website, here.
Species: Argentine hake (Merluccius hubbsi)
FIP Scope/Scale: Fishery level
Fishery Location: Argentina, Uruguay. For map see Argentine hake - North of 41ºS
FIP Participants: CeDePesca
FIP Stakeholders: • SFP • Joint Management Commission (CTMFM) • Federal Fisheries Council (CFP)
Sustainability Information: See Summary and Sustainability Info tabs at Argentine hake - North of 41ºS
Date Publicly Announced: 2011
FIP Stage: 4, FIP is delivering improvement in policies or practices
Current Improvement Recommendations: • Implement a joint recovery plan • Improve the robustness of fisheries science common approach • Implement adaptive annual TACs following scientific recommendations • Clarify identification of common hake stocks.
Background:
Fisheries market: Argentine-Uruguayan hake is a bottom-trawling fishery, which produces around 60,000 tonnes annually.
This export-oriented fishery’s primary markets for Argentine product are Brazil (24%), Ukraine (13%), Spain (8%), Italy (8%), and the US (8%) (Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries - Argentina).
Catches of hake in Argentina have been increasing since 2008. In 2013, catches of hake by the Argentine fishing fleet increased to 275,705 tonnes, of which around 23,600 were from the stock north of parallel 41ºS, and 252,137 tonnes were from the southern stock.
During 2013, frozen fish fillets comprised the highest percentage of exports (56%). Brazil remains the most important market for exports of Argentine hake, with a 22-percent share of total sales. Ukraine is the second export destination for Argentine hake (13%), followed by Spain (11%), Italy (6%), and the US (5%).
On the other hand, the Uruguayan fishing industry is going through a critical period due to a number of factors that reduce its competitiveness, such as its key market blockage, high costs, a decline in catches, and trade disputes. The fishing-related businesses are feeling the impact of a fall in international sales, and the possible closure of an important destination market for its exports—Nigeria—may compound the situation.
According to the data provided by the National Directorate of Aquatic Resources (DINARA), in 2012 Uruguay exported fishery products for USD 189 million, 20 percent less than the previous year. According to the 2012 Statistical Fisheries Bulletin issued by DINARA, the 2012 export volume was 17 percent lower than in 2011. And the entrepreneurs of the sector expect a similar drop by late 2013.
According to Fripur, the main Uruguayan fisheries resource exporting firm, “the recession in the European Union (EU) and the stimulus measures implemented by developed countries to overcome the crisis have had an adverse effect on the industry.” Fripur recorded sales in 2011 of USD 75 million, which represented 32 percent of total exports of the Uruguayan fishing industry, according to an Institute Uruguay XXI report.
The fall in exports to the EU (32 percent in value and 44 percent in volume) and to Brazil (27 percent in value and 15 percent in volume) has turned Africa into a more important market for the Uruguayan firms. Sales to Nigeria, for example, grew by almost 40 percent in value from 2011 to 2012, reaching USD 45.5 million, and positioning Nigeria as the primary market. But the eventual closure of the market by the government’s decision to restrict fish imports generates a new concern for the Uruguayan industry.
At the time the FIP began, the fishery faced significant problems: • Spawning stock was below its biological limit reference point (100,000 tonnes). • The actual catch was over the advised total allowable catch (TAC). • Catchers were landing more juveniles than adults and refused to use devices that would let juveniles escape the trawl nets. • There was neither a recovery plan in place to deal with these issues nor any effective monitoring and enforcement of regulations.
Part of this fishery is jointly managed by Uruguay and Argentina, and part is managed by Argentina alone, adding diplomatic difficulties to addressing these problems. In addition, the fishery has to resolve the issue of the various parties agreeing on definitions of the different stocks of hake.
SFP is collaborating on this FIP with CeDePesca, a South American NGO whose mission is to work toward socially, economically, and ecologically sustainable fisheries. CeDePesca has been involved with the Argentine hake fishery for over 15 years.
Industry engagement has been sporadic and, to date, the project has instead triggered a different approach: an active correspondence exchange with Argentine and Uruguayan delegations at the Joint Management Commission (CTMFM) resulting in positive changes in the quality of management. The project had engaged in a dialogue with the most important hake company in Uruguay (FRIPUR SA), but the company refused to take leadership of the FIP. Argentinean companies are very troubled with domestic financial problems and sustainability is not at the top of their agendas.
FIP Objectives: The objectives of the improvement efforts for this fishery are: • Implement a joint recovery plan • Improve transparency for the CTMFM and for both sides separately • Improve the robustness of the fisheries science common approach • Implement effective annual TACs following scientific recommendations • Employ management measures in Argentina coherent with TAC joint measures • Increase reproductive biomass (including reducing bycatch) • Clarify identification of common hake stocks in the southwestern Atlantic.
Progress Update:
2011
April – June
Transparency of stock assessments and fisheries statistics had improved in 2011, and monthly landings information is published regularly on the CTMFM website
The enforcement of EU Regulation 1005/2008 against IUU has helped to reduce underreporting in Argentina, although many problems remain.
July – September
In July, CTMFM-issued Resolution 6/2011 established a winter juvenile’s protection zone, bringing the total to four seasonal protection zones covering the entire year (see CTMFM Resolution No. 6/11).
In July, CTMFM-issued Resolution 7/2011 curtailed the TAC by 45 percent to be in line with scientific advice; established an annual review for the TAC (previously a fixed number politically defined); and established a deadline to approve a Management Plan, including target and limit reference points and terms to achieve the management objectives. This would be the first fishery in the La Plata River zone to be managed under these advanced criteria (see CTMFM Resolution No. 7/11).
October – December
In November, at the joint scientific symposium, both Argentine and Uruguayan authorities agreed to re-launch the Environmental Subcommission and to invite NGOs and other stakeholders to be part of the work of CTMFM.
In December, Argentina reduced its national TAC by 17 percent.
2012
July – September
In August, the scientific working group of CTMFM announced some important progress, although the details of the achievements have not yet been made public. In the same month, CeDePesca sent a note to Argentine Undersecretary for Fisheries to express concern about the status of the stock and TACs established by the CTMFM and the CFP, which, together, surpass the scientific recommendation.
In August, the Federal Fisheries Council (CFP) required that ships authorized to catch hake and greater than 33 meters in length have an inspector or observer on board.
In late September, a new joint survey was held by the CTMFM Commission through the Uruguayan vessel Aldebaran to get information about biomass and age structure of hake within the common fishing ground, as well as an estimation of bycatch species abundance.
October – December
In October, the CTMFM Hake Working Group met to discuss the implementation of the evaluation model and the CBA’s recommendation.
December 3–5: Workshop of the CTMFM Hake Working Group
December 5–7: CTMFM Scientific Sessions on "Collaborative research in the Argentine-Uruguayan Common Fishing Zone: progress and prospects" were held in Buenos Aires. Participants included 51 researchers and technicians from INIDEP (El Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero – Argentina) and DINARA (Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuaticos - Uruguay); fishery officers; delegates and advisers from both countries; and representatives of the CARP (Comision Administradora del Rio de la Plata), CARU (Comision Administradora del Rio Uruguay), and Secretariat of Environment and Sustainable Development of Argentina. No public information is available about the meeting.
In December, CFP issued Resolution 26/12, establishing the hake catch quota at 35,000 tonnes out of the Argentine-Uruguayan Common Fishing Zone. This is the first time that Argentine authorities establish a TAC by the half of the total advised by INIDEP, leaving room for the other half being caught at the Common Fishing Zone.
2013
January – March
The CTMFM catch statistics were updated through November 2012 on their website, after a period with no updates.
April – June
April 12: Note from CeDePesca to CTMFM asking for the progress on Management Plan in this fishery, according CTM Resolution 07/11.
June 14: Researchers from the National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) and the National Direction of Aquatic Resources of Uruguay (DINARA) launched the joint campaign “Identification of spawning and nursery areas for the common hake between 34°S and 40°S" aboard the research vessel Dr. Eduardo L. Holmberg.
June 28: CTMFM replied to CeDePesca that the Management Plan process was completed in March 2013 with the joint implementation of agreed evaluation models, the selection of biological reference points and the time required for resource recovery, and a projection of the biologically acceptable catch for the Argentine-Uruguayan Common Fishing Zone in 2013. However, none of those advances are publicly registered. June 29: The closed winter area was implemented by the Commission (CTMFM Resolution No. 05/13).
July – September
July 29: Letter from CeDePesca to CTMFM requesting that advances in the management plan are made publicly available.
August 2: TAC and management measures established for the common hake in the common fishing zone (ZCPAU): 50,000 tonnes and an additional 10,000 tons as a further reserve (CTMFM Resolution No. 12/13). This increased the total potential catch to a point above best available scientific recommendations and disregards the Federal Fishery Council’s authorization of only 35,000 tonnes of landings outside the ZCP. INIDEP noted that the total catch should be less than 71,000 tonnes to recover the fishery in the mid-term.
September 16: Hake spring closed area implemented (October 1 – December 31) (CTMFM Resolution No. 14/13).
October – December
October: After a period of uncertainty, a new minister was appointed and the current Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Chairman of Federal Fisheries Council were ratified.
October 22–25: Meeting for bilateral research campaigns – CTMFM organized a workshop between researchers from Argentina (INIDEP) and Uruguay (DINARA) to define the activities during research cruises. The meeting took place in the Argentine Chancellery.
November 21: INIDEP’s official report indicated that Reproductive Biomass and Total Biomass decreased approximately 8 percent (BR) and 22 percent (BT) for 2012, recommending a biological catch of no more than 32,000 tonnes for 2014.
December 12: CFP set the Maximum Allowable Catch for 2014 for northern hake stock at 32,000 tonnes (Resolution No. 14/13).
December 19: CTMFM issued Resolution No. 16/13, which establishes the summer closed area for Merluccius hubbsi (January 1 to March 31, inclusive).
Also on December 19, CTMFM issued Resolution No. 17/13, which sets the Total Allowable Catch for 2014 established in 50,000 tonnes.
2014
January – March
January 15: CeDePesca met with Argentina’s Undersecretary of Fisheries, who confirmed that a response to a July letter related to the progress of the CTMFM’s Management Plan was being drafted by the CTMFM.
March 19: CeDePesca received a letter from the CTMFM stating the advances in the development of a Management Plan for the shared fishery , but nothing has been officially published yet. The same letter points out that the CTMFM is working on a comprehensive research plan, and that additional multidisciplinary technical activities are scheduled to happen before the end of the first half of 2014.
Also on the same date, the CTMFM issued Resolution No. 01/14, which establishes the closed autumn area for this fishery in waters of the Common Fishing Zone.
Also in March, the CTMFM website was updated to include full 2013 fisheries statistics in the area of Common Fishing Zone (ZCPAU) and the announcement of CTMFM’s XVII Scientific Symposium, which will take place next November with the central theme “Recovering fisheries: Population, environmental and administrative aspects.”
Also in March, this FIP fully transitioned from SFP to CeDePesca’s leadership, including hosting of the public report at cedepesca.net.
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Fis CeDePesca Februa CeDePe her worked ry sca y with the 2010 National General Auditing office (AGN) on the triennial audit of the fisheries sector. The audit was complete by the beginning of 2010 and approved in March 2011 by the Auditors Council. The AGN reports to the National Congress and its conclusions are influential for regulators. Fis FIP met Februa CeDePe her with the ry sca y new 2012 Undersecre tary of Fisheries (Argentina) and discussed the stock status and manageme nt measures needed to recover the stock. Fis Note to April CeDePe her CTMFM 2013 sca y asking for the progress on Manageme nt Plan in this fishery, according to CTMFM Resolution 07/11
Fis CTMFM June CeDePe her replied to 2013 sca y CeDePesca that the Manageme nt Plan process was completed in March 2013 with the joint implementa tion of agreed evaluation models, the selection of biological reference points and the time required for resource recovery, and a projection of the biologicall y acceptable catch for the Argenti ne- Uruguayan Common Fishing Zone in 2013. Fis CeDePesca March CeDePe her received a 2014 sca y letter from the CTMFM stating the advances in the developme nt of a Manageme nt Plan for this shared fishery. Letter to July CeDePe CTMFM 2013 sca requesting that advances in the manageme nt plan be made publicly available.
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