Foreign Ship Fined Over $1.8 Billion for Illegal Fishing in Argentine Waters

Argentina has imposed a hefty fine of over $1.8 billion on the owner of a foreign-flagged vessel caught fishing illegally within its Exclusive Economic Zone (ZEEA). The Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries announced the sanction against the company operating the Hai Xiang 2, a ship registered under the flag of Vanuatu.

This marks the fourth foreign vessel to be penalized for illegal fishing activities in Argentine waters this year. The detection of the Hai Xiang 2 was a result of monitoring by the Argentine Naval Prefecture, which analyzed the vessel's movements and speed. The Subsecretariat of Aquatic and Fishing Resources then initiated the proceedings, leading to the substantial fine equivalent to one million Fishing Units (UP).

The incident occurs as Argentina's fishing sector experiences significant growth in its exports. Between January and May of 2026, the country exported 291,894.3 tons of fishery products, generating US$1005.6 million. This represents an 18.2% increase in volume and a 22.9% rise in revenue compared to the same period last year. Key contributors to this performance include squid, which led exports with 163,115.7 tons worth US$451 million, and hake, with 47,149 tons valued at US$346 million.