An assessment of the sustainability of the hake Merluccius hubbsi artisanal fishery in San Matías Gulf, Patagonia, Argentina

Two fleets currently operate in the common hake fishery of San Matías Gulf, Argentina: artisanal longliners and industrial bottom trawlers. Annual landings reach more than 15,000 metric tones and the annual gross rent exceeds US$ 10 million. This fishery has been included recently in a certification program of Sustainable Fishing. Taking into consideration some principles a sustainability analysis we performed focused on assessing the impacts of fishing on marine resources and the ecosystem. Interactions between fleets and between operational units of the artisanal fleet are assessed. In addition, we evaluated the way this fishery is been managed in the area. A description of the problems detected in the artisanal sector and corrective actions for their solutions are presented. Information about by—catch and discards, loss of fishing gear and interactions with marine birds and mammals is also presented. These topics are critically discussed in the context of the sustainable fishery management.