Deputy justicialist Sebastian Balochi. (Photo: legischubut.gov.ar)

Chubut condones tariffs on fishing licenses

The Chamber of Deputies of the province of Chubut have passed a bill that condones, for fiscal year 2010, the payment of fishing licenses to 14 companies in the province of Santa Cruz. The benefiting companies would be operating vessels within the San Jorge Gulf Agreement, which establishes a joint administration between the two provinces.

The project, proposed by the provincial executive and approved by a majority in the Legislature, refers to the tariff established for the commercial exploitation of marine resources, such as industrial fishing licenses.

The policy justifies the measure, arguing the need to "moderate the economic and social impact that has occurred due to fish processing plants located in the province of Chubut, and, to ensure the normal operation of this activity, as well as promoting sources of work."

The incumbent firms are: Arbumasa, Argenova, Compañía Pesquera del Sud, Conarpesa, Empesur S.A., Explotación Pesquera de la Patagonia, Fishing World, Marítima Monachesi, Pesquera Leal, Moliendas del Sur, Pesquera Santa Cruz, Pesquera Santa Elena, Pioletti and Vieira Argentina.

The measure was challenged by the head of the Subsecretary of Fisheries of the Nation, Norberto Yauhar, and opposition lawmakers, who argue that "the Agreement of the Gulf has been misrepresented in a major way."

However, deputy justicialist Sebastian Balochi defended the move saying that ships "entering Chubut waters that have been nominated for a resolution by the province of Santa Cruz for the fiscal year" are exempt from a payment of fees.

The lawmaker added that during "the previous meeting, the opposition had questioned why there were no details on the ships that would benefit from this measure, so therefore an appendix was added," reports la Revista Puerto.

In addition, Balochi said that the government of Santa Cruz, through a resolution, cancelled part of the tariffs for the fiscal period of 2009 and 2010 for vessels of both provinces, which went from ARS 300,000 (USD 75,000) ARS 75,000 (USD 18,900).

Thus, the amount of tariffs were proportional to that of Chubut.

"Based on the reciprocity and the gesture that Santa Cruz has made, it was Chubut that took the political decision to cancel the tariffs for the nominated companies," he argued.

In addition, the legislator said the measure also allowed for no further loss of jobs during 2010.

For his part, the Subsecretary of Fisheries of the nation objected to the measure and said that "there is no balance in the number of ships that pass from one side to the other."

While Chubut "input 14 vessels to fish in Santa Cruz, on the other side a total of between 20 and 22 ships would enter to the sea of Chubut due to the Agreement" said Yauhar, but in reality, "full fleets have also entered and at one point, there were 58 or 60 boats fishing in that area which were not all from Chubut."

In this regard, the legislator Balochi said the waters were open to "limited effort" because by law, a total of 82 could enter but that was lowered to 50 in order to protect resources.

By Silvina Corniola
[email protected]
www.seafood.media

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