MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina traps Korean jigger poaching

The Argentine Coast Guard arrested Thursday midday a Korean flagged jigger allegedly poaching north of Comodoro Rivadavia with over 200 tons of squid. This is the sixth vessel Argentina catches illegally fishing in its EEZ since the season began.

A combined operation of the Argentine Navy and Coast Guard detected early Thursday morning the "Kora I" 198 miles off Solano Bay in the province of Chubut. However when ordered to stop engines the Korean jigger and its 32 crew headed full steam towards high seas.

According to Captain Pedro Melle head of the Comodoro Rivadavia Coast Guard post, a few hours later a party from the "Azopardo" patrol finally boarded the "Koras I" and on inspection discovered approximately twenty tons of processed Illex squid plus an even greater unprocessed volume in the haul.

"We had to pursue them in particularly severe weather with head winds of 40 miles per hour but we caught them", said Captain Melle "Koras I" will be officially detained in the port of San Julian, Santa Cruz province where the owners and captain will have to face federal charges. The Argentine Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food Secretary announced the vessel would be fined one million pesos (approximately 350,000 US dollars) and her cargo confiscated.