CalCOFI Reports, Vol. 11, 1967 - California Cooperative Oceanic ...

PRESENT STATE OF THE INVESTIGATIONS ON THE ARGENTINE ANCHOVYENGRAULIS ANCHOITA (HUBBS, MARINI)JANINA DZ. DE CIECHOMSKIInstituto de Biologia MarinaCasilla de Correo 175, Mar del Plata, Argentina1NTRODUCTIONThe present economic structure and the populationgrowth in Argentina render more manifest every daythe necessity for paying increased attention to problemsconcerning sea fisheries in this country. Theimportance of the Argentine sea, with its abundantfishery resources, as a source for obtaining basic proteinshas become increasingly evident, and thereforethe need for studying the marine environment andits resources becomes a very necessary task.As one would naturally assume, priority is givento those marine organisms whose economic importanceis greatest. Among these species of economic interestis the anchovy (anchoita).Research on the anchovy, up to 1960, the date onwhich the “Instituto de Biologia Marina” of Mar delPlata was created, was in a preliminary stage, withsome few papers on the subject that, although quitevaluable, were rather scattered. From that date onthese studies were intensified, and became a long termproject. Despite the existence of several obstacles ofvarious kinds, e.g. the lack of a sea research ship forfield work and exploratory fishing, financial problems,etc., the research done on the anchovy to date constitutesa considerable progress towards a basic knowledgeof this species.The aim of the present work is to compile the availabledata on the Argentine anchovy which refers tofishery, general biology, and its economic importanceto Argentina.FISHERYThe fishery exploitation of the anchovy reflects theoverall picture of fisheries in Argentina. It is typicallyof little intensity, has low efficiency per unit effort,is limited to a short seasonal period, and is associatedwith an underdeveloped canning industry, which isconcentrated in a single port (Angelescu, 1963).The anchovy together with the mackerel (caballa),both of which are of great economic importance, formthe basis of the coastal fishery production.Coastal fishery is understood herein to be thatwherein natural resources in the proximities of thecoast are exploited with low tonnage boats (3-30tons), having operational range of 1 to 6 days, andwithout refrigeration facilities (Figure 1). The predominanttype of vessel for coastal fishing is a smallboat without any cabin, manned by a skipper and acrew from 4 to 10 sailors. In the fishing of the anchovy,pairs of boats generally work in association. Inmost cases the fishing is done within a radius of from2 to 30 miles from the port. The boats leave at dawnand return to port from noon up to the early hours ofthe night.The fishing craft used for the anchovy is a type ofroundhaul net.The figures given below illustrate and emphasizethe importance of the anchovy in the Argentinefisheries. These figures refer to the last available datafor the year 1963 given by the (‘Direction General dePesca y Conservacion de la Fauna”. (General Directoryof Fisheries and Wild Life Conservation) ofArgentina (1963).TABLE 1PRODUCTION OF COASTAL SEA FISHERY IN METRICTONS FOR 1963MackerelAnchovy(caballa)(anchoita)Scomber ‘OtherEngraulis anchoita japonicus Species Total12,520.4 11,585 38,933 53,039.223.670 21.8% 54.6% l0OvoAlthough the large schools of anchovy are scatteredthroughout vast extensions of the sea, the area ofexploitation is quite small, and almost the totality ofthe fishing is done in the area bounded by the parallels37” and 39” S. The principal port, both for thefishing and the industrialization of the anchovy, isMar del Plata, in the Province of Buenos Aires (lat.38” S). In 1963, out of the 12,520.4 tons of the totalcatch of anchovy, 11,795.6 tons came from the Mardel Plata area.The fishing for anchovy is a seasonal activity dependingupon the migrations performed by this speciesbetween the coastal region and the open sea. Thecatches of anchovy are obtained mainly in the monthsof September, October and November. The greatestpeak appears in October. In 1963, 88.6% of the totalcatch for the anchovy was obtained during these 3months. During the anchovy season, the majority ofthe coastal boats work on anchovy fishing.A certain portion of the catch is destined for consumptionas fresh fish, but the greatest part is industrialized.For this reason the fishing of the anchovyis mainly regulated by a pro rata system. The canningindustry communicates its needs to the center whichgroups the skippers of coastal fishery boats, and theydistribute the requested amount according to thenumber of boats serving the factories.It is to be emphasized that the Argentine fishingindustry concentrates mainly on the elaboration ofproducts from the mackerel and the anchovy. There