MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Companies involved in illegal fishing to be excluded from territorial waters

Argentina National Fisheries Council (CFP) has modified the conditions required for the submittal of shortfin squid fisheries projects through the Location of Bare-boat Chartered Foreign Vessels in the National Jurisdictional Waters, so as to exclude companies involved in illegal fishing operations in Argentine waters.

In order to reaffirm national interests, Resolution 4/06, complementing Resolution 1/06, stipulates that vessel owners with ships carrying out operations within the Argentine exclusive economic zone (EEZ) without the required licence will not be allowed to submit projects.

Additionally, companies that apply for bare-boat chartered squid-jigger licences "must have no legal, economic, or profit relationship with fishing vessel owners carrying out operations within the EEZ," says the official text.

The measure adopted is associated with the recent approval by CFP members of the implementation of the National Action Plan aimed at preventing, discouraging, and eradicating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (PAN-INDNR).

The changes in requirements for squid-jigging licence applications follows the recent controversy triggered by the arrest of fishing vessel John Cheek, occurred last 20 February in Argentine territorial waters The Falkland-flagged vessel belongs to a Stanley-based holding, with the Spanish company Pescapuerta, which operates in Argentina as Pescapuerta Argentina SA, as one of its shareholders.

A few days ago, the CFP had authorised the submission of applications to register in the 'Special Register of Fishing Projects for the Argentine Shortfin Squid Exploitation through the Location of Bare-boat Chartered Foreign Vessels in the National Jurisdictional Waters'

In this regard, Resolution 1/06 stipulates that up to 12 vessels will be authorised, and they are to join the fishery before 30 March 2006.

Lastly, it was announced that the deadline for the submission of applications has been extended to 10 March. (FIS)