MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean Fishing industry cautious

The Chilean Senate's approval of the Free Trade and Political Association Agreement (FTA) with the European Union has increased concerns in the fishing industry that the fisheries chapter may compromise the country's maritime sovereignty, despite Presidential assurances on the contrary.

The milestone agreement signed eight months ago by President Ricardo Lagos will be a boom to the country's economy insist legislators since it will give Chile greater access to European markets.

However the agreement also gives EU countries access Chile's rich fishing grounds. When last May President Lagos travelled to Europe to formalize the agreement, he said access to catch quotas would only be given to Europeans in partnership with local fishing companies.

"The agreement offers new business opportunities to European fishing companies, although to have access interested companies will have to buy or become associates of buy a Chilean company ? that is precisely the point," said Jorge Tolosa, an analyst from Ugarte Stock Brokers in Santiago.

Following the Senate approval, the next step is for President Lagos to stamp his signature, and then regulate the fisheries chapter. But Chilean fisheries representatives are not entirely convinced fearing that more powerful European Union companies could end taking over local weaker counterparts, besides the fact that "commitment to conservation in the high seas is always questionable when certain European countries are involved".

Chile's EEZ "has enormous abundance and is fundamental for a maritime country?its creation and international success are largely the result of the Chilean State policy and diplomacy applied and enforced with talent and constancy for over half a century," writes El Mercurio, Chile's most influential newspaper and with close links to the country's business community. (FIS/MP).

Chubut investigates alleged ban violations

Chubut's authorities in southern Argentina are investigating a public complaint made by one of the region's fishing companies, accusing other companies of fishing hake in areas covered subject to a permanent ban. In an open reply to the allegation that seven of Conarpesca's vessels were found fishing in the Mazaredo banned zone, in Santa Cruz province, company president Fernando Alvarez published a letter in the local and national press pointing the finger at other companies.

"What we can confirm is that that hake, and associated resources, are being wiped out by companies that are members of the very same Chambers that are accusing our vessels - without any proof - of fishing illegally."

The letter prompted Chubut's Judiciary to open an investigation and request the Patagonian Chamber of Fishery Industries (Capip) to elaborate a report on illegal fishing activities in maritime areas in Chubut and Santa Cruz provinces.

Capip executive director Alejandro Cagliolo said the Attorney's office only requested a copy of the press release his association sent to the media, following a meeting between Capip, the Patagonian Shrimp Chamber (Calapa) and the Coast Guard Service.

"The Attorney's Office has only asked for a photocopy of the press release, which was the only opinion that we gave on this subject".

In an interview with FIS.com, Cagliolo explained that a few days earlier Capip had asked the authorities for more stringent controls.

"We strongly support the conservation and sustainability of the resource, as we are convinced that the only way to keep a flourishing fishing industry is to support responsible fishing," he said. "That is precisely our organisation's policy? responsible fishing implies protecting banned zones, and we will always be against those companies and organisations that infringe them."

Cagliolo was cautious, however, in his response to the accusations from Conarpesa's president. "I believe there are some inaccuracies in the letter but we don't plan to pursue matters that may have arisen from misunderstandings," he said, stressing that Capip does not condone the violation of banned zones and "any company that does not comply should be punished accordingly."

In an interview with "El Chubut", Attorney David Patricio Romero said that the (published) letter "implies that Conarpesa may not be the only company to have contravened the ban; other companies could also be involved", adding that the inquiry will include reports from Chubut province government and the Argentine Coast Guard. (FIS/MP).-