MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Argentina: Fishery policy takes unexpected turn
Although it remains a highly guarded secret, it is said that the Argentine fishery administration and the Chancellery are drawing up a legal framework that would allow foreign-flagged vessels to fish for squid in Argentine waters. The authorities are also reportedly working on a resolution to allow freezer vessels to operate north of parallel 48 º S.
This decision would mean a total turn about, as this was not the intention of the Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food, Antonio Berhongaray, and the national Fisheries Director, Horacio Rieznik, as observed during recent months.
Regarding the possibility of freezer vessels operating in a marine corridor, Mr Berhongaray announced publicly that the government was studying a project to authorise fishing operations north of parallel 48º S -a measure strongly rejected by the autorities of the province of Buenos Aires. Thus far, all the regulations issued by the Secretary have prohibited this fleet from fishing in that zone.
The Federal Fisheries Council has reiteratively called on the national fishery authorities to authorise operations of freezer vessels in determined areas north of 48ºS and subject them to certain fishing restrictions.
It looks as though the squid issue has been going from one extreme to the other. After many meetings, several "untidy" procedures, comings and goings, statements affirming that foreign vessels would not be granted access to national waters and an unexpected suspension of negotiations, it appears that the government has finally decided to allow foreign squid jiggers to fish in the Argentine EEZ.
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