Argentina's Chubut Province Relaunches Argentine Red Shrimp Exploratory Survey: 22 Vessels Set Sail on November 14, Results to Determine Whether the 2026/2027 Season Opens

The Fisheries Secretariat of Chubut Province, Argentina, has approved a new exploratory survey for Argentine red shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri) in waters under provincial jurisdiction. The survey was originally scheduled to start on November 12 (Thursday), but due to a weather alert it was rescheduled to November 14 (Saturday) for "two effective fishing days." The measure was formally established by Resolution No. 719/2026-SP, signed on November 10 by the new Fisheries Secretary, Sebastián Cejas.

The resolution limits the operating area to the northern part of the Restricted Fishing Effort Zone (ZEPR), namely waters between 43°00′ and 44°00′ south latitude, from the coastline to the provincial jurisdiction boundary. To organize the survey, the provincial fisheries authority divided the area into two operating zones: Zone 1 between 43°00′ and 43°30′ south latitude, and Zone 2 between 43°30′ and 44°00′ south latitude.

The authorization covers only the exploratory survey and does not in itself mean the opening of commercial fishing in the area. Annex I of the resolution stipulates that 22 coastal fleet vessels with a length of no more than 21 meters will participate, with 11 assigned to each operating zone.

The vessels assigned to Zone 1 include: Cáliz, Lobo, Leonilda, Padrino, Don Bocha, Camilo S, Bagüal, Franco José, Tritón, Sofía B and Carlos Luis. The vessels participating in Zone 2 include: Euro II, Siempre Don Conrado, Don Omar N, Altar, Misal, Don Oscar, Mirta R, Siempre María Elena, Don Giuliano, Don José Di Bona and Barlovento. The resolution also provides for two substitute vessels, Espartano and Punta Pardelas, whose substitution must be authorized by the Fisheries Secretariat after verification of the established requirements; in such cases, the authority must identify both the replaced vessel and the substitute vessel, and notify the Argentine Naval Prefecture of the authorization before the vessel sets sail.

Regarding operating conditions, the resolution requires each vessel to carry the designated provincial observer. The Fisheries Secretariat must notify observer assignments in advance, and vessels that have been assigned an observer but do not have the observer on board may not start or continue the exploratory survey. The resolution instructs the relevant technical departments and the on-board observer team to track the survey daily and to prepare final reports separately by operating zone. The reports must include the per-vessel yields obtained, the length distribution of Argentine red shrimp, and bycatch and discards. In addition, the Fisheries Secretariat reserves the power to suspend or end the survey in one or both operating zones early when justified by technical reports or required for safety reasons.

The entire production chain of Chubut Province's fisheries is waiting for the start of the Argentine red shrimp season in provincial waters, with thousands of workers involved in this activity. Crew members, processing plant workers, dock handlers, logistics and fishery-related activities are all awaiting the progress of the exploratory survey, because the biological results of the survey will determine whether the rest of the fleet is formally allowed to conduct commercial fishing. Since the scope of this survey is very limited, with only two fishing days, if the indicators are positive, the option under consideration is to formally launch the 2026/2027 fishing season next Monday.