Photo: ConxemarFIS

Spanish Fishing Group Accused of Illegal Operations in Falklands: Galicia Government’s Support Under Scrutiny

ARGENTINA
Monday, May 12, 2025, 03:00 (GMT + 9)

A serious allegation brought forward by Argentine journalist Roberto Garrone during the Seafood Expo Global 2025 in Barcelona is reigniting concerns over the role of Spanish fishing companies in the disputed waters of the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas).

At the center of the controversy is Grupo Pescapuerta, a major Galician firm, and its affiliated company Armadora Pereira, which, according to Garrone, appears to be circumventing Argentine fishing laws while maintaining active business ties with the British administration in the islands.

In a column published in the Mar del Plata-based outlet Punto Noticias, Garrone highlights a striking contradiction: a recent LinkedIn post by Armadora Pereira promoting "Patagonian shrimp" in a branded 2kg box labeled “Industria Argentina” (“Argentine Industry”), despite the company’s own website stating that its fleet operates in waters off Mauritania, Senegal, Namibia, South Africa, and the Falkland Islands.

As Garrone explains, Article 27 of Argentina’s Federal Fisheries Law explicitly prohibits companies with fishing licenses and quotas in Argentina from maintaining any association with entities operating under licenses issued by the UK’s administration in the Falklands, which Argentina considers illegal. In what Garrone describes as a legal façade, Armadora Pereira transferred its vessel “Bouciñas” to another company, Bricel, to skirt the law’s restrictions.

Beyond this maneuver, Garrone accuses Pereira of engaging in direct business ventures with Argos Group, a Falklands-based company. Together, they have built and operated squid-fishing vessels under British-issued licenses. One of the most recent vessels, the "Argos Berbés", was constructed in Nodosa Shipyard in Vigo, Spain, at a cost of over €30 million, as reported by the site Agenda Malvinas and cited in Garrone’s article.

What Garrone did not explicitly address in his piece, however, is even more politically sensitive: these vessels were financed and built with support from Spanish institutions, and senior officials from the Galician regional government (Xunta de Galicia) have been present at their launch ceremonies.

The Regional Minister of the Sea, Alfonso Villares, places the Pereira Group as a benchmark in its commitment to internationalization, specifically stating that "the Pereira Group has subsidiaries in Senegal, Mauritania, Namibia, South Africa, and the Falklands." He also expressed the department he heads' willingness to continue supporting organizations like this one, which are leading thanks to the support of the Galician government and have benefited from the various lines of action in which the Regional Ministry participates, including fleet modernization.

This raises a serious diplomatic contradiction: Spain formally recognizes Argentina’s sovereignty over the Falklands and maintains this position in all international forums, including the United Nations. How, then, can the Galician government actively support companies flying a flag their own country does not recognize and engaging in activities that violate Argentine law?

According to Garrone, Grupo Pescapuerta maintains a strong presence in Argentina through its holding company Menkent S.L., involving firms such as Estrella Patagónica and Bricel. The promotional shrimp packaging posted on LinkedIn—proudly labeled as “Industria Argentina”—sparked particular outrage, as it falsely suggests compliance with domestic production standards while involving a supply chain linked to illegal operations in the Falklands.

May 2019 - The Argentine Naval Prefecture, the only Maritime Authority of the Nation, incorporated the fishing vessel "Mar Coral" into the National Registry of Vessels.

Garrone also mentions the “Mar Coral”, a vessel owned by Bricel that replaced the “Pioneros.” The Argentine government had initially required that the new vessel be built in national shipyards. Yet the Mar Coral entered the country as a used ship—previously operating in Falklands waters—and had to be repainted to remove the distinctive green hull colors associated with Falklands-based vessels.

This situation once again underscores the lack of transparency, legal loopholes, and political ambiguity that allow companies to exploit fisheries in disputed areas without significant consequences. It also highlights a disconnect between Spain’s national foreign policy and regional economic interests.

Acceptance of Argentine sovereignty: Spain recognizes Argentina's rights to the Falkland Islands, based on history and the succession of states.

The core question remains: If Spain supports Argentina’s claim to the Falkland Islands, why is the Galician government officially supporting companies that partner with the British administration there and profit from illegal fishing licenses?

It is important to clarify that the concerns raised are not directed against companies based in the Falkland Islands or their executives. As stated in Argentina’s First Transitory Clause of the National Constitution, the country must respect the way of life of the island’s inhabitants and act in accordance with the principles of international law.

Moreover, Law No. 346 on Argentine Citizenship, Article 1, clearly states: “All individuals born, or who may be born, in the territory of the Argentine Republic, regardless of the nationality of their parents, are Argentine citizens.” Therefore, the inhabitants of the Falkland Islands are Argentine citizens, even if they also hold a different nationality.

editorial@seafood.media
www.seafood.media

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