MANUAL ON BEST PRACTICES OF THE INDUSTRIAL PURSE SEINE FISHERY OF JACK MACKEREL FROM THE SOUTH-CENTRAL ZONE OF CHILE


This Manual is the result of an unprecedented and voluntary effort carried out in 2019 by eight fishing companies based at the Biobío Region off Chile, with the technical support of the Fishery Research Institute “Instituto de Investigación Pesquera” (Inpesca).

The main goal is to promote guidelines and the dissemination of best practice based on sustainable management of this fishery. During the preparation of the Manual, recommendations established by FAO and described in the code of responsible fishing were used as general principles (CCPR) (FAO, 1995). Measurements applied in the Jack Mackerel Fishery under the Management System of the SPRFMO (South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation) were also considered.

"The manual is a tool that contribute to the development of the Chilean policy of responsable and sustainable management, considering actions with the aim of mitigate discards of target and bycatch species, minimize undesirable effects on catches and generate procedures for the care, treatment and release of protected species".

The Manual is also part of the plan to improve the certification of Jack Mackerel in Chile under the standard of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) obtained in 2019.


The Manual includes chapters covering:

BEST PRACTICES FOR THE MITIGATION OF JACK MACKEREL DISPOSAL

In this regard, the actions proposed to mitigate the discards of the jack mackerel species are:

  • 1.To facilitate the work and duties of the personnel of the National Fisheries Service (from the Spanish Servicio Nacional de Pesca) on board the ships and on land. (p. 26)
  • 2.To provide boarding arrangements for scientific observers. (p. 27)
    And one of the most relevant is…
  • 3.To avoide repeated fishing sets in areas where a percentage of undersized fish is detected exceeding the minimum size limit.
    If successive fishing sets with recorded percentages of undersized jack mackerel exceeding the minimum legal size are made at different points within the operation area of the fishery, the fleet will cease catching activities for one week. (p. 29)

BEST PRACTICES FOR THE DISCARDS OF NON-TARGET SPECIES WITH OR WITHOUT AN OVERALL ANNUAL QUOTA

The care of the resources that inhabit the same ecosystem is just as relevant as the care of the jack mackerel. In this regard, the best practices to mitigate the discards of non-target species from the operating point of view are the following:

  • 1.The vessel that finds non-target species with an amount above the defined limits or without a quota must inform to the rest of the fleet, the fleet office of the corresponding company and Sernapesca of this result. (p. 31)
    This information will include the proportion of the fishing set, the name of the species and the proportion in which it was recorded.
    Once the aforementioned actions have been carried out, a closure of the fishing zone within a range of 10 nautical miles will be initiated. (p32)

BEST PRACTICES FOR THE MITIGATION OF FISHING FOR CARTILAGINOUS FISHES AND THE BYCATCH OF MAMMALS, SEABIRDS AND TURTLES, AND FOR ALLOWING THEIR RELEASE

The actions proposed for the mitigation of fishing for cartilaginous fishes and the bycatch of mammals, seabirds and turtles, and for allowing their release are detailed as follows: In the event of any mammals, seabirds and turtles being trapped in the net, it is suggested to: (p. 48) (p. 36)

  • 1.Stop the maneuver.
  • 2.Evaluate whether the specimen can be released. The Manual also contains a description and identification material for species considered as non-target species in the Jack Mackerel Fishery.