Coastal fishing boats of Puerto Rawson moored due to conflicts. (Photo: Stockfile)

Union conflicts in Chubut could affect shrimp fishing

ARGENTINA
Wednesday, November 07, 2018, 02:00 (GMT + 9)

The month of November has begun with an uncertain scenario for the yellow fleet of Puerto Rawson due to the strikes and open conflicts with the seafarers and naval operators’ sectors.

Revista Puerto recalls that last year was a historic record in terms of shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri) catches, which reached 243,223 tonnes throughout the country. In Rawson, 74,925 tonnes were landed, and in the months of November and December there was a strong movement, with landings ranging between 10,000 and 13,000 tonnes, in what was the start of the last season in jurisdictional waters of Chubut.

Photo: Courtesy Revista Puerto

According to the registry of the Undersecretary of Fisheries of the Nation, until last October 25, 212,886 tonnes of shrimp were landed in the seaports of the country, a volume similar to that of 2017. The port of the capital of Chubut had until then almost 51,000 tonnes of the crustacean, a figure also similar to that of 2017. This would lead to forecast that the year will end with a catch amounting to 240,000 tonnes.

But if union conflicts in the province's yellow fleet are not solved or unleashed in the short term, it is likely that this situation will have an impact on the overall landings, and also on the industrial activity of the plants.

Detail of a fishing net with a catch of Patagonian shrimp (Photo: Stock File)

Official statistics indicate that in 2012, 15,768 tonnes of shrimp were landed at the port of Rawson. In 2013, the artisanal and yellow fleet reported landings of 20,964 tonnes, while in 2014 landings reached 33,456 tonnes, and 38,204 tonnes in 2015. In 2016 a record high of 47,686 tonnes was reached, which was exceeded last year, when this port in Chubut received 74,925 tonnes of the crustacean. Now, in ten months of the current year, the accumulated landings amount to 50,909 tonnes.

Rawson Port Argentina (Photo: Google Map/FIS)

On the other hand, the Fisheries Research and Development Institute (INIDEP) plans to start this week the shrimp survey season in the area of San Jorge Gulf and the Chubut coast, aboard the freezer ship Bogavante Segundo, of Iberconsa from Argentina.

One of the main objectives will be to verify the presence of shrimp concentrations that are accessible and vulnerable to the commercial shrimp fishery network in the areas between the parallels 43º30’S and 47º15'S and west of the length 064º00'W.

► Aerial photo of Port Rawson with yellow fleet moored. (Photo: Stock File)

In addition, the scientists will determine the composition and abundance of the epi-benthic fauna associated with the main distribution bottom of the species and will take samples of zooplankton, with the purpose of locating eggs and shrimp larvae.

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