Argentina hake - bottom trawl

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Overview

The Argentine hake (Merluccius hubbsi) bottom trawl - freezing fleet - FIP is being implemented by Pedro Moscuzza e Hijos S.A, Estrella Patagonica S.A., Grupo Iberconsa de Argentina S.A., Giorno S.A., Pescasol S.A., Costa Marina S.A. and Pesquera Comercial S.A. with the technical support of CeDePesca. The FIP aims to achieve a certifiable status for the fishery against the MSC standard in the shortest timeframe possible.

Argentine hake (Merluccius hubbsi) is a demersal-pelagic species that inhabits cold waters related to sub-antarctic currents. It is one of the leading fishing resources in the Argentine Sea.  The Southern stock of the species is distributed between 41°S and 48°S. The industrial fishery is comprised of two main fleets: the freezing fleet and the chilling fleet. Both fleets use bottom trawls as fishing gear. The fishery is managed by the Fisheries Federal Council (Consejo Federal Pesquero) and the National Secretariat for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (Secretaría de Agricultura, Ganadería y Pesca de la Nación), while research and stock assessments are undertaken by the National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero).

The harvest strategy consists of different elements including management measures related to the control of fishing effort (e.g. fishing quotas, fishing zones, closures), surveillance and control measures (e.g. vessel satellite monitoring, inspection of landings, catch certificates), fishery monitoring (e.g. landing statistics, onboard observer programs, scientific research campaigns) and assessments of the status of the stock through mathematical models.

 

FIP Description 

The Argentine hake (Merluccius hubbsi) bottom trawl - freezing fleet - FIP is being implemented by Pedro Moscuzza e Hijos S.A, Estrella Patagonica S.A., Grupo Iberconsa de Argentina S.A.,

FIP Objective(s) 

The main objective of the Argentine hake (Merluccius hubbsi) bottom trawl - freezing fleet - FIP is to achieve a certifiable status of the fishery against the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard by March 2025.  To this end, the FIP has the following specific objectives:

  • Achieve the establishment of explicit, well-defined harvest control rules.
  • Achieve the definition of a limit reference point for the southern stock of Argentine hake and the periodic peer review of the stock assessment.
  • Promote the continuity and regularity of research campaigns directed at the Argentine hake stock.
  • Collect additional data on the interactions of the Argentine hake fishery with other components of the ecosystem through the implementation of a Private On-Board Observer Program.
  • Support the development of research activities related to the improvement of the selectivity of fishing gears to reduce bycatch.
  • Promote the adoption of a Recovery Plan for pink cuskeel.
  • Ensure the improvement of the fishery-specific management system, including the periodic evaluation of its performance.
  • Promote the bilateral cooperation between Argentina and Spain within the framework of the existing Memorandum of Understanding for the Sustainable Management of the Argentine hake fishery in the area adjacent to the Argentine EEZ.
FIP Type 
Comprehensive
FIP Stage 
Stage 4: Improvements in Fishing Practices or Fishery Management
Start and Projected End Dates
April 2022
March 2025
Next Progress Report Due 
Friday, January 31, 2025
Species 
Common Name 
Argentine Hake
Scientific Name
Merluccius hubbsi
Gear Type 
Bottom Trawl
Location
FAO Major Fishing Area
Area 41 (Atlantic, Southwest)
Exclusive Economic Zones
Country 
Argentina
Geographic Scope 
south of parallel 41°S
Country Flag of Vessel 
Argentina
Landings
Estimated Total FIP Landings 
82,285 metric tons
Estimated Total Fishery Landings 
99,918 metric tons
Landings Date 
December 2022
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FIP at a Glance

View current status
April 01, 2022
29% 46% 25%
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
A Advanced 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
Mar 2025

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
CeDePesca
Organization Type 
NGO
Primary Contact 
Ángel DIAZ LUGO
Email 
angel.diaz@cedepesca.net
Website Name 
www.cedepesca.net
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.
18322