Until the end of this year, the Argentine jigger fleet will remain moored, undergoing repairs and maintenance

Argentina Closes Successful Illex Squid Season: Catches Exceed 185,000 Tonnes

ARGENTINA
Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

The 2025 season ranks among the best of the last decade, driven by strong international demand and scientific management to ensure resource sustainability.

The fishing season for Illex argentinus squid within Argentina's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) has formally concluded, with a balance sheet placing it among the most auspicious in the last twelve years. With over 185,000 tonnes landed to date, and still pending the final tally of squid in the holds from the jigging fleet's last trip, the fishing sector celebrates a successful campaign, as reported by the Argentine outlet Parte de Pesca.

Photo: Stockfile FIS

The season's success has been bolstered by stable prices in international markets. Industry sources consulted by Seafood.media confirm that robust demand, especially from key Asian markets like China, significantly contributed to maintaining favorable values, ensuring good returns for operators throughout the season.

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Of the partial volume recorded, approximately 160,000 tonnes correspond to the jigging fleet, while the remainder was caught by trawlers. Regarding port landings, Mar del Plata strongly rebounded in recent months, reaching around 80,000 tonnes of Argentine squid. Puerto Madryn followed with a very strong performance of 63,000 tonnes, and further behind, the Santa Cruz port of Puerto Deseado contributed 35,000 tonnes, which also provided a certain dynamism to its port activity.

Photo: Stockfile FIS

Key Scientific Monitoring for Sustainability

The evolution of the fishery was closely monitored by the National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP). In its Official Technical Report No. 22/2025, INIDEP detailed the monitoring between January and May 2025, highlighting that the jigging fleet caught 162,154 tonnes of squid with an average yield of 21 tonnes per day. Most of the catches (56%) were concentrated south of 44°S.

Photo: Stockfile FIS

The report also specified that squid caught on the outer shelf between 38° and 43° S belonged to the South Bonaerense-North Patagonian (SBNP) stock, with mantle lengths (ML) between 18 and 30 cm (average ML = 24.5 cm; average weight = 322 g). However, a rapid decline in abundance from week 17 led INIDEP to recommend that fishing activities impacting the resource not extend beyond June 10 to avoid jeopardizing the biological and fisheries sustainability of the stock. This closure decision, based on scientific evidence, is seen by industry analysts as a step that reinforces Argentina's commitment to responsible squid fishing among international buyers.

Part of the jigging fleet moored in Mar del Plata port. Photo: Archive

Historical Context and Future Outlook

While the catch of 185,000 tonnes is one of the highest in the last twelve years, the historical record for the Illex argentinus fishery was set in 1997 with 411,723 tonnes. Since 2008, annual volumes had not exceeded 200,000 tonnes, with 2013 being the closest year to the current one at 191,741 tonnes.

The conclusion of this promising season with stable prices bodes well for Argentina's squid sector, solidifying its position in the global market and highlighting the importance of collaboration between the industry and scientific bodies for the sustainable management of resources.

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