Biodiversity of the Patagonia Shelf Draft Report November 1999 The Marine Resources Assessment Group (MRAG) Report, 1999 Table of Contents Executive Summary............................................................................................................ 6 General Background ....................................................................................................... 6 Acronyms............................................................................................................................ 8 1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 9 Study Scope and Objectives............................................................................................ 9 Background To This Study ......................................................................................... 9 Overall Objective of the Biodiversity of the Patagonia Shelf Study .......................... 9 Overall Study Activities.............................................................................................. 9 The Economic Evaluation Focuses on the Following Activities.............................. 10 Defining Biological Diversity................................................................................... 10 1.1. Prioritized Threats to Biodiversity........................................................................ 11 1.1.1. Overexploitation ............................................................................................ 12 1.1.2. Physical Alteration......................................................................................... 12 1.1.3. Pollution......................................................................................................... 12 1.1.4. Introduction of Alien Species ........................................................................ 12 1.1.5. Global Phenomena......................................................................................... 12 1.1.6. Tourism.......................................................................................................... 13 Table 1. Issues affecting biodiversity on the Patagonia shelf................................... 14 1.2. Cause and Effect ................................................................................................... 16 1.3. Broader Ecosystem Consequences ....................................................................... 17 1.4. The Need for Integrated Management .................................................................. 18 2. THE PATAGONIAN SHELF ..................................................................................... 20 2.1. Geography............................................................................................................. 20 2.1.1. Chubut............................................................................................................ 21 2.1.2. Río Negro....................................................................................................... 21 2.1.3. Santa Cruz...................................................................................................... 22 2.1.4. Tierra del Fuego............................................................................................. 22 2.2. Jurisdictional Issues .............................................................................................. 22 2.3. Oceanography ....................................................................................................... 24 2.4. Primary Productivity............................................................................................. 26 2.5. Human Settlements ............................................................................................... 27 3. INSTITUTIONS .......................................................................................................... 27 3.1. Institutional Framework of the Fishing Sector ..................................................... 28 3.2. Fisheries Management .......................................................................................... 30 3.2.1. National Level................................................................................................ 30 3.2.1.1. Federal Fisheries Council (CFP)............................................................. 30 3.2.1.2. Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food (SAGPyA)... 30 3.2.1.3. Secretariat of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development (SRNyDS)............................................................................................................. 31 3.2.2. Provincial Level............................................................................................. 31 3.2.2.1. Province of Buenos Aires ....................................................................... 31 3.2.2.2. Province of Río Negro ............................................................................ 32 3.2.2.3. Province of Chubut ................................................................................. 32 3.2.2.4. Province of Santa Cruz ........................................................................... 33 3.2.2.5. Province of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctic, and Islands of the South Atlantic ............................................................................................................................... 34 1 3.3. Fisheries Research ................................................................................................ 35 3.3.1. National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP)......... 35 3.3.2. Research Center for Fishing Technology and Regional Foods (CITEP)...... 35 3.4. Fisheries Monitoring and Enforcement ................................................................ 36 3.4.1. Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food (SAGPyA)......... 36 3.4.2. Coast Guard (PNA)........................................................................................ 36 3.4.3. Argentine Navy (AA) ................................................................................... 37 3.6. Foreign Affairs and Fisheries................................................................................ 37 3.6.1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Religious Affairs ....... 37 3.7. National Senate and Chamber of Deputies in Fisheries........................................ 38 3.8. Private Sector Organizations in Fisheries............................................................. 39 3.9. Environment Organizations Outside of Fisheries................................................. 39 3.9.1. Federal Level ................................................................................................. 39 3.9.1.1. Secretaría de Recursos Naturales y Desarrollo Sustentable (SRN&DS) 39 3.9.1.2. Prefectura Naval Argentina (Coast Guard)............................................. 39 3.9.1.3. Armada Nacional (Navy)........................................................................ 39 3.9.1.4. Consejo Federal de Medio Ambiente (COFEMA) ................................. 39 3.9.2. Provincial and Municipal Agencies in Environment..................................... 40 3.9.3. Environmental Research Institutions ............................................................. 42 3.9.3.1 Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO)........................................... 42 3.9.3.2. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC)........................ 42 3.9.3.3. Centro Nacional Patagónico (CENPAT) ................................................ 42 3.9.3.4. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia “San Juan Bosco” ...................... 42 3.9.3.5. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral ....................................... 42 3.9.3.6. Instituto de Biología Marina y Pesquera Contralmirante Storni, San Antonio Oeste, Río Negro..................................................................................... 43 3.9.3.7. Other Universities ................................................................................... 43 3.9.4. Environmental NGOs..................................................................................... 43 3.9.5. International Institutions ................................................................................ 44 3.9.5.1. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) ...................................... 44 3.9.5.2. The World Bank...................................................................................... 44 3.9.5.3. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) ............................... 44 3.9.5.4. Other Organizations................................................................................ 44 4. FISHERIES MANAGEMENT AND MARINE BIODIVERSITY ............................ 45 4.1. History of the Argentine Fisheries Sector............................................................. 45 4.2. Fisheries of the Argentine Sea .............................................................................. 47 4.2.1. Fisheries Resources........................................................................................ 47 4.2.1.1. Main Fish Species................................................................................... 48 4.2.1.1.1. Demersal Species............................................................................. 48 4.2.1.1.2. Pelagic Species................................................................................. 50 4.2.1.2. Main Crustacean and Molluskan