(fis.com) Between 1 January and 3 July, 2012 Argentinean seaports received a total of 240,171.9 tonnes of fish resources.
This figure demonstrates a drop of 32.6 per cent compared to the accumulated volume from the first day of 2011 and 4 July of that year, when 356,304.6 tonnes were landed.
Out of the total landed this year, 214,629.4 tonnes were fish, 2,336.6 were molluscs and 23,197.5 tonnes were crustaceans, according to statistics from the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (Minagri).
The most massive volume of catches was that of hake (Merluccius hubbsi), which totalled 109,200.4 tonnes until 3 July, 2012, that is to say, 16.2 per cent less than what had been landed up to 4 July last year (130,243.5 tonnes).
The second place was occupied by hoki (Macruronus magellanicus), with 32,964 tonnes, representing a fall of 25.2 per cent when compared with the 44,057 tonnes landed between 1 January and 4 July, 2011.
About 6,714.4 tonnes of sea trout (Cynoscion striatus), 3,585.5 tonnes of flounder (Paralichthys patagonicus), 2,630.9 tonnes of shark (Mustelus schmitti), 2,283.3 tonnes of Patagonian rockcod (Salilota australis) and 1,461.6 tonnes of sea bream (Pagrus pagrus) were also landed.
As to the molluscs, 2,225 tonnes of scallops (Zygochlamys patagonica) were landed and as regards to crustaceans, about 20,250.1 tonnes of shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri) were landed up to 3 July, 2012. Meanwhile, until 4 July last year 29,931 tonnes and 2,760.8 tonnes had been respectively landed.
With respect to the landing of squid (Illex argentinus), the Secretariat clarified that the data will be available at the end of the fishing season.
Mar del Plata (Buenos Aires) continued maintaining the leadership in national fisheries, as it received 113,769.8 tonnes of fish resources in its docks.
The port of Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego) ranked second with 39,021.5 tonnes. It was followed by Puerto Madryn (Chubut) with 30,276.4 tonnes; Caleta Olivia/Paula (Santa Cruz) with 13,823 tonnes; and Puerto Deseado (Santa Cruz) with 11,787.6 tonnes; among other port terminals.
According to the Undersecretariat, between 1 January and 3 July, 2012 the fleet registering the highest level of catches was that of fresh fish vessels, with 76,989.6 tonnes.
After it that of trawlers was located, with 62,525.5 tonnes; and it was followed by coastal vessels with 44,904.4 tonnes; and surimi vessels with 24,552 tonnes, among other vessels.