Santa Cruz Has Begun Using the Alpesca Hake Quota, and the Shrimp-for-Hake Agreement with Chubut Remains in Force

Sergio Klimenko, Secretary of State for Fisheries and Aquaculture of Santa Cruz, revealed during the Conxemar trade fair in Vigo, Spain, that Santa Cruz has begun using the Alpesca hake quota, which is currently controlled by the province of Chubut through Administrative Provision (Provisión Administrativa).

Speaking about the increase in hake processing activity at the province's processing plants, Klimenko said: "Today we can say we are Argentina's hake hub." He attributed this to the long-standing work of the business community and the supporting measures of the provincial government.

Asked about the Río Gallegos agreement he signed with Chubut Fisheries Secretary Diego Brandán (an agreement aimed at exchanging shrimp quota for hake quota), Klimenko stated clearly: "That agreement is obviously still in force."

Regarding the progress of implementation, Klimenko said that the amount remaining for Chubut under that quota is currently being calculated, since part of the quota has also been allocated to other vessels within Chubut. He also noted that the matter "does not need to go through the Federal Fisheries Council (Consejo Federal Pesquero)," a statement that differs from earlier remarks by his Chubut counterpart that Federal Fisheries Council approval would be required.

Klimenko said: "This can be described as a quota transfer between private parties, at very low cost, so that Santa Cruz companies can have their own quota and land their catch at our ports."

According to the disclosed terms of the agreement, Chubut will release 7,650 tonnes of hake from the Alpesca administrative reserve, and Santa Cruz will provide 1,700 tonnes of unused shrimp quota in exchange. Klimenko added: "This is only for this year; next year we'll see, and if it needs to be done again, we'll do it again." He also said: "As Patagonians, we have no problem with this—we look after the interests of our own provinces first, and then systematically look after all of Patagonia."

The agreement sets out specific obligations for both jurisdictions. Santa Cruz must complete the necessary administrative procedures to implement the allocation of up to 1,700 tonnes of shrimp from its social quota, and formally notify Chubut of the list of vessels it proposes as beneficiaries of the hake allocation, with Chubut responsible for implementing the hake allocation.

Chubut, in turn, must, within the 2026 fishing year, process the allocation of up to 7,650 tonnes of hake through temporary transfer from the available balance of the fresh-fish vessel (buques fresqueros) portion of the Alpesca CITC administrative provision. Chubut must also notify Santa Cruz of the list of vessels proposed to receive the shrimp allocation, which Santa Cruz will implement.

Notifications by both parties must be completed by official letter before each implements its respective allocation. The specific identification of beneficiary vessels and the amount each vessel receives are not included in the text of the agreement and must be resolved subsequently. The mechanism also provides that the two provinces must coordinate a common timetable so that the relevant procedures are carried out simultaneously or in immediate succession.

The agreement also incorporates provisions aimed at ensuring that the exchange has a direct impact on production and employment activities in both provinces. Hake catches obtained under the agreement must be landed at ports in Santa Cruz, to promote raw-material processing, added value and continued employment in the province. As a reciprocal arrangement, shrimp catches obtained under the list of vessels proposed by Chubut must be landed at ports in Chubut, likewise with the goal of production, employment and social benefits. The agreement sets an exception for vessels holding valid authorizations under the San Jorge Gulf Agreement (Convenio del Golfo San Jorge) framework, which may land under the conditions stipulated by that regime. Through this arrangement, the agreement links resource availability to the maintenance of port activity and processing at origin, rather than being limited to compensation between catch volumes.

The hake volume committed by Chubut comes from the available balance of the fresh-fish vessel portion of its provincial administrative provision, under the framework set out in Federal Fisheries Council Meeting Minutes No. 25/2024 (Acta CFP 25/2024). That meeting minutes also provides that the shrimp volume provided by Santa Cruz does not imply the cession, transfer, relinquishment, reduction or loss of its social quota allocated by the Federal Fisheries Council.

The agreement also expressly states that no rights, ownership, priority or expectation of companies or third parties with respect to Chubut's administrative provision are recognized, including Alpesca SA, AP Holding SA and Red Chamber Argentina SA. Costs, duties, taxes and other expenses arising from implementation of the agreement must be borne by the beneficiary companies or entities determined by each jurisdiction, without generating provincial administrative expenditure.

The agreement is valid from the date of signing until December 31, 2026. The text expressly provides that the measure does not create vested rights and does not constitute a precedent for subsequent years; its continuation would require a new decision by both parties.