Recent satellite images exposed the concentration of large-scale fishing vessels, mostly of Chinese nationality, operating on the high seas just outside the Argentine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), in the strip known as Mile 201.
The captures show columns of vessels extending for kilometers, reflecting the growing pressure on the fishing resources of the South Atlantic.
A sustained phenomenon
Although it is not a new occurrence, the images confirm what Argentine authorities and non-governmental organizations have warned about for years: the presence of a high-seas industrial fishing fleet, primarily linked to China, Taiwan, and South Korea, exploiting key species like the Illex argentinus squid beyond the 200 nautical miles without effective supervision.
In Buenos Aires, the Argentine Naval Prefecture monitors the movement of these vessels in real-time through maritime surveillance systems. Commander Mauricio López explained that each year, for five or six months, the foreign fleet arrives from the Indian Ocean and other regions to operate in Mile 201, generating a serious environmental problem.
The difficulty of regulating the high seas
Mile 201 corresponds to the high seas, an area outside national jurisdiction, historically difficult to regulate. There, gigantic vessels operate, which, according to environmental organizations, form a floating mass comparable to a “city at sea”.
Within the Argentine EEZ, control interventions are effective, but once the fishing vessels cross that limit, coastal nations lack direct legal tools to inspect or sanction.
Growth of intensive fishing
According to the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), fishing activity hours in Mile 201 grew by 65% between 2019 and 2024, driven mainly by Chinese fishing vessels.
This increase occurs in a regulatory vacuum, as there are no international catch limits for squid on the high seas. The ships take advantage of the absence of binding agreements to maximize their catches.
Environmental and ecological impacts
The impact is not limited to the overexploitation of squid. This species plays a central role in the South Atlantic food chain, being food for numerous marine predators. Its decline could trigger an ecological domino effect affecting:
- Whales and dolphins.
- Commercial fish such as hake and tuna.
- Coastal communities that depend on these resources for subsistence.
International debate and the High Seas Treaty
Concern over this situation has spurred international debates on the need for stricter regulation of fishing in international waters.
The recent entry into force of the High Seas Treaty, a global agreement by the UN for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, offers a potential framework to address these challenges. The treaty will allow:
- The creation of marine protected areas.
- The conduct of environmental impact assessments before activities that may harm ecosystems.
The concentration of the Chinese fishing fleet in Mile 201 exposes the fragility of control mechanisms on the high seas and the urgency of moving towards effective international agreements.
The overexploitation of squid and its effects on the South Atlantic food chain are a reminder that the protection of marine biodiversity is a global challenge that requires cooperation and immediate action.
