Illegal fishing: Government sanctions another foreign vessel operating in Argentina’s exclusive zone

Argentina has imposed a fine of 1.844 billion pesos on a Spanish fishing vessel accused of operating inside the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

The vessel, identified as Ferruco, was detected by the Argentine Naval Prefecture while operating in the zone. The Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Secretariat said the penalty amounted to one million Fishing Units and marked the fifth vessel sanctioned so far this year.

The government said the enforcement operation involved the Navy, the Naval Prefecture and the Undersecretariat for Aquatic Resources and Fisheries. It also highlighted the use of electronic detection technology to support economic sanctions against vessels operating irregularly in Argentine waters.

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This is the fifth vessel so far this year and demonstrates the national government’s commitment to defending the resources of our sea.

The secretariat described the policy as one of “zero tolerance” toward illegal fishing and linked it to the defense of Argentina’s sovereignty over marine resources and protection of the national fishery. By the end of August, authorities had reported collecting 5.381 billion pesos in compensation from earlier sanctions. Adding the new fine brought the total to 7.225 billion pesos, according to official figures.

Previous penalties targeted the Vanuatu-flagged Hai Xiang 2, Bao Feng and Bao Win, as well as the Portuguese vessel Coimbra. The measures followed detections inside Argentina’s exclusive zone, including waters near the 200-mile maritime boundary off the Atlantic coast.

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The government applies zero tolerance to illegal fishing.