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Photo: Revista Puerto/FIS
Fresh-fish vessels take a stand: No shrimp fishing in national waters without structural changes
ARGENTINA
Friday, April 25, 2025, 00:10 (GMT + 9)
In an unexpected move, Argentina’s main fishing chambers announced they will not take part in the upcoming shrimp season in national waters unless key operational conditions are reviewed
 The decision was communicated through a joint statement outlining their firm stance: they will not return to sea until the current framework — which they claim jeopardizes the sector's viability — is revised. This was reported by journalist Karina Fernández in Revista Puerto.
The signing entities — Asociación de Embarcaciones de Pesca Costera y Fresquera (AEPCYF), Unión de intereses Pesqueros Argentinos (UDIPA), Cámara Argentina de Armadores de Buques Pesqueros de Altura (CAABPA), Cámara Empresaria de Pesca Golfo San Jorge and ALFA CAPEAR— stated that the industry is facing a crisis “leading to financial collapse,” driven by the rising cost of supplies and services and what they describe as poor management of the shrimp fishery.
El comunicado establece tres condiciones mínimas e innegociables para retomar la actividad:Their statement outlines three non-negotiable conditions that must be met before they resume operations:
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Payment according to Collective Labor Agreement (CCT): Vessel owners pledge to pay all crew members according to the national collective agreement, firmly rejecting the use of unilateral preferential wage scales.
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Revision of the Shrimp Management Plan: They demand an urgent update of the plan, in line with repeated formal submissions from the signatory chambers. They insist on a framework that enables efficient operations and protects them from arbitrary sanctions and burdensome regulations.
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Establishment of Minimum Guaranteed Prices: The chambers call for a minimum price no lower than that of the 2024 national season. This would help ensure reasonable returns for vessel owners and prevent market conditions that could threaten the sector’s financial sustainability.
Beyond these demands, the chambers also proposed the creation of a specialized commission to analyze input and service pricing. They warn that the rise of the parallel (blue) dollar has triggered "extraordinary price inflation," with suppliers adjusting prices based on unofficial exchange rates often far higher than the official one. “Urgent deflationary measures and normalization of market prices are needed to align with the real conditions of the fresh-fish sector,” they argued.
Under the title “Unity and Self-Criticism,” the statement calls on the fishing industry to move away from outdated practices and commit to building “a solid and sustainable future.” It ends with an invitation to all vessel owners to collaborate on proposals and work collectively to face the challenges ahead.
Challenges to the current management framework
In parallel, on April 14, ALFA CAPEAR submitted a formal letter to the Federal Fisheries Council requesting specific changes to current shrimp management measures. According to Karina Fernández in Revista Puerto, the chamber argues that existing regulations are directly hindering the operations of fresh-fish vessels and generating unnecessary costs.
 The proposed changes include:
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Eliminating the 72-hour time limit per fishing trip ("CEPO"): The chamber contends that this restriction fails to account for real fishing conditions such as poor weather, exploratory hauls, or null catches. They argue it reduces operational efficiency without clear evidence of improving sustainability.
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Removing or revising speed limits during navigation and maneuvers: They assert that the current rule overlooks essential safety considerations like currents, wind, and sea conditions. Violating these limits often results in what they describe as “absurd sanctions.”
ALFA also claims that increased state intervention in fleet operations lacks scientific support and does not necessarily lead to better resource conservation. On the contrary, they argue that greater operational flexibility could actually enhance efficiency and reduce waste.
So far, these proposals have not received a formal scientific evaluation by INIDEP, the national fisheries research institute. However, given the severity of the crisis and the potential social impact of the chambers' decision, this time their demands may finally be heard.
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