INFOPESCA Internacional 23

New authorities rule the Uruguayan fishery sector. An interview with Daniel Montiel
By Santiago Caro
For the first time in history, a labourer is posted as head of the National Direction of Aquatic Resources (DINARA). Something really new considering that the former Directors had always been either retired marine officers or academic degrees. The present of the Uruguayan fishery sector, the country’s international position and reputation, the small-scale fishery and the development of the aquaculture, where the main topics addressed.

Shark skin tanning
By Maria Luiza Rodrigues de Souza et al.
The article describes a trial carried out to evaluate the quality of shark skin obtained from many species commercially exploited, for its eventual use in dressmaking. Resistance mechanical trials were applied. Some 10 sharks caught in Mexico were used, and two tanning techniques were used, with and without the addition of chromium salts.

Eco-toxic problems from aquaculture production. The Brazilian case
By Ruy Bessa Lopes et al.
It is hard to find any producing activity that does not create an impact on the environment. The degree and reversible capacity of such an impact, will create different levels of discussion among producers, governors and scientists. Aquaculture has faced in recent years many claims and demands at this respect. In this article, the authors present a bibliographic review on the eventual presence of chemical residues in the environment surrounding the aquaculture facilities, with a special emphasis in the case of Brazil.

Getting started with PCR
By Christian Rohrer
The PCR method was discovered more than 20 years ago. Since then, it not only has contributed to the diagnosis of human disease, but also has been applied in industrial aquaculture. This article provides a general scheme about PCR and also gives some simple guidelines to properly set up a PCR laboratory.

The Rungis market: the classic meets the modern technology
By Santiago Caro
The visit at the traditional wholesale market of Rungis, outside Paris, was part of a technical mission that INFOPESCA organised with representatives of aquaculture producers from Brazil and Venezuela, and about which was informed in the last issue. This article describes the impressions after the visit to the main wholesale market at the French capital city.

Women working at small-scale fishery and aquaculture in Chiloé, Chile
By Cecilia Godoy et al.
Some 1,751 interviews were made on women involved in the artisanal fishery, between November 2004 and February 2005, in 10 communities along the Southern provinces of Chile. The purpose was to obtain information regarding their activity, age percentage, incomes, educational levels, among others.