Argentina flathead

Last Update: September 2024

Species: Argentina flathead (Percophis brasilensis)

FIP Stage according to CASS guidelines: 3, FIP implementation

FIP Rating according to SFP rating system: C (August 2024)

FIP Profile at FisheryProgress.org:  Argentina flathead – bottom trawl

Fishery Location: FAO Area 41.  Argentina-Uruguay Common Fishing Zone (ZCPAU).  Shown in red.

FIP Coordination: If you would like more information about the FIP or if you wish to support it, please contact Elba Brunetti (CeDePesca).

FIP Participants

• Comercial INAL 2005
• Frigosur
• Lamarencoche
• Mardi Alimentos
• Industrias Santa María del Mar
• Pacific West Foods Australia
• Simplot Australia
• CeDePesca (technical support)

Date Publicly Announced: November 2023

FIP Documents

• MSC Pre-Assessment (29 June 2023)
• Framework Agreement 
• Specific Agreement N1 (28 October 2023)
• Addendum N1 to Framework Agreement (12 Dec 2023)
• Addendum N3 to Framework Agreement (29 Jul 2024)
• Current FIP Action Plan (10 Jan 2024)

Improvement recommendations

Based on the results of the MSC Pre-Assessment completed by CeDePesca in June 2023, the following improvement recommendations were made:

• Establish explicit harvest control rules.
• Define specific, non-generic, biological reference points.
• Collect data on the interaction of the fishery with other ecosystem components, including out-of-scope species and habitats, in a systematic way.
• Evaluate the impacts of the fishery on other ecosystem components using quantitative or quali-quantitative methods.
• Adopt management measures or strategies to mitigate the impacts of the fishery on other ecosystem components, if needed.
• Ensure that participatory decision-making mechanisms are in place for the fishery.
• Ensure that there is an effective monitoring, control and surveillance system and that the sanctions system is sufficiently dissuasive to avoid systematic non-compliance of regulations.

FIP Objectives

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.

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.