Date of Award

1992

Degree Type

Major Paper

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Marine Affairs

Abstract

The armed conflict between Argentina and Britain over the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) early in 1982, resulted in a confusing partition of the maritime area around these islands. The military strategies and policies developed by both countries during and after the war created an unclear situation regarding limits and jurisdictions, thus delaying managerial actions and regulation enforcement over the fishing resources of the area. Several foreign fishing fleets operating in the region at the time, took advantage of the lack of protective legislation and recognized authority, resulting in overfishing of species such as squid and hake. No significant control was implemented until 1986, when Argentina signed fishing treaties with the former USSR and Bulgaria in an effort to regulate fishing activities in Argentina's claimed jurisdictional waters. This move was immediately followed by the British announcement that fishing licenses would be issued to interested foreign fishing vessels. The emerging management efforts, their political and economic significance, and their consequences for the fisheries on the Patagonian shelf are examined in this study.

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