Funded by Spanish fishing sector, Vigo workshop brings together scientists to strengthen knowledge of Illex argentinus
VIGO, Spain — Scientists specializing in population dynamics, fisheries biology and scientific assessment of fish populations will meet in Vigo, Spain, from September 30 – October 2 for the 4th International Scientific Workshop on Argentine shortfin squid (Illex argentinus).
The workshop will bring together experts in population dynamics, fisheries biology and scientific assessment to advance the development of a regional database and strengthen scientific knowledge of the abundance, productivity and exploitation status of the Illex argentinus population.
The species supports one of the South Atlantic’s leading fisheries by landed volume and is harvested by different fleets across the Southwest Atlantic, from southern Brazil to Patagonia and in international waters. The workshop aims to integrate information available from these fleets and establish a common technical basis for future scientific assessments.
The meeting is promoted and funded by the Organization of Producers of Freezer Vessels for Hake, Cephalopods and Miscellaneous Species (OPPC3), with facilitation support from Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP). The scientific process began with workshops in Chile and Panama and subsequently continued with a scientific meeting in Bangkok.
The fishery operates in a marine area shared by multiple countries and fleets, where there is currently no fully operational regional governance framework to coordinate assessment and management of the resource. Against this backdrop, the initiative seeks to encourage direct cooperation among fleets and business associations and facilitate the exchange of aggregated information under confidentiality safeguards agreed upon by the participating parties.
“The sustainability of a shared fishery requires the fleets operating on the resource to cooperate in improving the information available. In the case of Illex argentinus, reducing uncertainty benefits everyone: companies, workers, public authorities and scientists. This collaboration should not be understood as a threat to any fleet, but as an opportunity to build a common knowledge base and advance toward more responsible, predictable and sustainable management of the resource.,” said Edelmiro Ulloa, Managing Director of OPPC3.
The workshop will be scientifically chaired by Rubén Roa-Ureta, Chair of the Scientific Group and an independent expert in statistical modeling and fish-population assessment. Roa-Ureta emphasized the ecological, economic and social importance of Illex argentinus and the need for the best possible scientific assessment of its abundance, productivity and exploitation status.
“As an independent scientist who neither belongs to nor represents any of the nations participating in this fishery, I believe that we have a professional responsibility to contribute to generating the best possible knowledge of the population. That responsibility must remain separate from any political or jurisdictional conflicts that may exist between the countries sharing the ecosystem. From a scientific and ecological perspective, conserving this population is a shared responsibility,” Roa-Ureta said.
The initiative also recognizes the importance of the value chain associated with the fishery, including port, logistics, industrial, commercial and processing activities, as well as the many jobs and communities that depend on it. Vessel owners, producer organizations, companies, workers and other stakeholders can contribute relevant information and perspectives to improve scientific knowledge and strengthen trust among the parties.
Pedro Ferreiro, SFP Fisheries Governance and Livelihoods Director, said: “This initiative does not seek to replace States or interfere with their competences, responsibilities or rights under international law. Its purpose is to contribute, through science and cooperation among economic actors, to generating the information and trust needed for stakeholders to engage in dialogue and explore possible avenues of cooperation that could, in due course, contribute to regional management. Any progress in this direction must involve the participation and support of States.”
The ultimate objective is for countries, fleets and other stakeholders connected to the fishery to contribute to developing the best available information and use it as a basis for future discussions about the future of the fishery and the communities that depend on it.
