Seafood landings fell by 3.6 per cent in the first half of 
this year compared with the same period of 2013, as it is 
revealed by statistics from the Undersecretariat of 
Fisheries and Aquaculture.

According to the Situation Report published by the agency, 
most of the species recorded inter-annual falls in landings.

In the first six months of this year, 407,842.3 tonnes of 
fishing resources were landed compared to 423,024 tonnes 
that had been unloaded a year earlier. 

The resource that fell the most was the anchovy (Engraulis 
anchoita), whose catches increased from 352.3 tonnes in the 
first half of 2013 to 44 tonnes in the same period of 2014, 
that is to say, 87.5 per cent less.

Other resources that recorded lower landings were bream 
(Sparus pagrus), with 1,950.1 tonnes and a fall of 40.4 per 
cent year on year; and the grouper (Acanthistius 
brasiliensis), with 531.7 tonnes and a decrease of 40.4 per 
cent).

Furthermore, the Undersecretariat reported that 118,545.7 
tonnes of hake (Merluccius hubbsi) were unloaded, a figure 
which shows a decrease of 6.6 per cent compared to last 
year (126,958.1 tonnes).

The squid (Illex argentinus), one of the most important 
species for the Argentine fisheries industry, experienced a 
decline of 4.4 per cent, adding 151,953.3 tonnes.

Patagonian smoothhound (Mustelus schmitti) landings 
decreased by 29.3 per cent to 1940.3 tonnes in the first 
half of 2014.

Meanwhile, the report highlights recorded increases in 
several species:
•Shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri): from 22,221.9 in the first 
half of 2013 to 35,086.7 tonnes in the first half of 2014 
(57.9 per cent);
•Blue whiting (Micromesistius australis): from 3,152.4 
tonnes to 4,187.5 tonnes (32.8 per cent);
•Mackerel (Scomber japonicus): from 266.2 tonnes to 277.5 
tonnes (4.3 per cent).