MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Controversial fisheries bill in Argentine Congress

The Argentine Senate is scheduled to consider Wednesday a bill that significantly strengthens illegal fishing sanctions and in practical terms forces companies operating in the South Atlantic to opt between Argentine and Falklands' issued licences.

Long announced and with several sponsors, the bill is described by the Buenos Aires press as another step from President Nestor Kirchner's administration in the tensing of relations with the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands.

The bill which modifies the Fisheries Federal Regime forces holders of Argentine fishing licences to sign a "sworn statement" establishing they do not own or are associated to vessels or companies (domestic or international) operating in Argentina's EEZ with the "respective permit".

Fines to poachers currently in the range of 10.000 US dollars are increased to between 1.8 to 3.5 million US dollars.

The bill avoids mentioning the word Malvinas, "which would have diplomatic consequences", according to the Argentine press, but was inspired on drafts from Patagonian senators which specifically mentioned the Malvinas islands. One of those drafts goes even further and proposes the disqualification for commercial activities to any person or company that "exploits natural or energy resources" in the Islands.

Apparently the proposals were presented following the Falklands' flagged "John Cheek" incident last February which was arrested and fined by Argentine authorities.

The Argentine press points out that the prevailing opinion in Congress is that the "John Cheek" (belonging to a Falklands company in association with Spanish interests) was not an exception: a majority of vessels operating with Falklands' licences belong to Korean, Japanese and European that also operate in Argentina's EEZ.

Senator Mario Danielle from Tierra del Fuego said the bill figures in Wednesday's order list, and "if not next Wednesday", but "there is a consensus in the ruling coalition block for the bill to be passed", and the Executive supports the initiative. Apparently the main opposition party, Radicales, is also willing to vote for the bill.

The spokesperson for the British Embassy in Buenos Aires said that the UK is committed to practical cooperation measures which are mutually beneficial, and "that includes fisheries".

The discussion of the Fisheries bill coincides with the presence in Buenos Aires of three British parliamentarians, who have been invited to participate in several activities organized by the recently created Parliament Observatory on the Malvinas issue.

They are Lord Faulkner (Labour); Lord McNally (Liberal) and MP Mark Pritchard (Conservative).