MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Breaking News

Headlines: Record number of jiggers; Air traffic rockets in Ushuaia; Coordinated effort against FAM; Torres del Paine Park flooded; Chilean Navy concerned about Antarctic traffic;

Record number of jiggers

The Argentine Naval Operations Command reports an alarming record number of foreign jiggers in the proximity of Argentina's Economic Exclusive Zone, EEZ, in the south Atlantic most of which of Asian origin. The report indicates that during the squid season of 2000, Argentine Navy vessels and aircrafts managed to identify 232 foreign fishing vessels operating in the area. In 2001 the number jumped to 296 and last year, 347. However the greatest concentration this year occurred during the first three weeks of January when the Argentine corvette ARA Guerrico with air support from Trelew detected the presence of 232 foreign vessels operating just in the edge of the country's EEZ, that is 218 jiggers, seven factory vessels, mostly Chinese, Taiwanese and Korean. Argentine Navy sources indicated that with the squid season in full production, air surveillance with an Orion P3-B in the first few days of March showed the presence of approximately a hundred foreign jiggers just outside in the 200 miles EEZ line, latitude 49, longitude 64. Another Argentine corvette ARA Granville, tipped off by Argentine jiggers, was able to confirm the existence of dozens of foreign vessels, in the edge of the Argentine 200 miles that are continually threatening to make incursions if left unchecked. "Some of them run off into Malvinas waters", said the Navy source. Squid is the second most important fisheries export of Argentina representing an average of 200 million US dollars annually. Argentine officials believe that given last year's poor squid catches poaching this year is bound to increase and have therefore decided to allocate more funds for the cash strapped Navy and Coast Guard with the purpose of increasing patrolling and conservation of the South Atlantic fisheries.

Air traffic rockets in Ushuaia

More than 43,500 passengers arrived at Ushuaia Airport in Tierra del Fuego during the first two months of 2003, which represents a 30% increase over the previous season. According to official data, 1,371 inbound and outbound flights operated from Ushuaia with 22,842 incoming passengers and 22,860 outgoing during January, a 39% jump over twelve months ago. In February the increase reached 16%, with 20,700 arriving passengers and 19,546 leaving from the "Malvinas Argentinas" airport in the most extreme south city of the world. However the airport's Chief Officer Aldo Torino indicated that the number of flights "didn't actually experience a significant increase, but rather the occupancy rate". The airport operated an average ten daily commercial flights, 320 per month, "without taking into account private and official aircrafts". Mr. Torino said prospects for March are equally encouraging and above the 2002 season, but considerably less than in the two previous months.

Coordinated effort against FAM

Experts from Mercosur and other South American countries agreed that without a joint effort and common objectives it will be hard to eradicate foot and mouth from the continent, a cattle disease that causes terrible losses to beef exporting countries of the region. During a meeting in Santiago de Chile sponsored by the Chilean Agriculture and Livestock Service, participants from Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela and the host country agreed that "eradicating FAM was urgent and top priority. The disease is alive and latent and its impact can generate terrible blows to the local economies". Chilean delegate Carlos Parra revealed that Argentina and Chile are considering the possibility of satellite surveillance along the border to impede cattle smuggling. An operation that if successful would then be extended to other sensitive areas. Uruguayan delegate Recaredo Ugarte indicated that unless targets and objectives are not clearly defined, and simultaneously, "we will be leaving open gaps that will not ensure a successful end to the FAM eradication battle". The meeting was held in the framework of the annual assembly of the South American FAM Office that depends from FAO.

Torres del Paine Park flooded

Torrential rainfall in Chile's Ultima Esperanza Region in the extreme south of Chile has caused extensive flooding particularly in the area of the world famous Torres del Paine Park, where early this week almost a hundred foreign campers were surrounded by over flown rivers and lakes. According to Ultima Esperanza officials eighty of the tributaries that feed into the area's main rivers, Paine, Serrano and Pingo, are well over their normal course and similarly the Grey, Dickson and Amarga lakes that now stand four metres above their average level. "Our main concern is next to the cordillera because the Cabeza El Indio basin is out of control and has run over two small containing dams. We also have problems with the road leading to the Park's main offices because it's under water", reported Guillermo Santana, Manager of Torres del Paine park. "A hundred campers are isolated, but we'll be rescuing them in the next few hours", added Mr. Santana. Located 400 kilometres north of Punta Arenas, Torres del Paine is one of Chile's most renowned parks and receives an average of 75,000 foreign visitors annually. Not only the geography and topography are spectacular, but also the Patagonia species that breed in this protected habitat.

Chilean Navy concerned about Antarctic traffic

In its first report of the Antarctic 2002/2003 season the Chilean Navy expressed concern over the growing traffic in Antarctic waters and the increasing costs of patrolling and search and rescue missions. "Maritime traffic in the area has increased 50% over the last season, and we have been extremely lucky regarding rescue operations. What would have happened if our icebreaker "Oscar Viel" hadn't been close to the grounded cruise "Clipper Adventurer", last November", said Rear Admiral Arturo Ojeda, Commander of Chile's Third Naval Zone. Chilean Navy operates in Antarctic waters with two tugs, "Lautaro" and "Lecotón" plus icebreaker "Oscar Viel", that are also responsible for Chilean Antarctic Institute logistics including supplies and support to several bases. Last November 22nd the "Oscar Viel" quickly steamed to rescue the grounded "Clipper Adventurer", pulling her out of her position after checking with Chilean Navy divers that the cruise vessel had not experienced major damages in the hull. In January the same vessel rescued two British pilots whose Robinson R-44 helicopter plunged into the icy Antarctic waters. "Although we keep track of those vessels heading south from Chilean ports, we can't do the same with the rest. An ever increasing number of vessels that come from other parts, even daring solitary navigators, are a growing concern, and costs, for the Chilean Navy", said Rear Admiral Ojea. "Maybe the time has come to demand some kind of insurance for steaming or sailing in Antarctic waters. This would help the Chilean Navy cover some very expensive rescue operations. It's a permanent concern of the Navy since it's a problem that keeps increasing with time".