International scientific workshop on illex squid

The workshop forms part of an international scientific cooperation process that began with meetings held in Chile and Panama and continued with a scientific gathering in Bangkok.

Workshop includes falkland islands

Argentine unions linked to the fishing, maritime and port industries have complained bitterly to the International Transport Workers Federation against a workshop on the Shortfin Squid (Illex Argentinus) organized by OPPC3, in Vigo with the suppot of the Sustaianble Fisheries Partnership, and to which Argentina allegedly has not been invited, but it does include the Falkland Islands.

OPPC3 background

OPPC3 stands for Organization of Producers of Freezer Trawlers for Hake, Cephalopods and Other Species. OPPC3 is based in Vigo, was started in 1986 when Spain joined the EU and represents approximately 60% of the European Union's freezer vessel fleet specializing in species like hake and squid.

Workshop goals

The workshop with scientists from Brazil, Uruguay, the Falkland Islands, Spain, China and South Korea participating, aims to build a regional database and update scientific knowledge in order to assess the abundance and exploitation status of Argentine shortfin squid (Illex argentinus), which supports the largest fishery by landed volume in the South Atlantic Ocean.

Workshop purpose

Under the name of 4th International Scientific Workshop on Argentine shortfin squid (Illex argentinus) the event brought together scientists specializing in fisheries biology, population dynamics and stock assessment from the above mentioned countires.

OPPC3 director statement

According to Edelmiro Ulloa, Managing Director of OPPC3, collaboration is essential to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the fishery: "The sustainability of a shared fishery requires the fleets operating on the resource to work together to improve the information available. Reducing uncertainty benefits companies, workers, administrations and scientists alike, while contributing to more responsible, predictable and sustainable management of the resource."

“The sustainability of a shared fishery requires the fleets operating on the resource to work together to improve the information available. Reducing uncertainty benefits companies, workers, administrations and scientists alike, while contributing to more responsible, predictable and sustainable management of the resource.”

Workshop impact

The work carried out in Vigo is expected to help consolidate a common technical foundation for future assessments, improve understanding of population dynamics and identify the key uncertainties that still need to be addressed.