MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine unions in conflict block all fisheries exports

Argentine fisheries exports are stranded in the port of Buenos Aires because an ongoing conflict with fisheries unions in Mar del Plata. Over a hundred containers, valued in 8 million US dollars are paralyzed since dock workers decided a solidarity action with their fellow fisheries union.

More over unions are demanding, and apparently have been successful, the manifestos of ships' cargoes to ensure no fisheries loaded container escapes their control. Normally only Argentine Customs and the Coast Guard have access to such confidential information. Fisheries unions in Mar del Plata, both crews and land personnel have been in conflict for months forcing Maersk, Hamburg Sud and Maruja, which usually operate frozen merchandise, to cancel operations in Argentina's main fisheries port, since they are refused tug services. Unions argue the decision was valid since local Mar del Plata fishing companies were "making effective exports with social dumping". Companies reacted by sending containers by land to Buenos Aires, and now they have been caught by similar measures in Argentina's main terminal, as well as La Plata, Quequén and Bahia Blanca. The unions posted a communiqué warning maritime agencies that if they did not reveal contents of containers (confidential information), the vessels involved will not be provided tug services. Once the manifesto is checked, if the vessel has on board containers with fish products or similar, the union demands they be landed to ensure a normal departure. Maritime agencies are furious. "It's madness that a union can check cargoes. This is going to have a domino effect on the rest of the fishing industry because Argentina exports most catches since domestic consumption is minimum", said Javier Dulce president of the maritime agencies grouping. The Japanese group NYK admitted it had to hand the manifestos and was forced to unload several containers with fish for the Far East because it has a pre-arranged schedule to comply with. "They are waiting for us in Brazil and there was no way I could explain to our clients in Japan what was going on. They can't believe it", said Patricio Campbell who represents the Japanese company that regularly ships containers with fish produce from Buenos Aires. With world demand contracting, "if we can't honour demand on time this is going to have disastrous repercussions all along the distribution chain, and means a loss of credibility for everyone involved: from Japan to Argentina", added Campbell. Andreas Meyer from Hamburg Sud confirmed that one of his vessels had to unload a container with anchovies ready to leave. "We are hostages of another conflict. Having a vessel inactive is extremely expensive. I'm surprised there has been no involvement from the Justice department", said Meyer who recalled that when the conflict broke out last September the German embassy sent a formal protest complaining of discrimination to the Labour Ministry and the cabinet chief, "but so far nothing has happened".