Argentina flathead - bottom trawl

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Overview

Simplot Australia and Pacific West have decided to partner with CeDePesca to implement a FIP, with the ultimate goal of achieving a certifiable status for the Argentina flathead bottom trawl fishery.

Argentine companies Comercial Inal 2005 SA, Frigosur SRL, Mardi Slimentos SA and industrias Santa Maria del Mar SRL joined as partners of the project.

Flathead (Percophis brasiliensis) has a wide latitudinal distribution from 23° S in Brazil to 47° S in Argentina. This species constitutes the most abundant component of the total landings of demersal coastal fish assemblage in Argentina. The highest concentrations off the Argentinean coast occur in spring, between 39° and 41° S.

The maximum size observed is about 70 cm in total length, but the most frequent sizes in the catches are in the range of 25 to 60 cm.

Flathead is caught by three fleets (inshore, coastal, and deep-sea), using bottom trawls. It is used as skinless and boneless fillet, frozen for the external market and fresh for the domestic market.

FIP Description 

Simplot Australia and Pacific West have decided to partner with CeDePesca to implement a FIP, with the ultimate goal of achieving a certifiable status for the Argentina flathead bottom trawl fishery.

FIP Objective(s) 

The ultimate objective of this FIP is to achieve the fishery’s certifiable status against the MSC standard by the end of October 2028.   To this purpose, the FIP has set the following specific objectives:

  1. Promote the adoption of an explicit catch control rule and the adoption of target and limit reference points specific for the stock.
  2. Compile information that allows the understanding of the impacts of the fishery on other components of the ecosystem.
  3. Ensure that the fishery obtains explicit management objectives both in relation to the target species and other components of the ecosystem.
  4. Promote the creation of a Stakeholder Commission for the fishery in the context of the Joint Technical Commission for the Maritime Front (CTMFM) with the participation of stakeholders
  5. Promoting improvements in fishing practices and in the management of fishery impacts on other ecosystem components.
FIP Type 
Comprehensive
FIP Stage 
Stage 3: FIP Implementation
Start and Projected End Dates
November 2023
October 2028
Next Progress Report Due 
Friday, January 31, 2025
Next Independent Evaluation 
Sunday, January 31, 2027
Species 
Common Name 
Brazilian Flathead
Scientific Name
Percophis brasiliensis
Gear Type 
Bottom Trawl
Location
FAO Major Fishing Area
Area 41 (Atlantic, Southwest)
Exclusive Economic Zones
Country 
Argentina
Geographic Scope 
North of 39°S Within the Argentina-Uruguay Common Fishing Zone (ZCPAU) and in Argentina waters under the jurisdiction of the province of Buenos Aires.
Country 
Uruguay
Country Flag of Vessel 
Argentina
Regional Fisheries Management Organization
CTMFM
Landings
Estimated Total FIP Landings 
5,990 metric tons
Estimated Total Fishery Landings 
6,084 metric tons
Landings Date 
December 2022
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FIP at a Glance

View current status
November 01, 2023
54% 46%
Progress Rating (A) Advanced Progress

Reserved for comprehensive FIPs that have achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result within the past 12 months.

(B) Good Progress

A basic FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result within 12 months.

(C) Some Recent Progress
  • A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 12 (but less than 24) months AND has reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
  • A FIP younger than 12 months that has never achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result but has reported a Stage 3 activity within the first 12 months.
(D) Some Past Progress
  • A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 12 (but less than 24) months BUT has not reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
  • A FIP for which the most recent Stage 4 or 5 result is more than 24 (but less than 36) months old AND a Stage 3 activity has been reported within six months.
  • A FIP 12-36 months old that has never reported a Stage 4 or 5 result AND has reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
(E) Negligible Progress
  • A FIP for which the most recent Stage 4 or 5 result is more than 24 (but less than 36) months old, with no Stage 3 activity reported in the last six months.
  • A FIP younger than 12 months with no Stage 3 activity reported within 12 months.
  • A FIP 12-36 months old that has never reported a Stage 4 or 5 result AND has not reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.

The ratings are currently derived by SFP from publicly available data on FIP websites, including FisheryProgress.org, and are determined using the following methodology: View PDF
C Some Recent Progress
Actions Complete

This pie chart represents completed environmental actions. Non-completed environmental actions may contain completed sub-tasks that are not illustrated here. For more information on environmental action progress visit the Actions Progress tab.
  • Complete
  • Incomplete
Next Update Due FisheryProgress requires a FIP to provide update reports every six months, and two missed reports will render the FIP inactive. If a report is overdue, this date will appear red.
Jan 2025
Target End Date
Oct 2028

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
CeDePesca
Organization Type 
NGO
Primary Contact 
Elba Brunetti
Email 
elba.brunetti@cedepesca.net
Website Name 
CeDePesca
FIP Identification Number The FIP Identification Number is automatically generated by FisheryProgress when a FIP profile is created. While the number itself is not meaningful, they are used by NGOs, academia, and industry to refer to FIPs in a consistent way.
22430