At last week's meeting, the Federal Fisheries Council approved INIDEP 's recommendation not to modify the bycatch (or untargeted fishing) limit of 5 tons established in 2023.
Lured by the ease of the millionaire loot he obtained when he obtained 175 tons of toothfish in the month of March without having a license, Liu Zhijiang , the owner of the Prodesur fishing company , with the support of the government of Tierra del Fuego; He tried to be awarded with a quota greater than what was captured, violating what was established by the official competition bodies.
And the thing is that the Chinese businessman, who for several years has only paid for a license to fish for tail or Polish hake, and not for the precious toothfish; sent a note to the Federal Fisheries Council stating that if they do not increase the volume of bycatch, they cannot continue fishing for their target species. Childish argument that was also accompanied by the Fuegian governor Gustavo Melella who in February had asked the CFI to authorize Prodesur a volume of 300 tons of the “social quota” of toothfish, citing alleged serious financial problems of the company. and risk of job continuity for workers.
For this reason, the CFI approved the INIDEP recommendation not to modify the bycatch limit of 5 tons established in 2023 claimed by Prodesur. Pointing out that, if there is no intention and no prohibited nets are used, the Tai An vessel may catch significant volumes of hoki and Polish hake outside the toothfish protection area and even within it with permitted fishing gear ( medium water network) without exceeding the established limit. Just as has happened in the past with this same boat when it had no intention of fishing for a species for which it does not have a capture permit.
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Puerto Magazine
