MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

South Atlantic fisheries: UK “disappointed” with Argentina

United Kingdom remains fully committed to the South Atlantic Fisheries Committee, SAFC, and its overriding objective to conserve stocks in the South Atlantic but feels “disappointed” that an agreement with Argentina on the committee's agenda could not be reached, said Buenos Aires British Embassy sources to MercoPress

Argentine and British officials met Wednesday morning in the framework of the regular SAFC meetings when conservation efforts, including the disputed Falklands archipelago surrounding waters, are considered and decided.

According to a release from the Argentine Foreign Affairs ministry "there was no agreement with the British delegation on adopting the agenda proposed by Argentina with the purpose of analyzing the South Atlantic Fisheries Committee mandate and how it has been affected by a prolonged list of unilateral British decisions".

Argentina which claims sovereignty over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands has repeatedly rejected the ten year fishing licences that the Falklands government plans to issue under the new Fisheries Bill.

However British Embassy sources indicated that the UK respects and abides the agreements on which the SAFC is based which "are about conservation, not sovereignty and do not preclude either side from changing relevant domestic legislation".

Argentina argues that the Falklands' Fisheries' legislation constitutes "an illicit and unilateral long term disposal of fishing resources" in disputed waters.

The United Kingdom also regrets Argentina's decision to "cancel unilaterally" (for the second time running) the scientific meetings that normally precede the SAFC round and which are basically an exchange of scientific information of key importance for the conservation effort.

The Argentine release said that SAFC had been convened on Buenos Aires request but "without the usual scientific component".

British Embassy sources said that the UK "regrets" Argentina's decision to cancel unilaterally the SAFC process and hoped the Argentine government will agree to re-establish scientific cooperation in 2006.

"Conservation of fishing stocks is mutually beneficial and should be a priority for both governments".

The Argentine release also anticipates a continuation of efforts to ensure conservation of fisheries in the South Atlantic but warns it will act upon "those companies which exploit fisheries resources in the Argentine Exclusive Economic Zone with out the corresponding authorization".