Argentina has a continental American territory of 2,791,810 km2; an EEZ of 3,146,345 km2; an extended continental shelf of 1,782,000 km2; an Antarctic continent of 965,314 km2; a Paraguay-Paraná river trunk of 3,442 navigable km from Puerto Cáceres to Nueva Palmira and a Río de la Plata of 30,212 km2 of surface and 290 km to the access to the Southwestern Atlantic.
Within this, the Province of Buenos Aires has a maritime jurisdiction (territorial sea, EEZ and extended Continental Shelf) of 338,848 km2 and the rest of the provinces on the maritime coast have a territorial sea of 12 nautical miles.
However, the United Kingdom of Great Britain has invaded and exploited Argentine natural resources in 1,639,900 km2 of Argentine archipelagos (Malvinas, South Georgia, South Sandwich and others); it disputes with our country 1,430,367 km2 of the extended continental shelf and 2,426,911 km2 of Argentine Antarctica and its corresponding waters. Maritime spaces in which it annually extracts through illegal licenses granted to foreign vessels 250,000 tons of Argentine fishing resources and has begun oil explorations north of Malvinas estimated to be in the order of 791 million barrels of crude oil.
In addition, and as a consequence of the British occupation, which attracted the interest of foreign fleets in fishing in the South-West Atlantic, between 350 and 500 Chinese, Korean, Taiwanese, Spanish and other vessels fish some 750,000 tons of migratory fishery resources originating in the Argentine EEZ annually. All of this causes territorial, economic, biological, social and environmental damage and damage to national sovereignty of enormous proportions (for more details, see publications available at www.cesarlerena.com.ar ).
In light of this, among others, it is proposed to carry out the following actions, which are stated in summary form:
1. Strengthen deterrent naval control in the EEZ and outside it, in order to ensure the fishing of the Argentine fishing fleet beyond 200 nautical miles of migratory and associated resources on the high seas.
2. Reform the Fisheries Law 24.922 with the main objective of federalizing the administration of fishing resources; reformulating the Federal Fisheries Council; establishing the “Fishing Economic Unit”; expanding fishing distribution; tripling national production; developing aquaculture and mariculture; eliminating the State's cost in administration tasks; research and naval and land control.
3. Agree with the Province of Buenos Aires on the exploitation by it of natural resources in the provincial maritime jurisdiction (Territorial Sea and EEZ) in accordance with the National Constitution (art. 31º, 121º and 124º); Special Pacts (San José de Flores); Constitution of the Province of Buenos Aires (art. 28º); National Law on Maritime Spaces and Baselines (23.968/91 art. 5º); Fishing Law of the Province of BA (11.447/93 art. 1º and 2º); Law of ratification of the UNCLOS (law 24.543/95 art. 2º); National Fishing Law (24.922/98 art. 3º, 4º, 5º, 21º to 23º); Law of adherence to the National Fishing Law 24,922 (12,558/00 art. 4) (see César Lerena “The Plunder. The Appropriation of the Nation of the Fishing Resources of the Province of Buenos Aires” Ed. Fundación Agustina Lerena, 249 p. 2024) .
4. Establish bilateral agreements for high seas capture (see César Lerena “High Seas Fishing Agreements in the Southwestern Atlantic”, 2024) in order to eradicate illegal fishing of migratory resources originating in the EEZ and associated resources on the high seas and consolidate the administration of resources in that Zone, discouraging foreign fishing in the Malvinas; at the same time generating economic, commercial and protein resources derived from the agreements, ensuring the sustainability of the marine ecosystem.
5. To initiate civil and criminal legal actions against foreign vessels fishing without Argentine authorization in the corresponding waters of the Malvinas, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands by application of Laws 22.415; 24.922 and 27.564 and UN Resolution 31/49.
6. Establish the relevant Agreements for the administration of the Paraguay-Paraná river trunk network and the Rio de la Plata between the coastal provinces; in addition to carrying out the works on the Canal Magdalena. All of this, with the aim of promoting regional development and that of the Provinces of Buenos Aires, Chaco, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Formosa, Misiones and Santa Fe; reducing the cost of transport and trade in the aforementioned Provinces and nationally; returning to these provinces the resources of their river territories and ending the dependence of Argentine trade on the Port of Montevideo.
7. Educate the population about the sea and its natural resources; the habit of consuming fishery products, and training in trades; based on the existing structure of the National Fishing School and others that are created in the country with the aim of promoting maritime and fishing culture in a country where the sea is 64% of the national territory; increasing consumption from 4.8 kg per capita to 9.8 kg; and tripling the direct labor force throughout the national territory.
Dr. Cesar Augusto Lerena
South Atlantic and Fisheries expert - former Secretary of State.
President of the Center for Latin American Fisheries Studies (CESPEL).
Web: cesarlerena.com.ar
October 24, 2024
