For decades, the coastal waters of Argentina have been plagued by illegal fishing activities. The Argentine Navy has pointed out that Chinese fishing vessels frequently intrude into the exclusive economic zone of this South American country, prompting the military to intensify efforts to combat illegal fishing.
According to a report by CNN, in January of this year, the Argentine military deployed an advanced P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft for anti-submarine and reconnaissance purposes, a C-12 multipurpose reconnaissance aircraft, and two escort ships to monitor foreign fishing vessels.
During the mission, the Argentine military discovered a total of 380 fishing vessels outside the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), with many of them originating from Asia.
Footage released by the Argentine military, satellite images, and historical vessel tracking data analyzed by CNN revealed a broader pattern, indicating that Chinese-flagged fishing vessels may be engaging in harmful fishing activities within or around Argentine waters.
After analyzing public information from the international organization Global Fishing Watch, CNN identified that by the end of February, there were 198 fishing vessels operating in this area, with over 80% flying the Chinese flag, nearly 10% flying the Spanish flag, and 5.5% registered in the United Kingdom or the Falkland Islands.
These fishing vessels stretch approximately 241 kilometers from north to south, with many of them illuminating lights at night to lure squid to the surface before capturing them with large nets. The lights are so bright that they are even visible from space, earning the nickname “floating cities.”
CNN’s further analysis revealed that identified Chinese fishing vessels are much more likely to turn off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) compared to other vessels, allowing them to disappear from public vessel tracking platforms.
Over the past year, there have been approximately 500 cases of fishing vessels disabling AIS, with CNN finding that over 92% of the cases involved Chinese vessels.
Additionally, based on data from the U.S. Treasury Department, among the 198 identified fishing vessels, seven Chinese vessels have been sanctioned by the United States.
These vessels are linked to the “Fujian Pingtan County Distant Water Fishing Group Co., Ltd.,” which was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2022 for “severe human rights violations” and illegal fishing activities. Furthermore, according to the U.S. Treasury Department, the company received a $19 million grant from the Chinese government to develop deep-sea fishing capabilities.
The issue faced by Argentina is part of a wider pattern of unregulated fishing activities conducted by Chinese fishing fleets globally. After depleting domestic fishing resources, similar Chinese fleets have also appeared off the coasts of West Africa, in parts of the South China Sea, and around South America.
Marine conservation consultant Milko Schvartzman told CNN that the number of fishing vessels operating on the border of Argentina’s Exclusive Economic Zone has increased by nearly one-third since 2010, from 400 vessels to approximately 550 vessels.
Darío Sócrate, executive director of the Argentine Chamber of Squid Jig Owners, stated that in comparison, the Argentine fishing fleet authorized to operate in the Exclusive Economic Zone consists of only 70 to 75 vessels. This imbalance has harmed local fishermen, as he estimates that due to foreign fishing activities, local fishermen are only able to catch half of the theoretically available fish stocks.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry, in a statement to CNN, emphasized that China is a responsible fishing nation that strictly adheres to fishing regulations in international waters and the Exclusive Economic Zones of coastal countries, and will not tolerate illegal fishing activities.
(Source: Central News Agency)