MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Uruguayan navy arrests Argentine poachers few miles from Montevideo

The vessels had 90 tons of yellow croaker a common and abundant species in the River Plate

Two Argentine vessels illegally fishing in Uruguayan waters were arrested over the weekend by a fisheries patrol from the Navy. The vessels had 90 tons of yellow croaker in their holds.

According to a Navy release coastal fishermen had reported on several occasions that west of Montevideo, and just a few miles off the coast, foreign flagged fishing vessels had been seen on repeated occasions operating in the area.

A navy patrol was dispatched to the area and was able to detect and arrest in early dawn the two Argentine flagged vessels, “Juan Pablo II” and “San Jorge I” that were trawling in the area just four miles offshore. Each of them carried 45 tons of yellow croaker.

The vessels are currently docked in Montevideo waiting for a judicial ruling on the offences committed.

Under Uruguayan law the vessels if found guilty of breaching fisheries legislation can be heavily fined, their cargo and fishing gear confiscated and if payment is not made effective in a certain time, the vessel is auctioned.

Catching Argentine poachers is not common since Uruguay and Argentina have a River Plate joint fisheries management agreement and are normally respectful of quotas agreed.

The Uruguayan Navy and Coast Guard are more concentrated to the east along the Atlantic where Brazilian vessels tend to skip over to Uruguayan waters.