MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina: half approval for bill sanctioning fishing in Falklands waters

The new draft law was approved by 113 in favour and one abstention.

After some modifications were applied, the House of Representatives approved on Wednesday, 11 April, a draft law consisting of tougher sanctions on fishing companies that have interests in Argentine waters and operate in the Falkland waters.

After the representatives' parliamentary session, the draft law returned to the House of Senators, with high hopes for a quick final approval. Even though the draft law does not mention any dispute on sovereignty over the Falkland Islands with Great Britain, it is evident that the new legislation is part of stiffer policies on the part of the Argentine government. The new law, in general, obligates companies to choose between fishing permits issued by the Argentine Government or permits by the British authorities to operate in the area of exclusion of the Islands. One of the modifications added by the members of parliament is that "within Argentine jurisdictional waters, no vessel may operate unless it holds the corresponding permit granted by the Federal Fisheries Council." The Senators' version made reference to fishing operations within the Argentine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which excludes 12 miles off the Falkland Islands and the Islands of the South Atlantic. According to the Representatives, with the added amendment, any risk of implicit acknowledgement of the jurisdiction and autonomy of the Falklands under Great Britain's ruling is avoided, published the Clarin. The authors of the original project, Senators Silvia Giusti and Mario Daniele, proposed sanctions of up to ARS 10 million (USD 3.2 million) to those companies that operate without Argentine permits in the litigated area. In addition, companies that carry only licenses by the Island's government cannot operate in Argentine waters. The Ministry of Foreign Relations, Jorge Taiana, announced the official backing of the initiative, and defined it as "very positive." The idea of stiffer sanctions on fishing near the Falklands came up after the Islands' Government started granting 25 year fishing permits, instead of the regular one year permits. This measure caused unease and complaints on behalf of the Argentine Government at international forums and at the South Atlantic Fisheries Commission which regulates activity in the area.(FIS)