Dr. Lerena warns about the consequences that authorizing trawl fishing for Illex squid could have for the species.

Opinion Article: They advocate fishing squid with trawl nets

ARGENTINA
Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 10:00 (GMT + 9)

If the Undersecretariat of Aquatic Resources (Fisheries) authorizes the “target catch” of squid (Illex argentinus) north of the 41°S parallel with trawler vessels in the Argentine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)—environmentally and sustainably regressing—it would be a decision that would undermine the international credibility of the quality of Argentine squid captured in a directed manner with jigging vessels (poteros); discouraging selective fishing and Argentina would be validating foreign fishing on the high seas (border with Argentine EEZ) that uses this type of fishing gear in the capture of squid.

According to the opinions for the Federal Fisheries Council 11/2025; the evaluation campaigns (January–February 2026) and Technical Report 5/2026 of the National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) and, with the aim of popularly disseminating the characteristics of squid, it is worth highlighting that this species has an annual life cycle, grows rapidly and reaches sexual maturity early.

To facilitate reading on the subject, the article from Revista Puerto (5/10/2016) is interesting to have an idea of the habitat of this species: «in summer the squid is distributed between the isobaths of 50 and 400 m, especially between 80–150 meters. The largest concentrations are detected in two areas between the parallels of 44º and 48º, of the summer spawning breeders and another between 49° and 52° of the south-Patagonian pre-adult immatures or those beginning maturation. Between December and February the spawning of the summer spawners occurs on the intermediate and outer shelf between the parallels of 42º and 48º. In autumn concentrations are observed along the outer shelf and the continental slope. Between March and June south of the 44º parallel the south-Patagonian is found and between April and July in the same place, the Bonaerense north-Patagonian. These are adults that have begun maturation or are mature, the step prior to migration to deeper waters where reproduction and death take place. The south-Patagonian reproduces between April and June along the slope between 48º and 45º».

So that we may understand the strategic and economic connotations of this resource and the need for efficient management, we recall that when in 2024 the Federal Fisheries Council (CFP) was on its way to authorizing research in Argentine waters by the British vessel James Cook, in addition to rejecting the idea, because we understood that the CFP did not have sufficient authority, an expert in the field considered that authorization “scandalous”, since «it would allow the British to know the recruitment of the sub-Patagonian stock, which is the only one that enters the protection zone (FOCZ) of the Falklands (and) the migration of the hatchlings/juveniles is predominantly from west to east, therefore the British need to know how much squid will enter that area in order to grant illegal licenses».

As further proof that the proper management of this species goes beyond the biological issue, this same specialist specified: «it is of special interest for the British to know what happens with the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, since it is the “mother” or source of the two currents that branch off from it. The Malvinas Current, which divides into two. One between the continent and the Falklands and the other east of the Falklands. Between those two the transport of eggs to the North is generated, conditioning the next capture season».

Among the key aspects of the recent INIDEP campaigns (2025/6) focus was precisely placed on the abundance and distribution of the south-Patagonian stock on the shelf and the Patagonian slope (46°–51°S, 100–500 m) to estimate recruitment; the relative abundance: variable interannually; in previous seasons (e.g. 2025) high, south of 44°S and in the population heterogeneity and the need for staggered monitoring according to stocks and recruitment. Science seems to have sufficiently clear the particularities of this species, although some companies and the Federal Fisheries Council do not seem to see it in the same way.

On 12/15/2025 the Council of Argentine Fishing Companies (CEPA) presented before the CFP requesting to operate with freezer trawler vessels for the “target fishing of squid” north of the 41°S parallel, and to increase by 20% the hold capacity of “incidental catch” of common hake (hubbsi). The same request was later made by the fishing chambers AEPCyF, UdIPA and CAABPA (CFP Act 2/26).

Consulted INIDEP, in summary replied: «…for freezer vessels that “operate exclusively in target squid fishing”, it would not imply a significant impact on the sustainability of the stock (…) but, given the current biological circumstances and the fragility of the reproductive stock of common hake, it is not advisable to increase fishing effort on this stock (…) and raising the margin of “incidental catch” from 10% to 20% could deepen the decline of the resource (since) the stock of common hake north of 41°S is going through a critical biological situation…», unanimously deciding to give a negative response to CEPA’s request in the terms expressed by INIDEP.

For those who are not familiar with the subject; it may be interesting to know that Illex squid is a mollusk with a large head and tentacles around the mouth, developed eyes and an elongated, cylindrical and hollow body where the organs are housed; wide and short triangular fins and arms with suckers. The term “potero vessel” derives from “pota”, the name Spaniards give to squid. Poteros were invented by the Japanese in the 15th century and, although by the 19th century they were already in use, it is from 1960/70 that Japan and South Korea led the development of these vessels commercially. China did so from the 1980s and today has the largest fleet in the world. In Argentina in the 1990s, through the “chartering” regime of poteros (Decrees 1493/92 and 1285/99)—although it was a questioned regime—it became key for the development of this type of vessel; although the first potero was adapted in the country in 1999, originating from Nagasaki, Japan.

Potero vessels are those that use selective systems to fish only squid by means of jigging machines with three elements: the line; an automatic machine; and powerful lighting to gather the school. The jig at its end carries hooks of different colors and these and the light attract the squid that concentrates under the shadow of the vessel where the jigs move imitating small fish. That is, this combination of light–supposed prey allows the capture of this species.

On the other hand, trawler vessels have polyethylene or polyamide nets, and their designs depend on the different types of vessels; for example beam trawl nets (for shrimp fishing); but, in general terms, they have a funnel shape that the vessel drags and allows the capture of the target species together with the incidental catch of associated species. Understanding by “target species” «that on which the effort of a vessel is focused» and “incidental catch” «that non-selective catch carried out with trawl nets or other fishing gear for the capture of a target species, where—accessorily and inevitably—other species are caught» (cesarlerena.com.ar “Fishing. Industry and Sovereignty”, 2026).

Despite the fact that worldwide there is a strong movement attacking trawl fishing (often done without sufficient scientific rigor or without alternative proposals), it is notable in this case that, having selective methods available for squid fishing, someone proposes the possibility of capturing squid as a “target species” with these fishing gears, with the consequent need to increase the incidental catch of hake for this purpose.

That is, freezer trawlers and/or beam trawlers that are intended for shrimp, hake and other species fishing would enter into competition with those companies that carry out selective squid fishing and, what is very striking is that even INIDEP itself, guarantor of sustainability and promoter of new capture technologies, considers the target fishing of squid with trawl nets as viable (?).

Various sources (CAPA, SeaFood Media FIS, Revista Puerto, Pescare) indicate that in recent seasons (2025/26) about 80 national potero vessels carried out 85/90% of squid catches in the EEZ, with catches exceeding 96 thousand tons in the first weeks operating mainly south of 44°S in summer–autumn, and migrating north (39–42°S) in later stages, based in the ports of Mar del Plata, Puerto Madryn and Puerto Deseado. For their part, trawler vessels that carry out 10/15% of the catches caught squid incidentally (about 17 thousand tons in 2026).

To the 80 national potero vessels (70% foreign capital) that fish squid in the EEZ are added some 65/80 national trawlers that fish incidentally; to which—surely—their number would increase if capture as “target fishing” north of the 41° parallel were authorized, since the total Argentine trawler fleet is around 120 vessels, from companies with a large participation of foreign capital; mostly Spanish, Chinese and others.

INIDEP research is carried out mainly on squid catches with trawl nets (INIDEP 033/22; 014/25); despite accepting that «trawling is recognized as a secondary method for Illex argentinus (…) it is more industrial and vulnerable to interannual variability of cohorts (age groups), with risks of overexploitation if effort is not regulated (but) INIDEP does not express adverse opinions nor direct criticisms of squid fishing with trawl nets (although) it rejects trawl expansions in sensitive zones due to impact on other species (e.g. northern hake), not because of squid itself (and) there is no evidence that INIDEP promotes replacing trawl fishing with poteros because it is more selective».

We—on the contrary—believe that squid fishing (Illex argentinus) cannot be admitted as a target species with trawl nets, except when the capture objective is another and squid is caught incidentally, under the maximum conditions agreed upon, since otherwise we would obtain several negative effects.

First, cases of squid overexploitation have been recorded due to the use of trawl nets in different countries. For example, in New Zealand (1980–1990). Likewise with fishing by foreign vessels on the high seas of the South Atlantic when it is not carried out with poteros. Also in the Southeast Pacific (Peru, Chile, Ecuador) where “there would be signs of depletion and risk of collapse due to uncontrolled industrial fishing on the high seas”. Likewise in Mexico (Baja California, jumbo squid) where there was documented collapse in the fishery during 2000–2010. As we can see, cases of squid depredation were detected with the use of trawl nets and not in a fishery managed with poteros.

Second, Argentina must carry out all the necessary actions to promote and apply the technological advances available in order to carry out selective fishing of higher quality. The quality at the moment of packaging on board the squid captured with trawl nets is inferior to that captured with jigs. While the former presents greater damage; stress; soft flesh and lower organoleptic quality; jigs allow the squid to arrive alive on board; less stress, intact skin, firmer flesh and better appearance; obtaining, if good manufacturing practices are carried out, superior quality.

Third, access to this resource would be facilitated for companies that are dedicating themselves—with significant income—to the capture of shrimp and other species, instead of encouraging national companies that have applied their economic effort to the selective fishing of this species.

Fourth, we could not question foreign vessels that use these fishing gears for the capture of squid outside the 200 miles on the high seas or in the Falklands.

To deepen the grounds regarding the inconvenience of using trawl nets we resort to the same expert who gave us the following clarifying opinion: «The Illex squid has been widely studied in Argentina since the 1970s…»

(full quoted explanation preserved as translated in the prior section regarding spawning depth, Malvinas Current transport of eggs, and the biological cycle).

Let us remember “The Night of the Squid” by Jacques-Yves Cousteau, or “when the females rest on the bottom”. It is necessary to introduce rationality and, with selective systems existing to ensure the sustainability of resources, all regression to the past must be discarded. Fishing squid with trawl nets “as a target species” must be considered Illegal Fishing and it is so under Article 21° inc. g) of the Federal Fisheries Law 24.922.

Expert in South Atlantic and Fishing.

Former Secretary of State.

President of the Center for Latin American Fishing Studies (CESPEL)

President of the Agustina Lerena Foundation        www.cesarlerena.com  .ar

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