Nine of the 26 Chilean fisheries having Biological Reference Points presented a progressive recovery last year and have gone to Full Exploitation status. Some of them are the fisheries for horse mackerel, common sardine and shrimp, which are the main fisheries exploited in the Bío Bío Region.
These data are derived from the Situation Report of the Main Chilean Fisheries, 2017, which has been published by the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (SUBPESCA), Diario Concepción reported.
Of the total fisheries covered by the report, one fishery is under-exploited, eight in full exploitation, eight overfished, eight depleted or collapsed and one in an undetermined status. However, SUBPESCA highlights that several overexploited fisheries have encouraging performance indicators that they suggest are undergoing a recovery process, which is expected to increase in response to the regulatory and management measures adopted within the framework of their respective Management Plans.
The full exploitation phase implies a level of exploitation in which there are no risks for the survival of exploited populations, explains marine biologist Eduardo Tarifeño, from the Department of Zoology at the University of Concepción. That the fisheries for horse mackerel, sardine and shrimp are in this status is positive news for the fishing activity of the Bío Bío region, given that these fisheries would be maintained with the positive economic and social consequences, as long as the measure extends in time, the scientist stressed.
In his opinion, the results delivered by SUBPESCA indicate that the administration and management measures of fishery resources implemented according to the provisions of the new Fisheries Law would be fulfilling its objective of recovering some fisheries at a level that would make it possible to think that its sustainability could be achieved.
“Special mention should be made to the establishment of the Committees and Management Plans that make it possible for all the actors of the sector to participate in the analysis, discussion and consensus of the administration measures. But perhaps, the most relevant thing in the law is the function and high responsibility that was given to the respective Scientific and Technical Committees (CCT) to analyze the reports on the status of the fisheries, and to propose the ranges of the fishing quotas so that they do not affect the conservation of resources. In this sense, the challenge is not only to maintain this function of the CCT, but to strengthen their action and free them from any pressure that moves them away from objectivity in their decisions,” said Tarifeño, who is also a member of the National Fisheries Council.
But he also stressed the need for CCTs to have reliable and real statistical information, which strongly raises the need to thoroughly review the methodologies of sampling and controls that SERNAPESCA applies in its responsibility for fisheries control. He also stressed that all possible alternatives should be sought to end illegal fishing, very widespread in some fisheries, such as the common hake.
In reference to the horse mackerel fishery, which is the main industrial fishery in the central-southern zone, ASIPES sustainability manager, Monserrat Jamett, indicated that it is an example of the correct administration that has been carried out within the Regional Fisheries Organization of the South Pacific, and that has even allowed to tender 15 per cent, after reaching its maximum sustainable yield (MSY).
“However, with regard to the common hake, ASIPES hopes that illegal fishing can be incorporated as a variable when setting global annual quotas. Today it is the main scourge that affects the conservation of fishery resources, mainly hake from V to VIII Regions. It is estimated that the illegal fishing of this resource quadruples the quota of the year,” he added.
Due to the above, it considered of great importance to approve the project that modernizes and strengthens the National Fisheries Service so that with more tools and human capital, this bad practice can be ended.
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