According to the Asociación Cámara Argentina Pesquera (CAPEAR), 806 fishing vessels operate in Argentinian waters. A small segment, 79 ships tied to Galician capital interests, has established a longstanding presence in the country for more than three decades, becoming a cornerstone of the maritime and mining sectors. Today, the industry faces a fundamental shift in the status quo: the Omnibus Law proposed by President Javier Milei envisions a broad offering of fishing rights, opening fishing grounds to foreign fleets and potentially relaxing the obligation to land catches in national ports. [Citations: CAPEAR, industry analyses]
Industry voices have branded the plan as an “abomination” to be enacted only if legislative approval cannot be secured, and some described its machinery as a high-stakes emergency decree. The business community, along with ports and union chambers, reacted with near-unanimous resistance. Just yesterday, five governors from Argentine Patagonia issued a joint statement criticizing the president’s ultraliberal proposals. [Citations: regional declarations, CAPEAR statements]
“They will have a devastating impact,” warned Gustavo Melella (Tierra del Fuego), Claudio Vidal (Santa Cruz), Ignacio Torres (Chubut), Rolando Figueroa (Neuquén), and Alberto Weretilneck (Río Negro). The Buenos Aires governor, Axel Kicillof, likewise opposed the normative changes, leading governors along the coast to voice concerns. The statement argued that defending sovereignty, resources, and Argentine jobs is essential, warning of serious consequences if the reforms proceed. Analysis from Faro de Vigo and researchers such as Fabián Pettigrew notes that the majority of fishing crew are local, and that wages in the sector are among the highest in the national economy. The Iberconsa, Nueva Pescanova, Vieirasa, and Profand groups collectively generate over 400 million euros in turnover and contribute significantly to foreign currency through exports. [Citations: regional governments, industry analyses, Faro de Vigo]
Data
- 806 fishing permits issued in the Argentine Republic, covering vessels of varying types including outriggers, trawlers, freshers, freezers, and jiggers. [Citations: CAPEAR]
- 79 ships backed by Galician capital concentrate on hake, shrimp, and squid; catches are frozen on board and processed in coastal factories scattered along the country. [Citations: CAPEAR, industry reports]
- More than 2,000 direct jobs are linked to Iberconsa Group, Nueva Pescanova, and Profand operations on Argentine soil, with over 75% of crew members being local. [Citations: company disclosures, regional employment data]
Business sources argue strong, long-standing ties to Argentina. “We have been present for over thirty years. As Argentinians, we are engaged in a political struggle because that is who we are; our companies are Argentine,” stated a representative linked to the General municipality of Pueyrredon, whose seat is Mar del Plata. The message highlighted the influence of maritime industries on broader regional development and cautioned against decisions made in haste or ignorance. Direct employment figures reported by Galician investments in the country exceed 2,000, not counting the 45% stake held by Vigo-based Wofco in Conarpesa. [Citations: municipal statements, Galician investments]
Deliberative Council
“Life goes on for us. If policy continues on this path, the law could endure for twenty years, even if it falters later,” remarked Pablo Trueba, president of the Sea Fishermen’s Association (Simape), during a recent meeting. He was followed by Antonio Solimeno, Cristina Ledesma, SOIP chief, Mariano Retrivi, CAPEAR president, Siconara, and national fisheries inspector Carlos Monteño, among others. They stressed that preserving the fish stock requires careful, sustained investment and warned against undercutting the industry’s future. “Saving the fish costs us a great deal, and giving up now is not an option,” one advocate summarized. [Citations: Simape, SOIP, CAPEAR]
At the negotiating table ahead of sector talks with MPs and senators, voices were raised against potential catastrophic employment impacts and the risk that loosening crew requirements would reduce Argentine workers’ protections. Solimeno noted his own fleet of more than a dozen ships, including the Ponte de Rande, which operates out of Vigo and connects to Galicia’s mining heritage and its seafood processing capacity. The discussion underscored the broader economic and cultural significance of the Galician-Argentine maritime corridor. [Citations: regional council statements, industry histories]