MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“John Cheek” arrest: “lawless action, almost abduction”

The Spanish captain of the Falkland Islands flagged “John Cheek” retained in Comodoro Rivadavia insists they never fished in Argentine waters and Spanish fishing industry sources consider the whole incident a “lawless action, almost abduction”.

"We have never been in Argentine waters. It would be a professional suicide not to comply with the British government which permanently monitors our position", underlined Captain Jaime Cortizo.

The Argentine Coast Guard which last Monday boarded the "John Cheek" said that she was operating in Argentina's EEZ, 198 nautical miles off the coast at latitude 46 degrees 36.099 seconds South and longitude 60 degrees, 56.962 seconds West, an area next to the Falklands' EEZ.

"John Cheek" had an estimated 100 tons of squid and hake when arrested.

Captain Cortizo alleges that the Argentine boarding party "checked our registry and instruments and all indicated we were operating in international waters". Nevertheless "John Cheek" was escorted to Comodoro Rivadavia where she faces, among others, illegal fishing charges.

Speaking for Europress from Vigo, Spain, where the captain and half the crew come from, the president of the Nautical-Fishing Association, Aetinape, Jose Manuel Muñiz revealed that on two occasions the Argentine inspector that boarded the "John Cheek" checked the vessel was effectively in international waters, contrary to what was originally believed.

"The inspector ordered Captain Cortizo to check with the GPS a reference point in the coast, and on two consecutive occasions showed the vessel was not in Argentina's EEZ", said Mr. Muñiz.

However the inspector insisted and on the third attempt, "taking as reference a point in the coast which does not figure in international maritime charts", and thus made it "unable to recognize the reference signals system", finally came up with the Argentine waters situation.

Mr. Muñiz said Aetinape considers this incident "almost abduction", since the fishing vessel was arrested in a "lawless action" with the only purpose of "financial revenue", from the possible fines and sanction, in an incident very similar to that suffered by a Spanish vessel a year ago.

"I don't quite know why they've brought us to Comodoro Rivadavia. Certainly it must be a mistake or because the equipment of the Argentine Coast Guard is obsolete or because of a misinterpretation of the vessel's position", added Captain Cortizo.

"John Cheek" belongs to the Falkland Islands company Petrel Trawling Limited with a minority Spanish associate.

Captain Cortizo said the crew was in good health and well looked after by the company, although disappointed because "we are paid according to fishing results and this means we're suffering heavy economic losses".

"Let's hope logic prevails, with no other economic or political issues taken into consideration, so this can be solved as soon as possible"