Argentina flathead

Simplot Australia and CeDePesca signed a Memorandum of Understanding to implement the prospective stages of a Fisheries Improvement Project for the flathead (Percophis brasiliensis) fishery taking place in waters of the Argentina-Uruguay Common Fishing Zone in July 2022.  CeDePesca completed an MSC Pre-Assessment for the fishery in June 2023, and presented a FIP Action Plan to Simplot and other stakeholders in July 2023.  

In October 2023, Simplot Australia, Pacific West Foods Australia, and CeDePesca signed a Framework Agreement launching the FIP and setting the guidelines for the implementation of the Argentina flathead FIP, and Specific Agreement N1 adopting the 5-yr FIP Action Plan.

Argentine companies Comercial Inal 2005, Frigosur, and Mardi Alimentos joined the FIP in December 2023, and Industrias Santa Maria del Mar joined in July 2024.

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 for this species 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 offshore), using bottom trawl nets. The fish is presented as skinless and boneless fillet, frozen for the external market and fresh for the domestic market.

2022

July – December 2022

On 20 July 2022, Simplot Australia and CeDePesca signed a Memorandum of Understanding to implement the prospective stages (Stages 0 – 2) of a Fisheries Improvement Project for the flathead (Percophis brasiliensis) fishery taking place in waters of the Argentina-Uruguay Common Fishing Zone in July 2022.

On 11 October 2022, a Prospective FIP profile was published at FisheryProgress.org.  

Throughout this period, CeDePesca completed FIP Stage 0 (FIP Identification), and is currently working on FIP Stage 1 (FIP development), including the development of an MSC Pre-Assessment for the fishery.

2023

January – June 2023

CeDePesca completed the first draft of the MSC Pre-Assessment for the Argentina flathead fishery on 24 May 2023.  The first draft was shared with stakeholders, including researchers of the Argentina’s National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) to receive feedback.  The final version of the MSC PA was completed on 29 June 2023 and submitted to Simplot Australia on 30 June 2023, together with a proposed 5-yr FIP Action Plan and its associated budget, completing FIP Stage 1 (FIP development).  The FIP Action Plan will be discussed with stakeholders as part of FIP Stage 2 (FIP launch), and a decision will be reached on whether to continue with its implementation.

July – December 2023

CeDePesca presented the proposed FIP Action Plan to Simplot Australia at a virtual meeting on 10 July 2023.  During this meeting, the main results of the MSC Pre-Assessment were summarized, and the scope of the FIP and the goal of each proposed action were discussed.  A second virtual meeting with Simplot took place on 17 July 2023 with the participation of INIDEP.  During this meeting, INIDEP confirmed its intent of collaborating with the implementation of FIP activities.  

Regarding other stakeholders, CeDePesca met with Argentine companies Mardi Alimentos on 13 July 2023, and with Frigosur on 18 July 2023, to invite them to become part of the FIP, and to present the MSC Pre-Assessment results and the proposed FIP Action Plan.  A similar meeting was held with Comercial INAL 2005, on 14 August 2023.

On 14 September 2023, a joint meeting was held between Simplot Australia, Pacific West Seafoods Australia, Seaman International in representation of Argentine companies INAL and Frigosur, and CeDePesca.  During this meeting, participants exchanged their views on the next steps towards the implementation of a FIP for the Argentina flathead fishery.  On 21 September 2023, Simplot Australia and Pacific West Seafoods Australia informed CeDePesca of their decision to launch the FIP.

On 28 October 2023, Simplot Australia, Pacific West Foods Australia, and CeDePesca signed a Framework Agreement launching the Argentina flathead – bottom trawl FIP and setting the guidelines for its implementation.  Specific Agreement N1 was signed on the same date, adopting the 5-yr FIP Action Plan and its associated budget for Year 1.  Thus, FIP Stage 2 (FIP launch) was completed.

In-person meetings were held in November 2023 with representatives of Argentine companies and with the Fishing Captains Association to encourage them to join the FIP.  Addendum N1 to the Framework Agreement was signed on 12 December 2023, welcoming Comercial Inal 2005, Frigosur, and Mardi Alimentos as partners to the FIP.

On 5 December 2023, a letter was submitted to the Joint Management Commission of the Argentine-Uruguayan Maritime Front (CTMFM) to inform about the existence of the FIP.  The letter included the MSC Pre-Assessment and the FIP Action Plan as annexes.

On 20 December 2023, a follow-up meeting was held with Simplot Australia and Pacific West Australia to discuss progress made during the first few months of FIP implementation and to comment on next steps.

Regarding the social component, the fishery self-assessment against five predetermined high social risk criteria was completed on 27 October 2023.

Also in late October 2023, a FIP profile at FisheryProgress.org was created and submitted for review.  The draft FIP profile was updated in late November 2023 to reflect progress up to the end of that month; however, FisheryProgress is yet to complete the review and publication of the profile.

2024

January – June 2024

Argentina’s new government took office on 10 December 2023, and delays in the appointment of governmental officials to fisheries government entities have been experienced throughout this reporting period.

On 4 March 2024, CeDePesca requested a report from the National Directorate of Fisheries Control and Enforcement on the sanctions imposed on vessels that have operated in the fishery during the last 5 years. Unfortunately, that same month, the Director of the area in question resigned from his position. A new Director was appointed at the end of April, but a response to the request has not yet been received.

In May 2024, the Argentine Government appointed the new Director of the National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) and the National Director of Research of INIDEP. 

Regarding the design of the Private Onboard Observers Program, CeDePesca has started working on the design of the sampling protocol that will be used to monitor fishing trips, and has started defining the guidelines that will guide the work of the company that will be in charge of providing the personnel that will carry out the observation tasks on board.

On the other hand, during this reporting period, CeDePesca met with stakeholders in the Boston Seafood Show in March 2024, and a FIP meeting was held at the Barcelona Seafood Show in April 2024.  

Regarding dissemination of FIP activities, the FIP profile at FisheryProgress.org was published on 2 February 2024.  In addition, on 22 February 2024, the FIP was rated with a “C – Some Recent Progress” rating, consistent with its implementation of FIP activities.

July – September 2024

Regarding FIP participation, the project welcomed Argentine company Industrias Santa Maria del Mar as a FIP partner on 29 July 2024, by means of Addendum N3 to the FIP Framework Agreement.

Regarding interaction with the National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP), CeDePesca sent a letter to the new Director of INIDEP on 15 July 2024, presenting the FIP and attaching the MSC pre-assessment of the fishery with the objective of preparing the ground to be able to work formally with the researchers of the Coastal Demersal Fish Fisheries Program assigned to the mixed coastal fishery in which the flathead sub-fishery is immersed.

Regarding the design of the Private Onboard Observers Program, CeDePesca has continued to work on the design of the sampling protocol that will be used to monitor fishing trips. In addition, CeDePesca has defined the guidelines that will guide the work of the onboard observers provided by local company MMO. The collaboration agreement between CeDePesca and MMO is pending signature until the vessels on which the program can be carried out are confirmed.

Regarding the recruitment of vessel owners to the Private Onboard Observers Program, CeDePesca has obtained a list of all the vessels that make up the mixed coastal fleet, including their categorization based on length. After analyzing the information, it was decided to work with vessels with a length greater than 25m, which would not have limitations regarding the space to embark an observer.  On the other hand, the Argentine company Cooperativa Marplatense de Pesca (COOMARPES), not yet a formal partner of the FIP, shared a list of vessels that have provided it with raw material in the last four years.  On the other hand, several meetings have been held with authorities of the Association of Coastal and Fresh Fishing Vessels to convince them to allow private observers onboard.  However, so far, it has not been possible to change their position of distrust regarding scientific monitoring onboard; nevertheless, CeDePesca will continue to insist.  Recruitment to the Private Onboard Observers Program is expected to conclude in late October 2024.

Regarding interaction with the Joint Management Commission for the Argentine-Uruguayan Maritime Front (CTMFM), on 19 July 2024, CeDePesca addressed a letter to the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship, and to the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Nation (SAGPyA), expressing its deep concern about the lack of appointment of Argentine representatives to the CTMFM.  The letter stressed that this situation could negatively affect the management and conservation of shared fishery resources, including flathead.  A response from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was received on 8 August 2024, informing of the appointment of the remaining Argentine Delegates to the CTMFM.  Delegates were appointed by means of Decrees on March 5th (Decree Nº 221/2024), May 7th (Decree Nº 390/2024), July 31st (Decree Nº 678/2024), and August 8th, 2024 (Decree Nº 708/2024).  Now that the Argentine Delegation to the CTMFM is complete, CeDePesca will contact the delegates on behalf of the FIP to share the improvement recommendations and the project goals.

Regarding the social component of the FIP, CeDePesca is in the process of narrowing the list of vessels in the mixed coastal fishery to those that actually supply raw material to local partners.  Also, a FIP Social Policy Statement is being drafted.  In addition, a document demonstrating the existence of complaint mechanisms has been completed, as well as a document explaining that the responsibility for informing fishers about their rights is being fulfilled by unions.  The aforementioned documents were submitted to FisheryProgress in late July 2024, and published in the FIP profile at the FisheryProgress platform in late August 2024.

2025

October 2024 – March 2025

In August 2024, INIDEP published Official Technical Report 027/2024, titled “Analysis of the Fishery and Stock Assessment of the Argentine flathead in the Río de la Plata Area, Argentine-Uruguayan Common Fishing Zone (ZCPAU), and Adjacent Jurisdictional Waters North of 39°S. Period: 1934-2022.”

In this report, INIDEP estimates, through projections and risk analysis, the Biologically Acceptable Catch (BAC) of Argentine flathead at 7500 tons. Based on these results, a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of 7,500 tons was established for the study area and its adjacent waters by CTMFM.  Of these 6,800 tons were authorized for fishing, and an administrative reserve of 700 tons was set with a deadline of September 30, 2024.

According to statistical data from Argentina’s National Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries (SAGPyA), the total catch of the Argentine flathead species for the year 2024 was 6,393.7 tons.

On November 6, 2024, an agreement was signed with the company Marine Life Impacts Mitigations Services S.A. (MMO), which will be responsible for providing observers to implement the POAB in the Argentine flathead fishery, under CeDePesca’s supervision. 

The POAB for the Argentine flathead fishery within the Coastal Multispecies Fleet was launched with the participation of three vessels from the company Chiarmar S.A. The first fishing trip monitored under the POAB took place between December 7 and 13, 2024. During this trip, 28 hauls were monitored, with an estimated catch of 1.7 tons of Argentine flathead. The incidental catch was grouped into five taxonomic categories, and interactions of the fishery with birds, mammals, and one sea turtle were recorded.

Since November 2024, the PROME has maintained a list of vessels effectively supplying raw materials to local partners. Since then, two informational meetings have been held with vessel owners to provide them with details about the PROME and request their participation in the POAB.

On January 7, 2025, a workshop on the identification, conservation, and release of sea turtles was held, led by Dr. Victoria González Carman from INIDEP. The workshop was aimed at the onboard observers participating in the Private Onboard Observer Program (POAB) implemented under this FIP. In the coming months, CeDePesca will work alongside Dr. González Carman to offer training sessions for the crew members participating in the POAB

On January 16 th, 2025, CeDePesca reiterated its request for a hearing before the CTMFM through a letter sent, with the aim of presenting the progress of the PROME and highlighting the need to work jointly on the Flath head Action Plan.

On January 27, 2025, it again requested a report from the National Directorate of Fisheries Control and Oversight regarding the sanctions imposed on Coastal Multispecies vessels, specifically those targeting Argentine flathead that have operated in the fishery over the past five years. As of today, no response has been received.

April – July 2025

As a result of the publication by the National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) in August 2024 – Official Technical Report Nº 027/2024 -the Joint Technical Commission of the Maritime Front (CTMFM) issued Resolution Nº 11/2024 on September 27th, 2024. This resolution set the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for the Argentina flathead in the Common Fishing Zone at 7,500 tons for the period from October 1rst, 2024, to September 30th, 2025. Of this total, 6,800 tons were authorized for fishing, and an administrative reserve of up to 700 tons was established, which the Commission may authorize through a justified resolution. According to statistical data from the National Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries (SAGyP), the total catch of Argentina flathead in Argentina during 2025 amounted to 2,689.9 tons.

On July 10th, 2025, a meeting was held with INIDEP researchers to formalize the joint work with CeDePesca and to move forward with the implementation of the tasks under the Action Plan that fall under the Institute’s responsibilities. These include the adoption of non-generic, specific Target and Limit Biological Reference Points (TRPs and LRPs) for the stock north of 39°S. 

Although INIDEP continues to prepare the necessary reports to begin working on the formalization of harvest control rules—so that they explicitly aim to maintain the stock fluctuating around the Target Reference Point (TRP) and ensure a reduction in the exploitation rate as the stock approaches the Limit Reference Point (LRP)—it is essential for the Joint Technical Commission of the Maritime Front (CTMFM) to become involved in this process. Efforts are underway to secure a meeting to raise this issue.

Throughout the current year, communications with the Technical Secretary of the Joint Technical Commission of the Maritime Front (CTMFM) continued, including an email sent on April 15th, 2025, to reiterate the request for a hearing before the Commission. A response was received on April 21th, 2025, in which the Secretary stated that the Uruguayan delegation to the CTMFM had not yet been formed and suggested arranging the hearing through the representatives of the Argentine Delegation, namely the Director of INIDEP and/or the Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture. 

Since no progress had been made at the CTMFM level, on April 28th, 2025, the Client Group, together with CeDePesca, sent a letter to the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries (SAGPyA), addressed to the Undersecretary of Fisheries and Chair of the Federal Fisheries Council (CFP), requesting the reactivation of the Coastal Multispecies Monitoring Commission. 

Following the announcement on May 5th, 2025, of the reactivation date of said Commission, CeDePesca sent a letter to SAGPyA, addressed to the Directorate of Fisheries Planning, requesting a meeting to present the Argentina flathead FIP in the context of the Coastal Multispecies Monitoring Commission. 

On May 30th, 2025, CeDePesca participated in the meeting of the Coastal Multispecies Fisheries Monitoring Commission, held at INIDEP’s facilities in the city of Mar del Plata. During the meeting, researchers from the Institute presented survey results, catch data, and the status of the fishery resources included in the Coastal Multispecies category. INIDEP also reported on the work conducted in the initial stages of the Argentina flathead FIP.

Likewise, CeDePesca presented the FIP Action Plan, its progress, and the pending improvement actions both under INIDEP’s scope and under those that should be addressed within the framework of the CTMFM. Among the latter, the proposal to create a commission similar to the Coastal Multispecies Monitoring Commission within the CTMFM was highlighted, with the aim of discussing other relevant aspects for the management of the Argentina flathead fishery, involving stakeholders from the fishing sector with an interest in the fishery. 

On July 11th, 2025, CeDePesca reiterated its request to the National Directorate of Fisheries Control and Enforcement for a report on the sanctions imposed on Coastal Multispecies vessels, specifically those targeting Argentina flathead, that have operated in the fishery over the past five years. As of today, no response has been received. Likewise, on July 28th, the letter with the same request was resent, with no response to date. 

During this implementation period, follow-up with certain companies continued to ensure the participation of vessels in the Onboard Observer Program (POAB), with the aim of increasing coverage in the upcoming season. At the same time, a letter was sent to the owners of vessels that supply raw material to the client group, explaining the importance for the FIP of maintaining consistent deployment of onboard observers in the Coastal Multispecies fleet and emphasizing the significance of monitoring.

In all cases, although the ship owners expressed the challenges of deploying observers due to space limitations, they showed interest in collaborating with the POAB and in participating in the FIP. However, some reluctance from vessel captains is still perceived.

CeDePesca held a meeting with a company specialized in electronic monitoring, during which the possibility of conducting a six-month pilot project was discussed. This pilot can be adapted to the technical and economic conditions of any FIP. It could be implemented at no cost or at a reduced cost, depending on the specific needs of the fishery, and would allow for a comparison between electronic monitoring and the current system of onboard observers—or it could serve as a complement.

CeDePesca is considering the Argentina flathead fishery as a candidate for this pilot. The matter is under review.

Since the first fishing trip monitored by the Onboard Observer Program (POAB) in December 2024, no further deployments have been carried out to continue monitoring during the 2024–2025 season. During this implementation period, the data from the first observer trip in the fishery was processed and adjusted, with the aim of producing the first POAB Technical Report. This constitutes the first outcome under Stage 4 of this project, as it marks the first time onboard data has been obtained for this fishery.

During this period, meetings were held with Argentine and Australian partners – initially on January 29th, 2025, by Zoom platform, and later during the Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, where CeDePesca held another meeting. On both occasions, FIP progress and challenges, planned improvements for this stage, and the approach to be taken with the POAB in the upcoming season were shared with partners.

Additionally, during the meeting of the Coastal Multispecies Monitoring Commission, the FIP Action Plan, progress, and pending tasks were presented to various stakeholders with an interest in the Argentina flathead fishery.

During this period, a meeting was held with INIDEP researchers to agree on the terms of training sessions to be provided both to the POAB team and to the crewmembers of Coastal Multispecies Fleet. In addition, discussions have been held with the NGO Aves Argentinas for peer review of the data collection forms used in the POAB.