Argentine ports received 9,246.4 tons of common hake (Merluccius hubbsi) between January 1 and February 12 this year which is 60% less than the 23,200 tons for the same period a year ago.

Sardine has long been a staple food for many Brazilian families and 100.000 tons were unloaded in Brazilian ports during 2009, mostly in the states of Rio do Janeiro, Santa Catarina and Sao Paulo. However there are growing risks of over-fishing and an awareness plan has been implemented.

New Zealand said Monday it may join Australia in seeking international legal action against Japan over its annual whale hunt in the Antarctic if negotiations fail to produce a diplomatic solution.

An investigation carried out by the oil company Pan American Energy (PAE), at the behest of the Santa Cruz Fisheries Subsecretariat, contends that the capture of common hake (Merluccius hubbsi) has spiked in the San Jorge Gulf fishing-ground. The results of the study contradict claims by the yellow fleet fishers of Caleta Paula, who complain of a smaller abundance of the resource.

The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) and the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organizations (NFFO) are supporting an official complaint by industry body Seafish over a BBC program that portrayed the fishing industry in a damaging and “inaccurate” manner. The groups are demanding an apology from the BBC.

The European Commission (EC) has ruled that the controls carried out by Uruguayan sanitary authorities guarantee the “adequate standards” demanded by Community norms for imported seafood products.

Brazil’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministry is planning to invest the equivalent of 17 million US dollars in optimising fisheries patrolling during 2010.

Argentine Fisheries Director Norberto Yauhar suspended the initiative to limit common hake (Merluccius hubbsi) fishing in waters of San Jorge gulf following a meeting with fisheries officials from Patagonian provinces.

Anti-whaling activists have described how Japanese whaling ships circled their protest vessel "like sharks" before ramming it off Antarctica.

The Russian company Sturgeon & Caviar is set to start in coming weeks the production of caviar in the Argentine northern province of La Rioja according to local government sources.