INIDEP Informe Técnico Nº 53 – 2003

DATO, C.V., VILLARINO, M.F. & CAÑETE, G.R. 2003. Dinámica de la flota comercial argentina dirigida a la pesquería de merluza (Merluccius hubbsi) en el Mar Argentino. Período 1990-1997. INIDEP Informe Técnico, 53: 25 p. Ver texto completo

Dynamics of the argentine commercial fleet directed to hake fishery (Merluccius hubbsi) in the Argentine Sea. 1990-1997 period. Since 1990, the argentine commercial fleet directed to hake has obtained more than 70% of catches south of 41º S while to the north of this latitude the activity concentrated between 39º S and 41º S. Bearing in mind the different characteristics of ice-chilling and freezer fleets, their activities were analyzed separately. Considering the relative percentages of catches declared in fishery statistics, the dynamics of each fleet is described per quarter and year. Special reference is made to 1997 when a closed area to protect juveniles was introduced between 44º S-47º S and 62º W-65º W. The freezer fleet activity, concentrated south of 41º S, especially south of 43º S, was stable throughout the period. It grouped around the closed area of Isla Escondida during the summer (1 st. and 4 th. quarters) to disperse in deeper waters in winter (2 nd. and 3 rd. quarters). In the 2º quarter it formed two nuclei, one to the north -and the most important- to the south of 41º S. The dynamics of the ice-chilling fleet per season was similar to that of the freezer fleet; nevertheless, contrary to the latter, activities concentrated between 39º S and 42º S and, of the two nuclei formed in the 2 nd. quarter, the most important was the one north of 41º S. In 1995 a marked change was observed when concentration of the fleet ranged between 39º S and 42º S and the south nucleous practically disappeared.