MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands fisheries policy condemned by Argentina

The Argentine government is considering measures to discourage and eventually sanction fishing companies that purchase Falkland Islands 25 year licences, reports Clarin in its Thursday edition.

The matter is being analyzed in the Legal Department of the Argentine Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Fisheries Secretary that are looking for ways to counteract the "unilateral" Islands initiative which "commits for 25 years fisheries resources that are proving to be scarce".

According to Clarin no details of the countermeasures were leaked because Argentina is waiting for the final text of the new bill, which was just debated in the Islands Legislative Council where it has also proved to be a "highly controversial" issue.

However the political decision to act has been taken and there will be no specific legislation but rather "a compilation of existing instruments applicable to the case, in Argentine waters".

The article then goes on to say that even when the Argentine warning is not necessarily intimidating for fishing companies, it does show evidence that the Argentine-British dialogue channels, particularly regarding sensitive issues has become increasingly blocked, virtually in a state of "hibernation".

"This happened with oil exploration negotiations in the year 2000" and since the end of 2003 with the Argentine claim for a direct flight to the Islands with Argentine flagged aircrafts from an Argentine company, which "Islanders reject and the British government allows to float in a limbo", underlines Clarin.

A similar fate has engulfed the stalled official inauguration of the cenotaph in Darwin cemetery, and now lastly, "this seems to be the future awaiting the dialogue on fisheries in the disputed area".

Apparently in the last South Atlantic Fisheries Committee meeting held in London between the British and Argentine delegations of diplomats and experts, the usual swaying of "nothing to say" was shaken by angry exchanges, "quiet uncommon for experienced professional diplomats" reveals Clarin.

The sparking motive was making official the Islanders project to unilaterally extend long term 25 year fishing licences, supposedly based on the Australian model of "responsible conservation" which commits companies to safeguard resources, --and self interest--, for the following seasons.

But Clarin says that another way of looking at the issue is that the latest poor catches have discouraged potential clients, and only a more attractive and long term offer could revert the exodus of fishing companies from the Falklands.

Finally the article recalls the "spicy" voting session when the "controversial" Fisheries bill was considered by the eight members of the Legislative Council with five ayes, two nays and one abstention.

Clarin says Councillor Mike Summers criticized the draft but was the first to admit he had fishing interests incompatible with the duty of legislating on the matter. Roger Edwards, also with fishing interests, voted against the Islands government awarding 25 year licences and so did, Norma Edwards arguing that "I don't think that Government should be giving away fishing rights".

The editor of the article also takes advantage of Councillor John Birmingham words to bash Argentine politicians as "self serving, greedy and corrupt".

Mr. Birmingham voted yes, but also read a letter that was sent to Councillors intimidating them not to vote measures that benefit them personally.

"The fishing law is a disgrace. The fishing rights are being given away. Most of you will benefit from this so you are giving the rights to yourselves. The rest of you are either too thick to see what's going on or don't care. Politicians' lining their own pockets is the sort of thing that happens in Argentina. And, now it's happening here. History will judge you for what you are ? self serving, greedy and corrupt".