Foreign Trade of the Swordfish Landed in Chile
By Rene Cerda-D'amico and Mauro Urbina-VelizABSTRACT
Landings expanded from over 700 ton in 1987 up to 7255 ton in 1991. Three factors led this expansion: a new loan policy for artisanal fishermen, introduction of new fishing and searching technology and the opening of foreing markets for the chilean swordfish that resulted in an increased demand. Fishing effort expanded dramatically as the artisanal fleet grew in number as well in boat size. The harpoon fishing gear was replaced by both driftng gillnets and longlines. Simultaneously an industrial fleet of gilnetter and longliner were developed. Also Satellite images of SST were introduced to find probable fishing grounds. The expansion in fishing effort afected the abundance of swordfish and hence landings that decreased to 2600 in 1995. Although it increased again to 4500 ton in 1998 due probably to expansion if fishing areas. After 1991 the fishery was declared fully exploited and the granting of new permits were suspended. Besides regulations restricting gear sizes and areas according to the size of the boat were set. Any fishing boat that lands swordfish in a chilean ports should follow these regulations.
From 1987 almost 85% of landings have been directed to foreing markets under different forms of fresh-refrigerated and frozen swordfish, i.e. whole, HG, fillets, loins and others. Total annual exports for the period 1987-98 ranged between 1.600 and 6.000 tonnes worth between 11 to 40 million dollars. Price trends increased steady until 1996 to fall during last two years of the period which, considering decreased in swordfish products, value of exports were also cut by 40% of the maximun reached in the period. Fresh-refrigerated swordfish is the main export product accounting over 80% of the total volume which is almost embarked - between 95 and 97% - to the USA market. Average annual FOB prices have fluctuated between US$ 5.400 and 8.800 per ton being higher in the USA market. Prices evidence some correlation with quantities but they also might be influence by landings from the North Pacific and Atlantic fishing areas. Nevertheless intraannual variations in prices of fresh-refrigerated swordfish tend to move inversely to quantities as landings show a high seasonality. Foreign markets for frozen swordfish are almost share equally by USA and around ten other countries from Latin America, Europe and Asia. Prices of frozen swordfish are lower than fresh-refrigerated but are less variable throughout the year.
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