MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina complains of too many Falklands fishing permits

Argentine President Néstor Kirchner told British Prime Minister Tony Blair he intends to continue pursuing claims for sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. He also expressed concern over the large number of fishing permits the Falklands Government issues to third countries, which represents important economic losses for Argentina.

According to Agencia DyN, the brief meeting between Kirchner and Blair took place following a Progressive Governance Conference meeting in London on 13 July. Official sources said Blair "nodded and smiled" at Kirchner's demands, and both leaders agreed to meeting again within the framework of the Heads of Government Summit.

When he touched on the Falklands fishing issue, Kirchner said the region was experiencing excessive economic growth and he said the kelpers were destroying the fishing ground. The government here says the fishing permits the Falklands issues for Japan, Korea and Taiwan represent losses of USD 100 million a year for Argentina, reports Agencia EFE.

The last fishing agreement between Great Britain and Argentina was signed on 4 July in London, at the 23rd annual meeting of the South Atlantic Fisheries Commission.

Both nations defended their position although they both agreed on the importance of the South Atlantic fishery resources and pledged to take joint measures to monitor and control factory vessels more effectively.

They agreed to continue the collaboration between the National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (Inidep) and the Imperial College, to study the marine biomass as well as signing a document of mutual co-operation to learn more about the state of the Antarctic toothfish and Southern blue whiting. They also made plans to carry out a joint campaign between September and October each year.

The British Delegation was led by Alan Huckle, Head of the Overseas Territories Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and the Argentine Delegation was led by Ambassador Santos Goñi, Head of the Malvinas and South Atlantic Department of the Foreign Ministry.(FIS/MP)

Argentina's fishery exports on the rise

During January-May 2003, Argentina exported 133,212 tonnes of fresh water and marine fishery products, both fresh and processed, worth 176.9 million US dollars. Compared to the same period a year ago this represents a 27% increase in volume and 20% in value.

According to the National Food Health and Quality Service (Senasa), the main export market during the first five months of the year was Spain, with sales totalling 48.5 million US dollars. United States was second with 18,3 million US dollars followed by Holland with USD 10.2 million.

Other Argentine fisheries export markets for Argentina include, Germany with 7,430 tonnes; Colombia 6,121 tonnes; Poland 5,249 tonnes; Uruguay 4,255 tonnes; Israel 3,951 tonnes, and Japan 3,648 tonnes.

The Senasa report also reveals that the most main fisheries export product was hake with 71,048 tonnes; shad with 9,848 tonnes; hoki 9,377 tonnes, Argentinian anchovy 5,123 tonnes, and common anchovy 3,731 tonnes.

Argentine fishery exports have for the last few years overtaken beef and livestock overseas sales, a remarkable achievement given the significance of cattle ranching in the country. The country's national Statistics and Census Institute (Indec) reported a similar tendency for the current year in spite of a drastic reduction in unprocessed fish and seafood exports at the beginning of 2003. In 2002 Argentina's meat industry exports reached USD 574 million, while seafood product exports ? mostly processed ? totalled 714 million US dollars. (FIS/MP).-