MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands reports record catches of Loligo and Illex squid

Last Sunday the 16 vessels total catch was 1.102 tons

Falkland Islands is reporting record catches of Illex and Loligo squid this season. News first arrived last Sunday when it was announced that local jiggers had caught the highest daily catch and highest catch rate of Loligo squid since at least 2000.

 The total catch by the 16 mainly Falklands registered trawlers in the fishery was 1,102.3 tons for the day, or an average catch per vessel of 68.9 tons said Director of Fisheries John Barton.

On March 26 the total daily Illex catch by jiggers was a record for the last 20 years at 4,898 tons. Mr. Barton said: “However one good day does not make a season and there is still a long way to go in the current season.”

The combined catch of Illex, Loligo and finfish on March 26, could fill about 220 forty foot reefer containers.

Squid usually account for around 75% of Falklands' annual catches of some 200,000 tons, and are destined for markets in Europe and the Far East.

The remainder of the catches consist of various finfish species including Rock Cod, Hake, Hoki and Toothfish.