China’s extensive fishing fleet is accused of depleting Argentina’s marine resources through illegal activities. An Argentine environmental group highlights that over half of the squid fishing fleet comprises Chinese vessels, implicating state-sanctioned fishing practices. The Argentine navy has launched operations to counteract these threats within their exclusive economic zone.

In a recent report by Radio Free Asia, an Argentine environmental organization has accused China of severely depleting Argentina’s marine resources. The report highlights that China possesses the largest fishing fleet in the world, which engages in both legal and illegal fishing activities in Argentine waters.

El Circulo de Politicas Ambientales, the organization in question, notes that many Chinese vessels are legitimately registered under the Argentine flag, while an increasing number operate illegally under the flags of other nations. Marine conservation specialist Milko Schvartzman remarked that historically, Chinese fishing boats would remain at the edge of Argentina’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and sometimes turned off their identification systems to fish illegally.

It has now been observed that these vessels are registering to fly the Argentine flag, despite being owned by Chinese companies. According to Schvartzman, this practice indicates a gradual takeover of Argentina’s marine resources by Chinese entities. The environmental group estimates that more than half of Argentina’s squid fishing fleet consists of Chinese vessels, which they describe as a state-sanctioned strategy facilitated by the China National Fisheries Corporation (CNFC).

Moreover, Chinese boats have been reported to operate illegally in Argentine waters while sailing under other nations’ flags, purportedly to disguise the scope of China’s activities in the South Atlantic and evade sanctions. Recently, the Argentine navy executed Operation Mare Nostrum I within its EEZ, where they held authority over marine resources according to international law, utilizing maritime surveillance aircraft and corvettes to enhance their operations.

The alarming report from Radio Free Asia underscores the escalating concerns regarding China’s impact on Argentina’s marine resources. The activities of Chinese fishing fleets, both legal and illegal, pose a significant threat to the sustainability of Argentina’s fishing industry. As evidenced by the operations undertaken by the Argentine navy, it is clear that governmental response measures are being implemented to address these challenges.

Original Source: www.aninews.in

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