The South Atlantic and Fisheries expert, César Augusto Lerena, has allowed Agenda Malvinas to freely distribute his recent research, compiled in his latest book: " El Saqueo: La apopriación de la Nación de los Recursos Pesqueros de Buenos Aires" (The Plunder: The Appropriation of the Nation's Fisheries Resources in Buenos Aires) ; where he not only denounces the plundering of these resources by the National State, but also warns of the dangerous consequences of this centralization for the sustainability and well-being of local communities.
A fundamental work to understand the challenges facing the province of Buenos Aires and the four other provinces with which it shares the waters of the South Atlantic, and the long-term implications that current policies will trigger.
The centralization of fishing power: What is at stake?
From the outset, Lerena makes it clear that the centralization of control over fishing resources by the national government is at the heart of the problem. Historically, Argentine provinces have had dominion over their natural resources, a right enshrined in the National Constitution. However, in recent decades, the National State has centralized this control, displacing the provinces, and particularly Buenos Aires, from the management of their own resources.
This dispossession is not merely symbolic; it has real and devastating consequences for marine ecosystems and local economies. Centralized management has favored fishing practices that do not consider local particularities or the species' capacity for regeneration. Thus, the province of Buenos Aires finds itself in a vulnerable position, with its resources exploited to benefit interests that often do not align with those of the province.
The environmental impact: A sea in decline
One of the most alarming points that Lerena highlights is the environmental impact that this centralisation has had on fishing resources. The overexploitation of key species such as hake has reached worrying levels, and the lack of effective regulation has allowed destructive fishing techniques, such as trawling, to continue devastating marine ecosystems. These practices not only affect the target species, but also have a collateral impact on all marine biodiversity, altering ecological balances and putting the long-term health of the South Atlantic at risk.
The book warns that if significant changes are not implemented, we are headed towards an ecological collapse that could be irreversible. Buenos Aires, which has historically depended on these resources, could see its sea turn into a biological desert, unable to sustain both the species and the communities that depend on them.
Fishing communities: The human face of plunder
Beyond the ecological implications, “El Saqueo” also highlights the social and economic consequences of this centralization. The fishing communities of Buenos Aires, which have been economic and cultural pillars of the region, are being dismantled by these policies. Large fishing corporations, backed by the National State, dominate the industry, while local fishermen struggle to survive in an increasingly harsh environment.
Job losses, increased poverty and forced migration are just some of the devastating effects this situation has brought to coastal communities. These policies are not only impoverishing those who depend on fishing, but are also eroding the social fabric of the province, destroying ways of life that have existed for generations.
Where should Buenos Aires go?
Given this bleak outlook, the key question is: What can be done? Lerena proposes a series of measures that could reverse the situation and ensure the sustainability of Buenos Aires' fishing resources. Among them, he highlights the need to return control over the resources to the provinces, implement science-based fishing policies and strengthen the fight against illegal fishing.
This means, in the exclusive case of the province of Buenos Aires, that it needs to recover its capacity to manage its resources in a sustainable manner, protecting both the environment and the communities that depend on it. This will require not only changes in legislation, but also a strong and sustained commitment from all the actors involved.
Conclusion: A call to action
"El Saqueo" is an urgent call to attention against the centralist policies of the National State that have endangered not only the fishing resources, but also the future of coastal communities. It is imperative that immediate measures are taken to reverse this situation and ensure that fishing resources are managed in a way that benefits everyone, not just a few.
For Lerena , the preservation of Buenos Aires' fishing resources is not only a matter of environmental justice, but also of social justice. Future generations depend on the decisions made today. Therefore, it is crucial that the province regains control and promotes equitable and sustainable management of its resources; says Argentina's leading expert on the South Atlantic and Fishing .
