Squid Prices Generally Stabilized, With Peru Launching A Resource Survey And The Falkland Islands Suspending Loligo Fishing

During the 33rd week of 2026 (August 7th to August 13th), the deep-sea squid market at the Zhejiang Zhoushan International Agricultural Products Trade Center (hereinafter referred to as "Zhejiang Agricultural Center") remained generally stable. The comprehensive prices for squid of all sizes from the Southeast Pacific, Southwest Atlantic (outside the coast), and Northwest Pacific remained unchanged from the previous week; prices for Indian Ocean squid (1000-2000g and 2000-4000g sizes) fell, while other sizes remained unchanged.

The comprehensive prices for Southeast Pacific squid of all sizes remained unchanged in the 33rd week, temporarily stabilizing after several weeks of decline. In the high seas, according to incomplete statistics from original monitoring data, the average daily catch per vessel last week was approximately 1 to 2 tons, and the cumulative average catch per vessel since December 2025 is approximately 800 to 850 tons.

In Peru, the first Regional Symposium on Sustainable Development of Giant Squid (Dosidicus gigas) will be held in Lima from August 18th to 19th. The symposium is jointly organized by the Permanent Commission on the South Pacific (CPPS) and the Committee on Sustainable Management of Giant Squid in the South Pacific (CALAMASUR). Government departments, research institutions, artisanal fisheries organizations, businesses, and fisheries governance experts from Peru, Ecuador, and Chile will participate, along with representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The symposium will cover topics including the current status of giant squid resources, research progress and shortcomings, management and monitoring experiences of various countries, and related issues faced by coastal states in participating in the governance of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization (SPRFMO).

On August 14th, the Peruvian Ministry of Production authorized the Peruvian Marine Research Institute (IMARPE) to conduct the "Giant Squid V" survey operation from August 23rd to 29th. The survey area covers nationally administered waters within 150 nautical miles of the Peruvian coast, and a maximum of 30 fishing vessels with a cargo capacity not exceeding 32.6 cubic meters may participate. Participating vessels must hold valid fishing licenses and maintain the operational status of their satellite monitoring system (SISESAT), and are required to carry IMARPE scientific observers or record operational data. The operation aims to obtain key bio-fisheries indicators of giant squid in Peruvian waters to provide a scientific basis for subsequent fishing activities and management decisions; the resolution does not directly establish new annual catch quotas.

The average price for Southwest Atlantic squid (outside the fishing line) remained unchanged across all sizes in week 33, indicating the end of the Southwest Atlantic high seas squid fishing season. According to statistics compiled by the Argentine industry media Pescare based on species-specific and monthly data released by the Argentine Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries as of August 11, from January to July 2026, Argentine ports unloaded a total of 580,178.5 tons of fish, crustaceans, and mollusks, the highest level for the same period in nearly ten years. Of this, Argentine squid (Illex argentinus) unloaded 188,428.1 tons, a decrease of 8.8% (18,157.4 tons) compared to 206,585.5 tons in the same period of 2025, accounting for 32.5% of the total national fisheries unloaded during the same period.

In the Falkland Islands (Malvinas Islands), local fisheries authorities announced on August 12 that fishing activities in the Loligo Box area would be suspended for approximately two weeks due to low Loligo squid (Doryteuthis gahi) populations. The initial biomass estimate for the second fishing season, based on a pre-season survey, was 17,508 tons, the third lowest opening level for a second fishing season in nearly 20 years; the lower limit of the estimate was 14,049 tons, 4,049 tons higher than the local reference line of 10,000 tons of escaped biomass. The authorities have coordinated with commercial fleets to conduct targeted trawling surveys and will update the resource assessment and determine subsequent operational arrangements based on the new data.

In the 33rd week, the volume of domestically caught squid imported through Zhoushan Port increased significantly compared to the previous week. Overall, this week's data shows that the domestic deep-sea squid market is characterized by stable prices in major producing areas, a slight decline in prices for some large-sized squid from the Indian Ocean, and a rebound in import volumes. The downward trend in prices, which had lasted for several weeks, has slowed down in stages.