MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina authorizes high seas squid catching

The Argentine Fisheries Federal Council authorized high seas licenced vessels to catch Illex squid outside the 200 miles Exclusive Economic Zone, EEZ.

The decision according to the Argentine press is geared to generate a "policy" of promoting and occupying the 200 miles plus area and helping to dissuade illegal catching operations from non Argentine vessels.

Apparently the larger vessels will have to carry an observer.

Since squid is a migrating species the fishing effort in the plus 200 miles area impacts in the Argentine EEZ as well as the "illegal" licence granting by the United Kingdom in waters surrounding the Falklands/Malvinas, contend press reports.

According to the Argentine Fisheries Research and Development Institute during the last five seasons high seas catches averaged 77.000 tons of squid, which is approximately 37% of last year's 134.000 tons landed in Argentine ports.

The Fisheries Council also decided to increase the fines on foreign vessels, non- licenced, caught catching in Argentine waters.

The sanctions will be applied to those directly responsible for the illegal fishing and on those who have any legal, economic and or benefit relation with the vessel and company involved.