Argentine hake (bottom trawl – ice chilling fleet)

Last update: October 2024

Species: Argentina Hake (Merluccius hubbsi)

FIP Stage according to CASS: 2, the FIP is being launched.

FIP Rating according to MSC benchmarking tool: (Pre-evaluation ongoing)

FIP Rating according to SFP rating system: (Not yet available)

FIP profile at FisheryProgress.org: Argentina hake – bottom trawl (chilling fleet)

Fishery Location: FAO Area 41.  Argentine Exclusive Economic Zone.

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:

• Alleloccic
• Antonio Baldino E Hijos
• B/P Feixa
• Caletas Oli Pau
• Cámara Argentina de Armadores de Buques Pesqueros de Altura (CAAPBA)
• Cayo Largo
• Chernia
• Crestas
• De Angelis y Logghe
• El Marisco
• Fishing Ground Mdq
• Lineaerre
• Lucrimar
• Marea Óptima
• Marveraz
• Nuevo Viento
• Pelagic
• Pesca Angela
• Urbipez
• Vicarp
• CeDePesca (technical support)

Other references: INIDEP – merluza común (In Spanish)

Date Publicly Announced: October 2022 (Prospective FIP announced)

Date Active FIP Launched: September 01, 2023 (Comprehensive FIP Action Plan adopted)

Supporting Documents

MSC Pre-Assessment

FIP Framework Agreement

FIP Specific Agreement N2

Initial Improvement Recommendations

• [COMPLETE] Complete an MSC Pre-Assessment of the fishery to determine its current level of compliance against the standard and to identify sustainability issues.
• [COMPLETE]  Adopt a FIP Action Plan to achieve a certifiable status for the fishery.

Current Improvement Recommendations

• 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.

• Ensure that the fishery obtains explicit management objectives both in relation to the target species and other components of the ecosystem.

• 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.
• Conduct participatory workshops with captains and crew members to identify, analyze and co-design improvements in fishing practices, fishing gear and selectivity devices that reduce the catch of juvenile and ETP/OOS species in the common hake fishery.
• 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.

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).

2023- 2024

October 2023- October 2024

The General Audit Office of the Nation published an audit in November 2023 to evaluate the management of the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture and INIDEP in ensuring the sustainable exploitation of the Argentine hake fishery resource, as well as the role of the Argentine Coast Guard as an auxiliary fisheries authority, during the period from January 1, 2018, to July 29, 2022.

On March 22nd, 2024, a meeting was held with INIDEP researchers, who reported that the latest report included the PBO BV30%. They also indicated that they would continue working on the estimation of the PBRL before proceeding with the development of the HCR.

In July 2024 CeDePesca presented to the FIP partners a first draft of the management plan that includes specific sustainability-oriented objectives.

On March 4th CeDePesca submitted a request to the Directorate of Fisheries Control and Enforcement to obtain the history of sanctions, detailing the degree of compliance, investigations conducted both on board and ashore, and sanctions imposed for violations of current regulations.

In June 2024, the Private Onboard Observer Program has begun to be implemented.

On July 8th, CeDePesca trained eight observers for the MMO onboard team, focusing on recording interactions for the Argentine hake freezer fleet FIP and other PROMEs implemented by CeDePesca.

Regarding social aspects, CeDePesca and its FIP partners keep the requirements of the new FisheryProgress policy up to date by completing the Human Rights and Social Responsibility Policy Statement.