Hundreds of Chinese ships fishing near Argentina
Listen to the story (Australian accent)
The Argentine military shared a video from February of a large group of fishing boats near Argentina’s sea border.
Many of the ships are from China, according to the Argentine Navy.
Most of these ships catch squid. The Argentine military is trying to stop these fishing operations because the area's environment is in danger.
The military uses a special plane called P-3C “Orion” to watch the fishing ships. In January, the military also used smaller planes and warships.
The military says the ships sometimes try to fish inside Argentina's special fishing zone. This zone is called the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and there are special rules for fishing.
The military found 380 fishing boats just outside the EEZ. More than 80% of the ships are from China.
Experts say that many Chinese ships turn off their tracking systems. This makes it hard to see where they are. Argentina says they do that to hide illegal fishing inside their EEZ.
Some of the Chinese ships are under U.S. sanctions. This means they are in trouble with the U.S. for issues like forced labor and illegal fishing.
China says it follows all fishing rules. They say they do not allow illegal fishing.
Experts say this large amount of unregulated fishing hurts the ocean and local fishermen. They also say that the number of ships has greatly increased.
Local Argentine fishermen say they can't catch as many fish because of these foreign ships. It’s hurting their jobs.
Experts say that even if the ships stay outside the EEZ, they can still hurt the ocean. They say fish don't know about the borders.
Vocabulary30 words
- Argentine
- From or related to the country of Argentina
- Military
- armed forces; army; agency or department of a government for combat/war
- Share
- to tell someone or people about something; to make public; to announce; to give to other people
- Border
- the line that separates two countries; the line where two countries meet; the edge or outside part of an area
- According to
- as ‘someone’ said; as stated by ‘someone’; in the opinion of ‘someone’
- Squid
- A sea animal with ten arms; ?
- Operation
- business activities and processes; activities involved in a company producing goods or delivering services;
- Area
- A place or part of a place; piece of land, or country; a particular part of a place; somewhere
- Environment
- the natural world; the place we live; the area around us; nature; Earth
- In danger
- at risk of being harmed; there is danger;
- Warship
- A ship used in war
- Zone
- a special area; region
- Rule
- A guideline or regulation; sometimes a law; A guide that tells us what we should or shouldn’t do
- Expert
- a person with a lot of knowledge and experience in a trade, job or profession
- Tracking system
- a tool, machine or system used to find where something is or where it goes
- Hide
- to keep something out of sight; to conceal something; to make something not possible to see; to make it difficult to find something
- Illegal
- not allowed by law; forbidden by official rules; unlawful; criminal
- Sanction
- an economic penalty or punishment that one country does to another country
- In trouble
- When you do something wrong and someone, like a teacher, parent or boss talks to you about it and/or punishes you; Facing a problem or difficulty
- Issue
- a subject or problem that people are thinking and/or talking about; matter; topic; problem
- Forced labor
- Making someone work when they don't want to
- Follow a rule
- Do what the rule says; To do what the guideline or instruction says
- Allow
- permit; let; to give permission; OK
- Unregulated
- Not controlled by rules; nobody checks it
- Local
- related to or connected to a specific/particular place; existing in or belonging to the area that you are talking about; part of or in the city or country you’re talking about
- Fisherman
- someone who catches fish
- Increase
- to go up; to make something larger; to make more of; expand
- Catch
- To capture or trap something; Grab something or someone
- Foreign
- from another country; something from outside of your country; belonging or connected to a country that is not your own
- Even
- also; used to show that something is surprising, unusual, unexpected, or extreme
Quiz
Answer key
1. To hide illegal fishing. 2. Not enough fish to catch. 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The Argentine _____ shared a video of a large group of fishing boats near Argentina’s sea border in _____ .
Many of the ships are _____ China, according to the Argentine Navy.
Most of these ships catch _____ . The Argentine military is trying to stop these fishing operations _____ the area's environment is in danger.
The military _____ a special plane called P-3C “Orion” to watch the fishing ships. In _____ , the military also used smaller planes and warships.
The military says the ships _____ try to fish inside Argentina's special fishing zone. This zone is called the Exclusive _____ Zone (EEZ) and there are special rules for _____ .
The military found 380 fishing boats _____ outside the EEZ. More than _____ % of the ships are from China.
Experts say that many Chinese ships turn off their _____ systems. This makes it hard to see where they are. Argentina says they do that to hide _____ fishing inside their EEZ.
Some of the Chinese ships are _____ U.S. sanctions. This means they are in trouble with the U.S. for issues like forced _____ and illegal fishing.
China says it follows all fishing rules. They say they do _____ allow illegal fishing.
Experts say this large amount of _____ fishing hurts the ocean and local fishermen. They also say that the _____ of ships has greatly increased.
Local Argentine _____ say they can't catch as many fish because of these _____ ships. It’s hurting their jobs.
Experts say _____ even if the ships stay outside the EEZ, they can still hurt the _____ . They say fish don't know about the _____ .
Discussion questions
- Why do you think it is important for countries to protect their sea borders?
- What do you think should be done to stop illegal fishing?
- Do you think it is fair for large fishing fleets to take fish from areas near other countries?
- Should there be limits to how much fish a company or country can catch?
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