Fisheries
FisheriesCountries agree tighter port controls to combat illegal fishing
A large group of countries attending a high level meeting on world fisheries in Rome have agreed to start a process leading to the adoption of a legally binding international agreement establishing control measures in ports where fish is landed, transhipped or processed in order to combat illegal fishing, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, announced Monday.
FAO sounds alarm on some high-seas fish stocks
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on Monday voiced serious concern over a number of species of fish caught on the high seas and called for better monitoring and management of the stocks.
Chilean scientists to record blue whales conversations
Marine Biologists from Chile's Blue Whale Center (CBA) have embarked on a new project to record the noises made by endangered blue whales off the coast of southern Chile. They hope to use their recordings to identify individual whales and learn more about how whales communicate with each other.
Japan cuts short 2006/07 Antarctic whale hunt season
Japanese whalers have officially called off their annual Antarctic whale hunt following a devastating fire aboard the fleet's mother ship. Japan's Institute for Cetacean Research (ICR) has released a statement saying the whaling ships were on their way home early.
Falklands Councillor voices human rights concerns
As has been already reported in Penguin News, the Falkland Islands' (Malvinas) weekly newspaper, two crewmen are missing, presumed dead, after jumping into Stanley Harbour in an attempt to escape from a Taiwanese fishing boat, the Jih Da Gan. Eight companions were rescued by emergency services and have been helping local police with their enquiries.
Toothfish season hampered by ice
Fifteen longliners fishing on the 3,000-tonne CCAMLR toothfish quota have all now left the fishery areas around Antarctica. Many vessels have experienced a season of difficult fishing conditions due to excessive ice.
The world's largest colossus squid fished in Antarctica
An adult specimen of the world's largest known squid was hauled to the surface by a New Zealand longliner fishing for toothfish in Antarctic waters. The creature, known as a colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) and with eyes the size of a car tire weighed an estimated 450 kilograms.
Chilean salmon and trout exports reach 2.2 billion in 2006
Chilean salmon and trout exports in 2006 totaled 2.207 billion US dollars, up 28% over 2005 according to the Salmon Industry Association, (SalmonChile). United States was the main market for Chilean salmon and trout overtaking Japan.
Twelve Taiwanese crew members abandon ship in Falklands
The Royal Falkland Islands Police is investigating the case of twelve crew members who abandoned a Taiwanese flagged fishing vessel anchored in Stanley Harbour.
Four dead, 25 intoxicated in jigger accident in Montevideo
Four crew members killed and 25 intoxicated including rescue workers was the final toll of an ammoniac escape/explosion on board a Korean jigger moored at the port of Montevideo.