Image: Revista Puerto / FIS

IUU fishing: ´It is unfair competition that could take us out of the market´, says Darío Sócrate, CAPA Manager

ARGENTINA
Tuesday, February 21, 2023, 09:10 (GMT + 9)

Darío Sócrate, manager of CAPA, the chamber that brings together Argentine jigging vessels, talks about the threat posed by foreign vessels fishing at mile 201, which is not addressed by national authorities. Added to this problem is the start of the season with low catches and the absence of research campaigns that make them navigate blindly.

The jig fleet takes refuge from the storm. Image: CAPA/Wiki/FIS

The jigging boats take shelter from inclement weather after a week of low catches, the situation is worrying the national jigging sector and the suspension of the research campaign further complicates the situation. But these are not the only problems facing the sector: the activity at mile 201 of hundreds of foreign illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing boats is a threat to the business that national authorities do not pay attention to. attention. About these issues we spoke with Darío Sócrate, manager of the Chamber of Argentine Jigsmen.

PUERTO MAGAZINE: How are the catch levels this season?

Illex squid. Photo: Revista Puerto -->

DARIO SOCRATE: We could say that they were a bit lazy because at this point in the season last year, for example, they were working around 30 and 40 tons per day and today they make 10 tons per day. What marks it as a season that is not giving the values that one expected. Although at least the captures are maintained, low but they are maintained.

RP: Does 10 tons per day cover the costs?

DS: This is a photo, not the entire season, but if this scheme is maintained, we would be facing a bad season; We all hope that it evolves favourably. The sizes are good, like other years, but with quite low volumes.

RP: Once again the INIDEP campaign for February has been suspended. What are the consequences of starting blindly?

DS: It is always much better to have the most concrete scientific information possible, having the data from the campaign is important, it has been a couple of years since the February campaign on the southern stocks has been carried out. We hope that the April campaign with data from the northern cash can be put into practice, the Undersecretariat of Fisheries has promised to do so, we hope so and we can at least have the most reliable information possible from the north.

RP: If this level of catches is sustained, if the early warning is applied, could the season end earlier?

DS: What makes the season shorter worries us because the vessels that fish for squid, although it seems obvious, work only on that species, therefore, for the season to be shortened and the volumes are not as expected would be a very bad news, we hope that the catch volumes will once again be economically profitable.

RP: How many jiggers are operating in the ZEE and how many foreigners are fishing at Mile 201?

DS: There are 70 national ships and around 400 abroad, they are few in comparison and with the aggravating circumstance that the ships that operate on the Argentine platform have a series of regulations to comply with, with which we are not only fewer, but that we have more obligations.

Photo: Milko Schvartzman

RP: What impact does this fleet at mile 201 have on the squid business?

DS: If the catch volumes are considerable, as has happened in some years, it is unfair competition in the same markets, because the destination countries to which these catches are sent are not as varied. In other words, the ships that operate in the Argentine ZEE, with Argentine regulations, have a series of additional costs due to the number of regulations that must be complied with, which are clearly not complied with abroad. And not only does non-compliance with biological standards have an impact, but also on the costs that companies have. We must add that many of these vessels come with subsidies from their countries of origin. With which, subsidized, with less costs, fewer regulations to comply with, violating the biological norms determined by the Argentine government, they make a higher catch volume; This is undoubtedly unfair competition that at some point could take the products of Argentine companies out of the market.

RP: Since the boats that fish, mostly Chinese, Korean and Taiwanese, coincide with the destination markets... are the boats of this illegal or unreported and unregulated fishing the ones that end up setting the price?

DS: I'm not risking that it's just these boats, I think there are other squid fishing in other latitudes that also participate in setting the sale price in the different markets, which are not that many, but definitely if those catch volumes exceed the Catches within definitely have more weight in determining the final price than the products generated by the vessels that operate within the Exclusive Economic Zone.

RP: Specialists in this matter agree that there is inaction on the part of the Argentine State in the face of the problem of IUU Fishing in the South Atlantic. Do they match?

DS: I think that the time that has elapsed in a state of lack of organization and regulation of that area has something to do with that, beyond the valid reasons, possible to resolve, politically and geopolitically viable, important or less important, What is certain is that the lack of regulation over time makes this gap a responsibility of the national authorities because they are the ones who have to advance on a potential regulation scheme in that area. Obviously calling on third countries and this is where the administrative and political issue that has to be considered comes in, there is the issue of Great Britain and the Malvinas, the Chinese fleet operating, the Korean, the Taiwanese, the Spanish trawlers... I think that there are a series of issues that, because they cannot be addressed all together, end up being resolved. As time goes by and this continues without being regulated, it is clear that it is a problem and obviously the ones who should move forward in the search for solutions are the government authorities.

RP: Milko Schvartzman says that the Foreign Ministry is not working to resolve it. Do you see the same?

DS: We met with the secretary of Malvinas, we went to inform him of the task that we are doing in the chamber in search of an improvement program to reach potential standards within the framework of a certification of sustainability of the species and he We commented on the intentions of a political sector to serve the fleet that operates at mile 201 with the aim of generating jobs and he told us that he had not had any type of express request in this regard and that if they did, they would define what the Actions. We put our opinion on the table and we will see what decisions they adopt in this regard.

RP: Last year Guillermo Carmona proposed as a solution to the problem of fishing outside the EEZ that the jiggers increase the number of boats and that they go outside of 200 miles.

DS: Anything that is proposed as the only solution, I think it will have drawbacks, the fact that there are more ships within the EEZ will not mean that there are fewer outside, therefore, the effort will be increased as many ships are incorporate them into the registration, we would be doing the opposite of what we are looking for, we would be increasing the pressure on the squid species, it does not seem like a potential solution to the situation. I think that making a kind of zone capture by force does not seem the most appropriate way. Going out to compete outside mile 200 with very large boats, which fail to comply with regulations of all kinds, including safety, would lead to putting boats and crews at risk. We should first advance in knowing the operation and have real information about what is the operation of these ships and that is done through diplomatic channels in relations with those other countries.

RP: Is the way to sit at the table with China, Spain and all the countries that participate in fishing in the South Atlantic?

DS: It would be a bit arrogant of me to risk an exit mechanism due to a lack of capacity in diplomatic matters. What I can say is that we need to find a solution because we are not doing well that way.

RP: Otto Wöhler and Roberto García Moritán have proposed that a national fishing permit be required for those who fish in the area of the continental shelf recognized by the UN. Does it seem feasible?

DS: If it is technically and administratively viable, it seems to me an interesting path. They also talk about making bilateral agreements and Schvartzman talks about multilateral agreements. I am not in a position to say which is the best mechanism, but it will surely be the one that allows us to have information about what is happening outside and that we can begin to comply with the regulations. as those of us who are on this side of mile 200 do. From there, there would be a more even competition and we would see what the status of the situation would be, something that cannot be left aside is the issue of the personnel that goes on board of those ships. Compliance with international agreements such as the ILO or the Argentine trade union regime which, on the one hand, causes us inconveniences and strong discussions, but gives guarantees for the people who work on the ships. ILO Convention 188 is fully complied with by the Argentine fleet; compliance with this type of norm should be required of vessels that operate on the same species under the same conditions. It is an issue that must be brought to the fore.

Image: Panam Post / FIS -->

RP: Were you summoned at some point to find a way out?

DS: We have never been summoned, the Chamber once tried to create a space and it did not prosper, but we have expressed our absolute predisposition to participate in the discussions that are necessary, stating our point of view.

RP: This fleet is profitable because of the subsidies and the contribution of Uruguay. What should Argentina do at the diplomatic level?

DS: I think that Argentina's relationship within the Mercosur framework should be dealt with in depth, at least Argentina's position should be considered. What happens is that Argentina has not stated very clearly what its position is, for now we are in a kind of uncertainty and that includes not questioning it officially and publicly. We should talk to the Uruguayan government.

RP: Ecuador was able to put a limit on IUU fishing. We do not do it because there is no political decision?

DS: Ecuador was clear that it wanted to move forward on the regulation and that is what is needed, we have to put the problem on the table to see if we can find a way, doing nothing is not a solution.

Nota Relacionada:

• Fishing at Mile 201: ´The Argentine diplomatic muscle is atrophied and does not work´

• Why is bottom trawling by foreign vessels at Mile 201 illegal?

• The voracious Chinese demand for squid in South American waters

• The Criminal Offense for Illegal Fishing in the South Atlantic

• Chinese subsidized fishing vessel maps and studies the Argentine Continental Shelf

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