Valeria-Delatlantico Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

The 'San Arawa 2,' a fishing trawler operating under the Estremar company, is currently under scrutiny for allegedly exceeding its toothfish quota in the Argentine Sea. During a recent operation off the coast of Tierra del Fuego, Patagonia, the vessel reportedly caught over 40 tons of juvenile toothfish on March 22, 2024. This catch significantly surpasses the legal limits set for bycatch, raising serious concerns about the responsibility of fishing practices impacting marine ecosystems. The operators of the 'San Arawa 2,' Norwegians Ingvar Johannesson and Idar Rekkedal, are emerging as the primary figures in this investigation of illegal fishing activity, particularly concerning juvenile hake. In Argentina, the quota for toothfish is controlled by three major companies: Argenova, Estremar, and Pesantar. These entities successfully lobbied the Federal Fisheries Council (CFP) to issue regulations in 2019 that excluded the Prodesur company, effectively leading to a monopolization of the toothfish fishing industry, which generates annual revenues of approximately US$ 150 million. It is noteworthy that on March 5, 2021, the CFP extended the fishing authorizations for the same three companies through 2025, further solidifying their dominance in the industry. The situation surrounding the 'San Arawa 2' raises critical questions about the management and sustainability of toothfish fishing and the regulatory frameworks that govern it.