MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine Coast Guard arrest Taiwanese jigger

A Taiwanese flagged vessel was arrested by the Argentine Coast Guard accused of fishing inside Argentina's EEZ and is currently en route to Comodoro Rivadavia.

According to the official release from the Argentine Coast Guard, dated January first, the fisheries patrol "Mantilla" detected and later arrested the Taiwanese "Yuanfa No 16", which was "illegally" fishing 199 nautical miles offshore. Once approached and given the order to stop engines, the Taiwanese crew complied and a boarding party from Mantilla went to inspect the "Yuanfa No. 16". The official report indicates that 370 boxes with 13 kilograms of squid each were found on board. Yuanfa No. 16 is a 47.50 meters long jigger, with a crew of 27, from China, Taiwan, Philippines and Vietnam. She is currently being escorted to Comodoro Rivadavia where a federal judge is expected to begin proceedings.