MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Is the controversial 'squid war' with Argentina reignited?

“Despite initial concern..., catches of Illex have exceeded 270,000 tons, which is the highest since the fishery began in 1987” said Governor Colin Roberts

The Falkland Islands Fisheries Department has reported this year that squid fishing generated the largest annual capture since records began, representing a major boost to the Islands economy.

 According to an article published in the British newspaper The Telegraph, this record catch, which is worth more than GBP 45 million (USD 73.9 million), is likely to represent a blow to the Argentine authorities who reportedly started a “squid war” against the Falklands' two years ago.

The article points out that at that time Argentine fishermen in the south Atlantic were told to target catches of the local Illex squid before they reached the waters surrounding the Falklands territory.

And as a second move, some countries from Mercosur trade group -- Brazil, Uruguay and Chile – were persuaded by Argentine authorities to turn away any ship flying the Falklands' flag.

However, these measures taken by the South American country seemed not to have affected the yield of Illex squid, which start their one-year life cycle off the Rio de la Plata, which marks the border of Argentina and Uruguay, in September and move southwards as they grow.

“Despite initial concern that the cold conditions would adversely affect the catch, catches of Illex have exceeded 270,000 tons, which is the highest since the fishery began in 1987,” said Colin Roberts, HM Governor of the Falkland Islands.

The United Kingdom has ruled the Falklands, 290 miles (460 kilometres) east of Argentina's coast, for more than 180 years. However, Argentina also claims sovereignty. Offshore oil exploration in the area has encouraged new waves of nationalism on both sides.

By Andrés Loubet Jambert ,President and co-founder of FIS