INIDEP Informe Técnico Nº 25 – 1999

Wöhler, O.C.; Marí, N.R. 1999. Aspectos de la pesca de la polaca (Micromesistius australis) por parte de la flota argentina en el período 1989 – 1995.
INIDEP
Informe Técnico, 25: 26 p. Ver texto completo

Basic aspects concerning southern blue whiting (Micromesistius australis) fishing by the Argentine fleet in the period 1989-1995 are analyzed. Catch and effort statistics, fleet operation modalities and spatial and temporary characteristics of fishing activities are included. The basic information to perform this analysis was collected from the fishing statistics provided by the Subsecretaría de Agricultura, Ganadería y Pesca of Argentina and from reports of the Observers Program on board of the commercial fleet. It was in 1989, when the first ship for surimi production entered the fishery, that southern blue whiting catches carried out by the Argentine fleet became important. As of 1989 catches increased in a steady way to stabilize at near 100,000 annual tons. At present, the Argentine surimi fleet catches amount to 95% of the total yield in the country and to over 70% of the total yield reported for the species in the Southwest Atlantic. Ushuaia is the main operation harbour. Southern blue whiting fishing area extends from south of 45° S up to 56 ° S. The largest catches come from a small sector located east-northeast of the de los Estados Island, between 52° – 55° S and 63° – 64° W. A notorious seasonality in the fishery was not observed. Southern blue whiting represents almost 90% of the surimi ships catches whereas for traditional factory vessels the figure amounts to only 14%. The total effort directed to southern blue whiting showed a general rising trend until 1993 when it started decreasing. The same trend was observed in catches. During the study period, the average catch per unit of effort (CPUE) for the surimi fleet was estimated to be 6.65 tons per trawl hour.