Newsan Group has acquired Pesantar, a fishing company dedicated over 25 years to catch toothfish and other species. (Image: Stock File)
Newsan Group acquires Nissui-owned fishing company
ARGENTINA
Wednesday, January 14, 2015, 23:20 (GMT + 9)
Newsan electronics group has acquired Pesantar, a fishing company belonging to the Japanese group Nissui, which is being investigated by the National Undersecretariat of Fisheries for its alleged involvement with a vessel that would be fishing in the Falkland Islands, in violation of Argentine law.
Last week, the Government of Tierra del Fuego preventively suspended Pesantar fishing permit, after becoming aware of a complaint by a former employee of the firm.
The provincial government, through the Department of Sustainable Development and Environment, initiated administrative proceedings in order to define the responsibilities of the case and decided to temporarily suspend the company’s fishing permit until the situation is clarified.
"We have just closed the transaction and can say that Pesantar remains in the hands of an Argentina company," Miguel Glikman, head of Newsan Food Division told to Mar&Pesca.
"We’ll give continuity to 120 people work so we're very happy," said the executive.
With reference to the complaint of the former manager of Pesantar Operations, Juan Benegas, who accused the firm to have direct link with Empresa de Desarrollo Pesquero de Chile S.A. (Emdepes), owner of the vessel Union Sur, which would have been operating in the Falklands in November, Glikman admitted being aware of the facts, but said that "the important thing is that the company has already been sold and it is now owned by an Argentine group".
"We're trying to talk to the authorities because what we want is to give work to people and we want to go fishing on 14 January, to ensure the productive circuit because there are 120 people who depend on the ship's departure," he said.
Following the acquisition of Pesantar, Newsan kept Echizen Maru ship, based in Ushuaia and dedicated to catching Patagonian toothfish.
Buying Pesantar is part of the plan of new investment in the fishing industry of Newsan’s food export division. This new business unit represents about 10 per cent of the total turnover of Newsan group with estimated sales revenue abroad in around USD 110 million for 2014, and a projected turnover of USD 200 million for 2015.
Under a recent agreement with Vieira Argentina SA, Newsan group will become the largest exporter of fish products in the country.
Related articles:
- Pesantar fishing license suspended
- Newsan gets ready to start investing in Vieira Argentina
- Newsan increases investments in fishing industry
By Analia Murias
[email protected]
www.seafood.media
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