The Argentine Naval Prefecture developed its Coast Guard System to achieve greater efficiency in security and created by professionals of the Force

Argentine Coast Guard Detects Chinese Trawler Operating Illegally in the Exclusive Economic Zone

ARGENTINA
Wednesday, January 08, 2025, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

A vessel flying the flag of Vanuatu was caught violating regulations in Argentina’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The Argentine Coast Guard (Prefectura Naval Argentina, PNA) recently detected an infraction committed by a foreign fishing vessel flying the flag of the Republic of Vanuatu. Leveraging the advanced Coast Guard System, authorities located the vessel Xinrun 579 on January 5th at midday.

The vessel entered the EEZ and remained in the area until late afternoon, traveling at speeds below 6 knots—a typical pattern for fishing activity. These actions constitute a violation of Law No. 24,922 of the Federal Fisheries Regime, which governs and protects the sustainable exploitation of Argentina's marine resources under the oversight of the Subsecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

The coast guard vessel GC-25 Azopardo, which was patrolling the area, confirmed the violation and notified the ship. Administrative proceedings were subsequently initiated.

Technological and Operational Surveillance

The Coast Guard System, operated by the PNA's Directorate of Maritime Traffic and supervised by the Ministry of Security, allowed the Xinrun 579 to be tracked in real time using satellite and radar data.

The PNA has recently documented the arrival of at least 60 vessels through the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, following fishing operations off the coasts of Ecuador, Peru, and Chile. This continuous monitoring has strengthened the enforcement of fisheries regulations.

Investigation and Context

An administrative investigation is underway to determine sanctions for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in an area where the maritime jurisdictions of different countries converge.

This incident occurs amid the arrival of hundreds of fishing vessels, mostly from China, to the so-called 201-Mile Zone, an area adjacent to Argentina's territorial waters. This zone draws international fleets due to its rich fishing grounds.

Although these fleets operate in international waters, their activities significantly impact the marine biomass within Argentina’s EEZ, particularly migratory species. Every year, numerous incursions are detected, reinforcing the commitment of the Argentine Coast Guard and other agencies to safeguard the country’s natural resources and maritime sovereignty.

Increase in Fishing Activity

This influx of vessels is expected to continue until February, when approximately 500 ships are anticipated in the region. Of these, around two-thirds are Chinese, with squid-jigging vessels accounting for over 75% of the total.

The Executive Director of the Argentine Chamber of Squid Jiggers (CAPA), Darío Sócrate, expressed concern:

"This phenomenon creates recurring issues: biological, because they begin fishing earlier and fail to respect the closure dates; and commercial, because they compete unfairly in the same markets we serve without adhering to environmental, safety, or labor standards"

Sócrate also noted that patrol operations began on January 2nd, though results have been limited due to the current location of the sub-Patagonian stock, which is expected to be near parallel 44 between January 10th and 12th.

[email protected]
www.seafood.media

Print