OYANG.77

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Illegal fishing vessel released after fine was paid

The "Oyang 77" that had been captured on Feb 7 within the Exclusive Economic Zone by a Coast Guard boat while carrying out illegal activities in the Argentine water sailed from the port of Comodoro Rivadavia on March 7 after paying a fine of almost 25 million pesos. The vessel had more than 142,000 kilos of hake, pollack, skate and squid in its cargo holds. After the payment of the fine to the Argentine State, and after the corresponding administrative actions were completed, the Prefectura Naval Argentina released of the "Oyang 77". However, the fishing nets of the ship were confiscated for later destruction, by order of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fishing of the Nation, and the shipowner had to pay the cost of the operation of capture, the capacity of the cargo and the fine for the fishing infraction.

Trawler had nets with smalller holes than allowed

The "Oyang 77" which was captured by the Naval Prefecture while fishing within the exclusive zone of Argentina on Feb 7 had nets with holes smaller than those allowed. The ship had several fishing gears that were examined on Feb 12 by the National Fisheries, SENASA and Prefectura Naval Argentina authorities. and the irregularity was detected that the holes measured much less than the 120 millimeters which were allowed. The inspectors of Nation Fishing continued making reports with the infractions and once the cargo holds of the ship have been inspected, the procedure will culminate in sanctions that can derive in heavy fines and a assizure of the fishing nets, which would cause great losses to the Oyang fishing company. The captain of the "Oyang 77" declared that the ship transported 127 tons of fish, but on Feb 14 the inspectors will go down to the holds to determine the veracity of the declaration as it was presumed that there may be more product. Spanish report with photo: https://www.elpatagonico.com/el-oyang-77-tenia-redes-pesca-no-habilitadas-n5015922

Investigations regarding several crimes

After the capture of the "O Yang 77" by the Coast Guard Mantilla which remained berthed in Comodoro Rivadavia since Feb 10, 1 a.m., the federal justice of Comodoro Rivadavia investigated regarding crimes such as slave labour, sexual abuse and various mistreatments and overcrowding among the crew of 45 who lived in in absolutely precarious conditions, which was violating the minimum human conditions and the agreements that Argentina has signed in the framework of the ILO. After arriving at the port, the first judicial proceedings were ordered by the deputy judge Yañez with an interrogation of the captain, identifying the crew and certifying the conditions of life on board before the case was turned to federal judge Eva Parcio de Seleme. Already in the past the ship had serious safety failures, crew training problems, poor command and breach of essential navigation and fishing regulations. In 2011 the entire crew - 32 Indonesian sailors - fled the "O Yang 75" for sexual harassment and mistreatment on board. The situation became a public cause in New Zealand. A year later two sister ships, the "O Yang 75" and the "O Yang 77", were seized by the New Zealand government for fishing offenses, including false declaration, illegal discarding and illegal dumping of oil to the sea. The University Business School of Auckland revealed the situation of vulnerability suffered by the crew of the "O Yang 77". Low wages, mistreatment, sexual abuse, rats and cockroaches were reported. After paying the fine of $ 400,000, the "O Yang 77" began operating in the South Atlantic, with vital support from the port of Montevideo. The "O Yang 77" had left the port of Montevideo on Jan 5.