Argentina Closes EEZ Squid Fishery, Sends Letters to Neighboring Fleets; Vigo International Workshop Does Not Address Specific Management Measures

The Fourth International Scientific Workshop on Argentine shortfin squid (Illex argentinus) was held in Vigo, Spain, from September 30 to October 2. The meeting was initiated and funded by the Spanish Producer Organization of Freezer Trawlers for Gadiformes, Cephalopods and Multispecies (OPPC3), with assistance from the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership. Participants included scientists from China, South Korea, Spain, Brazil and Uruguay, as well as participants from the Malvinas Islands. The organizers announced that a regional database would be built and assessments of the resource improved, as a step toward knowledge-based management.

Argentina did not attend the meeting. According to Revista Puerto, Argentina refuses to recognize the jurisdiction of the so-called Malvinas Islands government over this resource. The outlet also noted that, to date, no management measures derived from these meetings have been identified that would continue Argentina's conservation provisions.

Prior to the Vigo meeting, Argentina had already taken concrete action. According to Minutes No. 11/2026 of the Federal Fisheries Council, squid fishing throughout Argentina's entire exclusive economic zone has been closed since April 22, a decision based on the recommendation of the National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP). The closure was due to low catches in northern waters, low densities preliminarily observed during survey cruises, and low recruitment of the Buenos Aires-North Patagonia and South Patagonia stocks.

The minutes also record that Argentina initiated diplomatic communications with the embassies of the countries whose fleets operate in adjacent waters, as well as the criteria recommending that these countries adopt resource conservation measures. On May 1, Revista Puerto reported on the closure of the fishing season and the notification to the countries whose vessels operate at 201 nautical miles.

Argentina's international warning was delivered to the embassies of all countries whose fleets operate beyond 200 nautical miles, but the main parties involved did not respond. These fleets also did not respond to the warning with coordinated closures or equivalent restrictive measures.

The organizers of the Vigo meeting were asked a specific question: in light of the above diagnosis, what specific measures have they taken? If any, the content, dates, scope and results of the measures should be made public; if none, the current concern for sustainability requires explanation. Those calling for more knowledge should also show how they are using the information already available.

It was also mentioned in the meeting discussions that the escape of the spawning stock should be protected at the locations where fishing occurs.