
Chile is in the midst of what has become to be known as the “cuttlefish or large squid war”, between industry and artisanal fishermen and the government's intention of protection and conservation of the species. The Chilean Congress recently passed a bill regulating the catch of the giant squid and specifically banning trawling, with perpetrators facing fines of some US$ 38.000.

Spain's minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, said he was confident that if no agreement is reached regarding Brexit, both the European Union (EU) and Spain will be prepared. During an informative breakfast, minister Planas stressed that the government of Spain is working to ensure citizens and is prepared to minimize the impact of Brexit on the agri-food and fisheries sector.

Scientific study suggests snoek (Thyrsites atun) can re-colonize the marine area of the Beagle Channel and South-Western Atlantic waters, an area in the southernmost point of the South American continent where this species competed with the hake (Merluccius sp.) to hunt preys in warmer periods.

The Government of Galicia will commission the University Institute of European Studies Salvador de Madariaga, from the University of A Coruña, a new report on the current status of the Brexit agreement and the possibilities to reach a fishing agreement with the United Kingdom.

A UK parliamentary committee has called on the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) to address concerns about the organization's standard for sustainable fishing in the world's oceans. The House of Commons' Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) issued recommendations following its Sustainable Seas inquiry, whose findings were published last November.

While the Spanish fleet of fishing vessels, many of them partners of Falkland Islands companies have started leaving Vigo for the South Atlantic to begin the Loligo season on 24 February, Argentine licensed jiggers operating south of parallel 44 have been catching some 25 tons per day per vessel of Illex, according to the first reports from Pescare.com.ar.

Spain's Agriculture, Fisheries and Food minister Luis Planas admitted the fishing industry could suffer dramatic consequences with a no-deal Brexit, one of several options after this week's parliament events in London. Minister Planas had revealed that in the case of a hard-Brexit, all Spanish fishing vessels will have to immediately abandon United Kingdom waters immediately.

Argentina's National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development, INIDEP, has started a scientific survey aimed at assessing the Southern king crab (Lithodes santolla) in its central Patagonian distribution area. This is the third consecutive year in which the survey is carried out and includes the San Jorge Gulf and platform waters, between 43° 30 'and 48° South latitude, in jurisdictions of the Nation, and Chubut and Santa Cruz provinces.

The Peruvian Ministry of Production has established the maximum allowable catch of the Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) resource for the current year at 161 tones. According to ministerial Resolution 007/2019, the quota may be modified if the Institute of the Sea Peru has proven evidence of greater availability of the resource, for which purpose it shall remit the recommendation with the corresponding measures to the Production ministry.

On 1 January, the wasteful practice of throwing fish discards overboard became illegal in waters of the European Union. Scientists believe the policy will lead to more efficient fisheries and eventually boost stocks.