Yesterday, Sunday, February 22, 2026, marked 100 days since the beginning of the current langostino (Pleoticus muelleri) fishing season in the jurisdictional waters of Chubut. According to PescaChubut, cumulative catches have already exceeded 72,000 tons, reflecting a campaign that is on track to rank among the most significant in recent years.
The season began on November 15, 2025. As detailed by PescaChubut, the resource took time to enter and establish itself within the provincial jurisdiction, and operations have mainly been affected by weather conditions, which caused interruptions in the activity of the 90 authorized vessels, including units from the yellow fleet and artisanal boats.
Captains interviewed by the outlet agree that this season requires greater operational effort to fill holds: more trawl sets are needed before returning to port. Last year — when a record harvest of more than 106,000 tons was recorded — vessels filled their holds in just three sets, although that year was considered atypical. The current dynamic more closely resembles previous seasons.
.png)
Click on the image to enlarge it
December was the best month
According to data published by PescaChubut, during the 15 operational days in November, reported catches totaled 14,936 tons.
The strongest monthly performance was recorded in December, with 27,964 tons unloaded in Puerto Rawson.
In January 2026, official declarations reached 25,867 tons, while the partial figure for February — up to February 10 — added 3,956 additional tons, according to the landings report of the Undersecretariat of Fisheries of the Nation cited by PescaChubut.
The total thus exceeds 72,000 tons, consolidating December as the month with the highest yield so far this season.
As industry experience indicates and as reported by PescaChubut, toward the end of February yields usually enter a downward trend. Even so, activity continues at levels considered acceptable, although with longer search times for the resource and more maneuvers required to reach at least 80% of hold capacity.
Continuity subject to CPUE
Last year, the season closed on March 15, even though resource availability remained. Currently, the technical parameter used to evaluate a potential closure is the Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE), whose reference threshold is 400 kilos per hour of trawling.
According to PescaChubut, that indicator currently remains well above 400 kilos, suggesting that activity could continue through much of March.
Beyond commercial variables and stock status, most vessel owners — as reflected by the specialized outlet — agree that the fishery should remain open as long as the CPUE stays above the established threshold and bycatch remains within recommended values.
Expectations extend across the entire production chain: thousands of direct and indirect jobs depend on the activity, and langostino today holds a strategic role in the economy of Chubut Province, with a direct impact on port and industrial operations in Rawson.
Related New:
Print
