Photo: Clarin/FIS

Why Has the Argentine Government Not Ratified the WTO Agreement Against Illegal Fishing

ARGENTINA
Thursday, March 27, 2025, 00:00 (GMT + 9)

The scale of the fleet engaged in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Southwest Atlantic is unparalleled anywhere in the world

Every year, international media publish dozens of articles on the issue, while experts from around the world question why Argentina has not taken stronger action. This is reported in Clarín by Milko Schvartzman and Eugenia Testa, members of the NGO Círculo de Políticas Ambientales.

Concentration of foreign jigger fishing vessels at mile marker 201. Photo: courtesy of Milko Schvartzman/Círculo de Políticas Ambientales

In what could be described as a maritime inferno, beyond the 200-mile limit, between 400 and 500 vessels indiscriminately plunder marine resources. They do not only capture squid but also devastate populations of Patagonian toothfish, common hake, hoki, pollock, and other species. Additionally, they catch sharks, rays, dolphins, and elephant seals, including threatened and protected species. On top of this, these fleets continuously pollute the ocean by dumping tons of waste, oil, and abandoned fishing gear. No ecosystem or fishery resource can withstand such uncontrolled pressure for long.

These vessels, mainly from China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Spain, operate largely thanks to massive subsidies provided by their flag states. Another form of hidden subsidy is the use of forced labor: thousands of Filipino, Indonesian, and African workers are exploited, suffering abuse and even dying at sea aboard fleets that fail to comply with labor, health, or navigation safety standards. The bodies of the deceased are often thrown into the sea or unloaded in Montevideo, the main logistical support port for these fleets.

Command post of a patrol vessel of the Argentine Naval Prefecture. Photo: courtesy of Milko Schvartzman/Círculo de Políticas Ambientales

Each year, a small group of countries is estimated to allocate $22 billion in subsidies for unregulated and illegal fishing, allowing them to catch one in every five fish globally. This practice not only has severe environmental consequences but also unfairly competes with regulated fishing, harming local economies, employment, and access to fishery resources in coastal nations such as Argentina.

To address these damages, the World Trade Organization (WTO) worked for more than 20 years to reach an agreement banning subsidies that promote overfishing.

In June 2022, the WTO unanimously approved an agreement establishing binding rules to curb harmful subsidies and prohibit financial support for illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. Throughout this extensive negotiation process, Argentina was not only an active participant but also played a leading role, making it all the more inexplicable that the country has yet to ratify the agreement.

Foreign fishing vessels captured by the Argentine Naval Prefecture. Photo: courtesy of Milko Schvartzman/Círculo de Políticas Ambientales

For the treaty to take effect, two-thirds of WTO member states must ratify it. As of today, only 17 more countries are needed to reach this threshold.

In 2024, Argentina’s National Congress approved the agreement, fulfilling the internal procedure required by the National Constitution. However, the final step—a simple administrative procedure by the Executive Branch—remains pending for Argentina to join the 94 states that have already ratified it.

This agreement is crucial in the fight against destructive fishing in the South Atlantic, as it would directly impact the government subsidies that support foreign fleets engaged in illegal, unregulated, and environmentally damaging fishing.

What is the government waiting for?

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