Argentine companies apply to relax target catch limits for squid in northern waters.

Published Feb 1, 2026

Tridge summary

Core tip: The Argentine Council of Fisheries Enterprises (CEPA) recently submitted an application to the Federal Fisheries Commission (CFP) requesting permission for frozen trawling vessels to operate in waters north of latitude 41°S during the biologically permissible fishing season, targeting the Argentine shortfin squid (Illex argentinus) as the target species. This application has entered the agenda of the CFP's first meeting of the new year, becoming one of the focal issues in the current management of the Argentine shortfin squid fishery.

Original content

CEPA noted in the document that Illex squids exhibit a noticeable northward migration during the middle to late part of the fishing season, and the current prohibition on frozen trawlers targeting squid north of 41°S restricts the fleet's ability to respond to the dynamics of the resource. The enterprise believes that allowing northern target fishing within the legal fishing window period would help fully utilize squid resources within the Argentine exclusive economic zone and prevent them from continuing to move north and being caught by fleets in international waters. To support this request, CEPA proposed that the National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) develop a monitoring plan specifically targeting squid bycatch and target fishing for frozen trawlers, implementing dynamic management of fishing intensity and resource status through onboard observers, satellite monitoring, and regular scientific assessments. CEPA emphasized that its request is limited ...

Source: Foodmate