Argentina's Squid Season To Begin Early; Zoned Operations May Become The New Norm

On December 2, 2025, the Argentine Federal Fisheries Commission officially announced its approval of the Argentine Squid Fishing Vessel Association's (CAPA) application to start the 2026 squid fishing season ahead of schedule. This means the 2026 squid season will begin about a month earlier than usual, but fishing activities will be carried out in an orderly manner according to a "phased and zoned" approach.

According to the latest resolution, fishing arrangements in Argentine waters are clearly divided into three phases: From January 2nd, the area between 49° and 52° south latitude will be open; from January 7th, vessels operating continuously south of 49° south latitude for more than three days will be allowed to enter the waters south of 44° south latitude; and from January 12th, the waters south of 44° south latitude will be fully open. This plan aims to balance fisheries resource utilization with population sustainability and avoid excessive concentration of fishing intensity.

The CAPA president expressed regret, stating, "We had hoped to start the fishing season earlier to improve year-round catch efficiency." However, he also pointed out that from a full-season perspective, starting a week earlier would have limited practical impact. The National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) had previously suggested in a report that summer spawning populations between 44° and 48° south latitude and west of 62° west longitude are nearing the end of their life cycle, and starting the season before the end of the year could maximize the utilization of existing resources. However, the Federal Fisheries Commission ultimately chose a cautious approach to ensure that the fishing pace matches the ecological carrying capacity.

Industry analysts believe that Argentina's phased approach to opening up its fishing industry reflects its dual considerations of sustainable utilization of fishery resources and stable supply to the international market. Over the past two years, Argentina's squid exports have grown rapidly, with China and Spain remaining the main buyers. With the 2026 fishing season starting earlier, the first batch of squid is expected to arrive in the Chinese market in mid-February, potentially influencing global squid prices in the first quarter of next year.

Against the backdrop of tightening global squid supplies and adjustments to fishing plans in major producing regions, Argentina's move is seen as a key signal of its proactive strategy for international market competition. Industry insiders generally believe that this fishing strategy may become the new normal for South Atlantic fisheries management-ensuring a balance between fishing efficiency and export revenue while maintaining stable resource control.