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Photo: Stockfile/FIS
Argentine Fisheries Council Under Investigation for Alleged Bribes Over Patagonian Toothfish Quotas; Systemic Corruption Eyed
ARGENTINA
Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 00:10 (GMT + 9)
A major seafood company has filed a criminal complaint against members of Argentina's Federal Fisheries Council (CFP), alleging illicit payments to secure fishing quotas and create an oligopoly. The lawsuits shine a light on deep-rooted concerns over transparency and fair competition, with some observers suggesting a systemic network of alleged corruption.
 BUENOS AIRES – Argentina’s Federal Fisheries Council (CFP), the body tasked with managing individual transferable fishing quotas (CITC) in Argentine waters, is now facing a criminal investigation. The legal firm Burlando & Tiberio, representing businessman Liu Zhijiang, president of PRODESUR SA, has filed a complaint before the Federal Courts in Comodoro Py.
PRODESUR accuses CFP members of allegedly receiving bribes to issue Resolution CFP N° 15/24, which excluded PRODESUR from the allocation of patagonian toothfish quotas for the 2025–2039 period, according to information reported by Nelson Saldivia in Parte de Pesca. The complainants argue that this decision unfairly created an oligopoly benefiting certain companies, despite others, like PRODESUR, possessing equal or greater operational capacity and fulfilling all legal requirements, including an updated fishing permit and historical performance.
Allegations of Unfair Practices and Oligopoly Formation
 The CFP's mandate, rooted in Law 24.922 and Decree 748/99, stipulates that fishing quotas are state concessions designed for sustainable resource exploitation and should ideally be distributed through public offers to prevent monopolistic concentrations. PRODESUR contends that the CFP's actions violated these principles and Article 16 of the National Constitution (equality).
<-- The loss of its Patagonian Toothfish quota places Prodesur's factory ship 'Tai An' at a considerable disadvantage, amidst ongoing legal challenges including a complaint and fine issued against the shipowner last year
The specific exclusion of PRODESUR and the allocation of patagonian toothfish quotas primarily to companies like ARGENOVA SA, ESTREMAR SA/SAN ARAWA SA, and EMPRESA PESQUERA DE LA PATAGONIA Y ANTÁRTIDA SA have drawn scrutiny. Additionally, PRODESUR’s quota for Patagonian Hake was reportedly reduced via Resolution CFP 3/24, allegedly putting it at a disadvantage.
In march 2024 the processing vessel Tai An was fined for catching undersized Patagonian Toothfish and for unauthorized targeting of the species
Broadening Investigation and Legal Accusations
The criminal complaint by Liu Zhijiang, through his legal counsel, was filed before Federal Prosecutor's Office 2 and Federal Criminal and Correctional Court 3. The case has since been unified with a similar complaint from Gustavo Pulti, president of the Maritime, Port, and Fisheries Interests Commission of the Buenos Aires Chamber of Deputies. Pulti's complaint also alleges requests for bribes from officials and businessmen to secure quota allocations before the general CITC regime expired on December 31, 2024.
 The accusations include active and passive bribery (Article 256 CP) for allegedly receiving U.S. dollar sums to favor specific companies, and non-compliance with public official duties (Article 248 CP) for issuing an administrative act contrary to law, violating principles of equality and public procedure, and promoting a de facto monopoly.
Gustavo Pulti, president of the Maritime, Port and Fisheries Interests Commission of the Buenos Aires Province Chamber of Deputies -->
Systemic Concerns within the Fisheries Council
Beyond the immediate legal complaints, well-informed sources within the sector suggest a deeper, systemic issue within the Federal Fisheries Council. For the first time, there is public discussion regarding Dario Baroli and his alleged historical connection to the "informal" economic dealings of the CFP. The same sources indicate that significant decisions related to licenses, quota modifications, and "arrangements" have consistently circumvented formal processes through a discreet "back door."
Concerns have also been raised that, despite the change in administration, with Undersecretary Antonio Lopez Cazorla now in office under the current Milei government, the alleged "business" practices and distribution of illicitly obtained money have persisted. These sources claim that similar schemes were also conducted by undersecretaries from previous governments, often involving lawyers—some of whom are former officials—who ostensibly "advise" companies but are reportedly engaged in negotiating the 'economic value' of what shipowners require.
The unfolding criminal lawsuits beg the question of whether this entire alleged corrupt network, which some observers claim is part of the Federal Fisheries Council's operational standards, will finally be exposed. Or, will these current legal challenges merely represent another "round of negotiations," allowing the entrenched system to continue as before? The judicial process in Comodoro Py continues, with authorities expected to define the next steps, including potential indictments.
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