November 1966 



COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 



51 



Chile (Contd.): 



Even projects of modest dimensions can 

 have important effects. One day, the great 

 archipelago of Southern Chile will become a 

 reservoir of protein for itself and its neigh- 

 bors. Then Latin Americans will eat fish on 

 other days than Friday. (FAO, June 3, 1966.) 



A REVIEW OF THE FISHING FLEET 



At the end of 1965, the fishing fleet in- 

 cluded 7,130 units of which 430 units be- 

 longed to the industrial fishery and were 

 larger than 10 gross registered tons (GRT); 

 6,330 units were small open boats of less 

 than 10 GRT used in traditional fishing. The 

 total value of the fleet was estimated at 

 US$47.8; of this, about 86 percent, or US$41.0 

 million, belonged to the primary industrial 

 fleet. 



Most of the fleet is represented by ves- 

 sels whose length ranges between 12.5 and 

 27,5 meters (41-92 feet). The most frequent 

 length is 20 to 22.5 meters (65.6-73.8 feet) 

 and includes 170 units (or about 40 percent) 

 of the total. The industrial fleet consists of 

 vessels of 10 to 550 GRT, with the majority 

 between 60 and 120 GRT. 



Of the industrial fleet, about 300 vessels 

 use purse -seine gear, the most common fish- 

 ing gear along the Chilean coast. Seventy - 

 three percent of these vessels fished anchovy, 

 24 percent sardines, and" only about 3 percent 

 tuna and bonito. The second major fishing 

 method is trawling, used by 70 units. The 

 third is the harpoon used for whale hunting. 



The fleet is concentrated in 4 ports: Arica, 

 Iquique, Valparaiso, and Talcahuano. Based 

 on tonnage and number of vessels, Iquique is 

 the principal fishing port, Valparaiso is sec- 

 ond. 



Over 300 units of the existing fleet were 

 constructed in national shipyards; the re- 

 maining 125 units abroad. About 69 percent 

 of the total fleet is made of steel and 31 per- 

 cent of wood. The construction of the new 

 steel fleet of 180 vessels began in 1962 at 5 

 national shipyards in Iquique, Antofagasta, 

 San Antonio, and Valdivia. 



Sixty-eight percent of the fleet is 5 or 

 less years old: less than 2 years --27 per- 



cent; 2 to 5 years --41 percent; 6 to 10 years -- 

 14 percent; over 10 years--18 percent. 



Based on tonnage, the annual increase rate 

 of the fleet during the past 5 years was: 1961 -- 

 8 percent; 1962--16 percent; 1963--34 per- 

 cent; 1964--78 percent; 1965--15 percent. 

 From 1961-1965, the anchovy fleet increased 

 5.9 times; the sardine fleet 1.8 times; the 

 fleet trawling for shrimp and spiny lobster 2 

 times. The number of trawlers for hake fish- 

 ing and vessels used for whale -hunting re- 

 mained the same. (U. S. Embassy, Santiago.) 



Ecuador 



FISHERY INDUSTRY GREW IN 

 APRIL-JUNE 1966 



The fishing and fish packing industries 

 were among segments of the economy report- 

 ing significant developments during the sec- 

 ond quarter of 1966. 



A new subsidiary of a U. S. firm began ex- 

 porting frozen tuna from Manta. While it 

 builds its freezing plant, the subsidiary will 

 freeze the tuna on board a vessel it will ac- 

 quire. Another firm in Manta applied for 

 classification under the Industrial Develop- 

 ment Law to build a plant for packaging fish 

 fillets, smoked fish, anchovies, and other 

 products. 



A small freezing plant of the fishermen's 

 cooperative opened in Esmeraldas. Another 

 firm, with American investment capital, was 

 planning to operate in the same town. In Gua- 

 yaquil, a firm with American capital planned 

 to install a tuna cannery. 



The Director of the Institute of Fisheries 

 recently predicted that the industry would one 

 day surpass the banana industry as the lead- 

 ing export earner. To hasten that day, the 

 government in July 1966 granted duty-free 

 entry of fishing supplies and equipment. (U. S. 

 Embassy, Quito, July 29, 1966.) 



^< i\<: i\-i sj: sjc 



FISHING INDUSTRY FREED 

 FROM SOME IMPORT DUTIES 



A government decree frees local fishing 

 companies from all import duties and munic- 



