Argentina's Squid Catch Has Exceeded 139,000 Tons, And Is Expected To Break Records.

Argentina's squid fishing season recovered rapidly in 2026 after a brief slowdown in early March, with a significant increase in catches. The squid fishing fleet's daily catch remained stable at around 35 tons, with some vessels reaching 40 tons, indicating a good recovery in fish density. This rebound made this year's fishing season significantly better than the same period last year, laying the foundation for breaking historical landing records for the year.

According to the latest statistics, squid landings in the first three months of 2026 were as follows: January 49,015.9 tons, February 72,439.5 tons, and March (as of now) 17,963.3 tons, totaling 139,418.7 tons. Compared to the cumulative landings of 97,829.9 tons in the same period of 2025, the 2026 figure has already significantly surpassed the previous year even before the end of March, indicating a high overall activity level and catchability of the fisheries.

The decline in fishing efficiency at the beginning of March was mainly due to changes in the migration and distribution of squid resources within the sea area, manifested as reduced yield per unit time and longer loading cycles. However, recently, fishing ground resources have regrouped, and fleet operation efficiency has quickly recovered to early-season levels, with the average daily catch per vessel rebounding to around 35 tons. This change indicates that the migratory characteristics of squid populations have a significant impact on fishing efficiency, and fishing activities exhibit obvious regional differences.

Monthly data further reveals changes in resource distribution and operational intensity. January's landings totaled 49,015.9 tons, reflecting high concentration of fishing grounds and smooth harvesting at the beginning of the season. February saw an increase to 72,439.5 tons, indicating a steady increase in catches due to the fleet's multi-site operations and efficient operational strategies. March's cumulative landings so far have reached 17,963.3 tons; although there was a brief decline at the beginning of the month, overall fishing intensity remains high.

Compared to the full year of 2025, Argentina's total squid landings reached 203,956 tons in 2025, setting a record high in nearly 17 years. The cumulative landings in the first quarter of 2026 have already exceeded 139,000 tons, demonstrating that the first quarter's fishing progress is leading in historical terms and providing a solid data foundation for breaking the annual record. Improved fleet operational efficiency and concentrated fishing ground resources are key factors driving the increase in first-quarter catches.

Fleet feedback indicates a recent rebound in catch density, increased concentration of fishing grounds, and a return to early-season operating rates. Increased catch per vessel has shortened loading cycles and reduced idle voyages, improving overall operational efficiency. While fishing activities still exhibit significant regional variations, overall fishing intensity and activity levels are significantly higher than at the beginning of the year.

The improved fleet efficiency and increased concentration of fishing ground resources are the main factors contributing to the high yield in the first quarter. Compared to historical data for the same period, both the fishing pace and yield in the first quarter of this year are at a high level, providing solid data support for the possibility of breaking landing records for the entire year.