Southern red king crab bottom trap, Argentina.
Last Updated: 27 September 2011
Number of fisheries: 1
Species
Southern red king crab (Lithodes santolla)
MSC assessment status
The certification body, Ogranización Internacional Agropecuaria (OIA), has announced that the is now entering the information gathering phase of the assessment. The primary objective of this stage is to collect information on the fishery and in particular to speak to representatives of the fishery, fishery management bodies and other stakeholders of the fishery. Meetings will be carried out on October 19 to 21, 2011 in in Mar del Plata.
Any stakeholder with information on this fishery that should be considered in the assessment, or who wishes to meet with OIA should contact Laura Laco as soon as possible.
Please refer to the assessment downloads section for further information.
Fishery location
Federal waters of the Argentine Continental Shelf, within the Argentine Economic Exclusive Zone.
Fishing method
Trap
Fishery management
The management authority is the "Consejo Federal Pesquero". The application authority is the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries ("Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Pesca") whilst the scientific authority is the "Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones y Desarrollo Pesquero (INIDEP). The Sub-secretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture has delegated responsibility for fisheries activity.
Commercial market
At present, all production is exported to the USA and marketed as:
1. Clusters,
2. Meros (4th leg segment to the third),
3. Meat (pulp and peeled legs) and
4. Claws (entire, not peeled).
Assessment timeline
The assessment process is scheduled for completion around 3September 2011. Please see the download section for a detailed assessment timeline.
The target eligibility date for these fisheries is the 1st March 2010.
The MSC ecolabel can only be applied to product from certified fisheries. The MSC program does allow, in certain circumstances and within strict traceability requirements, the MSC ecolabel to be applied following certification to product caught before the actual date of certification. The target eligibility date therefore represents the date from which products may become eligible to carry the MSC ecolabel, however they cannot be sold until and if the fishery is certified. The actual eligibility date will be determined if the fishery is certified to the MSC standard.
To find out more about when fish from this fishery may be sold with the MSC ecolabel, please follow this link (http://www.msc.org/get-certified/supply-chain/eligibility-dates).
Tonnage of the fishery
The fishery landings have never been greater than 367 metric tonnes (2006).
