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Space-Visible Fleet Plunders Marine Riches
6 Jan
Summary
- A massive Chinese-dominated fleet fishes in ungoverned waters off Argentina.
- The unregulated fishery threatens the entire South Atlantic ecosystem.
- Vulnerable workers face abuse, cruelty, and debt bondage at sea.
An immense fishing fleet, visible from space and dominated by Chinese vessels, is currently engaged in the large-scale plundering of marine life in Mile 201, an unregulated area of the South Atlantic off Argentina. This distant-water fleet exploits a regulatory vacuum, leading to unsustainable squid fishing that threatens the entire marine ecosystem. Experts warn that the collapse of the squid population could trigger cascading ecological disruptions, with significant social and economic consequences.
The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) highlights that three-quarters of the squid jigging vessels are from China, with activity surging by 65% between 2019 and 2024. This unchecked operation also facilitates severe human rights abuses, including physical violence, wage theft, and debt bondage among the crews. Reports suggest deliberate killing of seals and other marine megafauna, with vulnerable workers enduring excessive hours and little rest.
Much of the seafood caught under these exploitative conditions enters global markets in the EU, UK, and North America, raising concerns for consumers. The EJF advocates for import bans on products linked to illegal fishing and a global transparency regime for maritime activities. Without urgent international action, the situation risks ecological disaster and continued human suffering.
