MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina joins Pacific coastal nations to combat IUU fishing

The MoU includes Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru and is committed to combat Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated fishing referred to migratory species

Argentine specialized media is reporting that OPRA, a regional cooperation agreement, Organization for the Protection of Fisheries Resources in the South Atlantic has signed an accord with their Pacific counterpart, Calamasur, which is a Committee for the Sustainable Management of the giant squid in the South Pacific.

The Memorandum Understanding between the two organizations includes Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru and is committed to combat the Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated fishing which refers to migratory and straddling species.

Through OPRAS, Argentina has already signed a similar accord with Spain and Brazil, with the purpose of “giving the industry an adequate framework and committed cooperation”

The accord was signed, remotely, by OPRAS president Alan Mackern and his Calamasur counterpart, Alfonso Miranda.

“The focus is centered in the management of resources that trespass jurisdictions of coastal states and because of this migratory, straddling condition are exploited by foreign fishing fleets”.

As to squid and cephalopods both organizations are determined to try to make compatible conservation and exploitation measures in their respective EEZ with those that should rule outside mile 201, where there is an absence of rules and regulations.