Argentina Opens Squid Fishing in Northern Waters, Domestic Fleets Move Quickly To Seize Fishing Grounds

The Argentine government recently announced that from 18:00 on March 26, 2025, squid fishing operations will be officially opened in the exclusive economic zone (ZEEA) north of 44 degrees south latitude. This decision was implemented by Juan Antonio López Cazorla, Argentina's Deputy Minister of Aquatic Resources and Fisheries, and is based on a scientific assessment by the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (INIDEP), aiming to optimize the development of domestic squid resources and cope with international fishery competition.

Fishing in southern Argentina is limited, and northern resources are in urgent need of development

Argentine squid (Illex argentinus) is one of the country's most important fishery resources, with an annual catch of about 160,000 tons in the exclusive economic zone. Recently, squid catches in the waters south of 52 degrees south latitude have been greatly reduced due to bad weather, and the northern fishing grounds have also shown a downward trend in production. At the same time, foreign fleets have started intensive fishing in the waters of 42 degrees south latitude outside the 200-nautical-mile economic zone, with an average daily catch of 17-20 tons, which poses direct competitive pressure on Argentina's fisheries.

Against this backdrop, the Argentine government decided to open the northern fishing grounds to its fleet to ensure stable fishery production and maintain the competitiveness of the industry.

Argentine squid populations are migrating northeast

The decision to open the market is based on INIDEP document No. NO-2025-30577335-APN-DNI#INIDEP and the agency's Advisory Report No. 69 issued in 2016. According to research, Argentine squid should currently be migrating northeast, with the dense area approaching the 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone boundary.

In addition, the number of squid caught by Argentine trawlers in the hake (Merluccius hubbsi) fishing grounds has increased significantly recently, and the product quality has improved, further confirming the resource potential of the northern waters.

Fleets urgently mobilized to seize newly opened fishing grounds

After the news was released at 16:00 on March 25, the Argentine fishing fleet, which was originally operating east of the mouth of San Jorge Bay, quickly adjusted its course and advanced at full speed to the newly opened waters. At the same time, the radio report of the trawling fleet showed that the density of squid in the newly opened area far exceeded that of the existing fishing grounds, causing the fleets to speed up to seize the best operating position.

Within just a few hours after the policy was implemented, the Argentine fleet had already launched a strategic speed competition, striving to establish a first-mover advantage in the most resource-rich areas.

The prospect of squid resources is promising, and the market is looking forward to a new round of production increase

Currently, the Argentine fleet is accelerating its advance to the northern fishing grounds, and the catch is expected to gradually recover in the next few weeks. As the density of resources increases, the market may usher in a new round of supply and demand adjustments, and processing companies and traders need to pay close attention to the subsequent catch.

Against the backdrop of intensified global marine fishery competition, Argentina's opening of the northern waters is not only a positive adjustment to fishery resource management, but also demonstrates the country's pragmatic attitude in safeguarding its own fishery interests. For the entire southwest Atlantic squid market, this decision may become a key turning point in the 2025 fishing season.