MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Patagonian ports open to Chinese jiggers if they have no links with Falklands

Chinese jiggers docked in Montevideo

Argentine Fisheries Under-secretary Norberto Yauhar is sponsoring a fishing cooperation agreement with Beijing that will allow Chinese flagged vessels to enter Argentine ports for provisions, repairs, unloading catches and landing transfers. The only condition is that the Chinese vessels must not have commercial ties with the Falkland Islands government.

The signing of the bilateral agreement was scheduled to take place during the official visit to China by President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (cancelled at last moment because of domestic political problems). The new date is now sometime next March.

The text of the suspended agreement was published in Argentina’s Official Bulletin this past Thursday.

The agreement represents a dramatic change in the Argentine policy of denying port services and logistic support to the numerous fleets of jiggers operating along the border area of Argentina’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) squid (Illex argentinus).

Yauhar warned that opening Argentine port facilities “does not mean any change at all” regarding repudiation of the British presence in the Falklands, and insisted that “in no way will companies that have ties with the Falklands be included in this opening”.

“China has to its advantage that it has not fished in the zone controlled by the British for two years, and the agreement will only be valid if they continue as such”, added Yauhar.

“Foreign vessels do not generate activity in Argentine ports, but nevertheless they could compete with Montevideo, Uruguay, where they unload their catches. It would be a very good alternative for Patagonian ports and manpower”.

In return, Argentina is expected to receive a significant reduction in import tariffs that the Asian nation currently charges, Buenos Aired daily Clarin reported.

Yauhar pointed out that 14 vessels under the Argentine flag [belonging to] companies like Moscuzza and Solimeno have set sail to catch in the plus 200 miles EEZ make captures “and actions have been a real success” El Chubut reports (FIS/MP).- .