Argentina's Squid Unloading Volume Surges, Mar Del Plata Port Activity Increases Significantly

The unloading volume of squid (Illex Argentinus) at the port of Mar del Plata, Argentina, has increased sharply due to the proximity of fishing grounds. The Argentine squid of the Northern Patagonia-Buenos Aires population has significantly increased the local unloading volume of the port, driving the work activity of the dock stevedores.

Fishing ground reconstruction and port logistics optimization

This season's Argentine squid fishing activities show that the distribution of the Buenos Aires-Northern Patagonia population has undergone spatial reconstruction, and is currently mainly concentrated in the sea area only 12 hours away from the port of Mar del Plata. This geographical advantage has greatly increased the unloading volume of the port in recent days, reshaping its position as a logistics hub for squid fishing fleets. For example, the recently arrived "Luqing Yuanyu 287" and "Haideli 701" (entered the port at 8 o'clock today) have completed the unloading of the fourth voyage and are preparing for the fifth voyage, setting a new record for the single-vessel catch this season.

Fishing ground distribution and operation efficiency

The main fishing grounds are distributed along the 120-150m isobath, forming a broad operation zone between 38°S and 43°S. The most densely populated area is located in the northern section near 40°15'S and 57°50'W. The 35 fishing boats in this area have a stable daily catch of 20-28 tons, and the distribution of resources is balanced.

Port economic recovery and employment promotion

The advantages of the close distance between the fishing grounds and the port have emerged: the frequency of the first batch of returning ships has increased, driving the demand for dock loading and unloading workers, and consolidating Mar del Plata's position as the largest beneficiary port in this stage. This change reversed the shrinking port operations caused by the southward migration of resources in the early fishing season - as of March 20, the ports of Deseado and Madryn took over the main unloading volume, when the core of the fleet's operations was located in the waters south of 44°S.

Data comparison and production

As of April 3, the cumulative unloading volume this season reached 97,997.50 tons. Specific distribution:

· Puerto Madryn: 43,685.70 tons (accounting for 44.6%)

· Puerto Deseado: 34,288.90 tons (accounting for 35.0%)

Mar del Plata: 19,165.50 tons (continuously growing) Although it is 2.97% lower than the same period in 2024 (101,160 tons), the total production in 2025 is expected to be the same as the previous two years (153,284 tons in 2023 and 154,565 tons in 2024).

New characteristics of population distribution

The biggest feature of this season is that the spatial distribution of populations is more balanced. A continuous fishing ground is formed from the sea off Puerto Deseado to the 200 nautical miles of waters in Mar del Plata, which enables the main seaports in Argentina to achieve operational balance. This distribution not only improves the logistics efficiency of the fleet, but also ensures stable employment in the unloading, processing and maintenance links of each port.

Future Outlook

The subsequent development of the fishing season will depend on the stability of the resources and the sustainability of the fishing grounds offshore Mar del Plata. Current indicators show a positive outlook for this season, with ports along the Atlantic coast generally benefiting, among which the once marginalized northern port of Mar del Plata is regaining its leading position in the unloading of this species.