Golden kingklip, Genypterus blacodes. (Photo Credit: Norman Holtzhausen/CC BY-SA 3.0/derivate work)
ARGENTINATuesday, November 04, 2014, 22:40 (GMT + 9)
The Federal Fisheries Council (CFP) established a total allowable catch (TAC) for golden kingklip (Genypeterus blacodes) this year to 7,700 tonnes.
According to Resolution 43/14, the authority set this capture in a "precautionary way," based on the assessment of the resource status by the National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP).
This study reveals that the relationship between the current spawning stock biomass and the balance one is maintained below 2012 results although it shows slightly higher values compared to those of 2013.
Due to this biological crisis, scientists propose various alternatives for the biologically allowable catch (BAC), under different recovery scenarios of 20 per cent or 30 per cent of reproductive biomass.
INIDEP researchers also note that "the size structure of the landed golden kingklip indicates no improvement."
Anyway, it is expected that the fleet does not manage to unload the 7,700 tonnes set as TAC this year.
According to the data provided by the Undersecretariat of Fisheries Office, between 1 January and 21 October, 2014 a total of 4,820.3 tonnes of golden kingklip were landed in Argentine ports, a volume that reflects an annual decline of about 17 per cent.
During the past year, a total of 6,691.5 tonnes of golden kingklip was landed, that is to say, 33.9 per cent less than in 2012 (10,111.7 tonnes).
The CFP set a precautionary CMP for the year 2015 at the same level as this year.