Argentina’s largest toothfish catcher Estremar, part of Norway-based Ocean Harvest, started restructuring its operations in 2013 to address Argentina’s challenging economic climate.
As part of this it consolidated all its quotas — for toothfish, but also hoki and southern blue whiting — onto its surimi and fishmeal trawler Centurion del Atlantico, which had stopped surimi operations due to high costs, and put its longliner Antarctic III up for sale.
It then proceeded to swap Centurion’s surimi equipment for H&G and filleting lines.
The refit completed in early March 2014, and Centurion went out on its first fishing campaign in on March 5, Estremar’s new chairman Alan Mackern, former CEO of Yuken, told Undercurrent News.
Click here for pictures of the newly converted trawler.
Estremar is the country’s largest catcher for Patagonian toothfish, with 40% of Argentina’s total allowable catch for the species, or 1,580 metric tons out of this year’s increased TAC of 3,900t.
Argentinean toothfish catchers’ recently entered the toothfish fishery into Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) assessment.
“We’re very optimistic on toothfish.” Mackern said, “Argentina has three MSC-certified fisheries; hoki, scallops and anchovy, and we will be the fourth.”
In addition to Estremar, the companies that entered the assessment are Argenova, Pesantar and San Arawa.
As a premium product, toothfish sales are expected to go well, he said. On hoki, the difficulties in Ukraine, a major market, might create some challenges. Southern blue whiting is the cheapest of the three, but the volumes should offset the low prices, said Mackern. The vessel will produce whole round or H&G, according to market needs.
-from Undercurrent News