MercoPress https://en.mercopress.com/ South Atlantic News Agency en Copyright 2026, MercoPress. https://en.mercopress.com/web/img/en/mercopress-logo.gif MercoPress http://en.mercopress.com/ <![CDATA[A Spanish investigation tracks how Asia's squid fleet is upending the South Atlantic market]]> Spain controls much of the world's Loligo squid catch, mainly through the roughly 16 licences granted by the Falklands to fish in their waters, with catches close to 50,000 tons a year An international investigation published by the Spanish newspaper El Confidencial, with an extensive interactive report, describes how the expansion of Asian fishing fleets in international waters —mainly Chinese— has transformed the global market for frozen squid, with a direct impact on the European fleet and consequences for fishing in the South Atlantic, one of the main sources of income for the Falklands.

]]> Thu, 02 Jul 2026 09:55:00 GMT <![CDATA[Falklands, dates confirmed for salmon-farming public consultation]]> Public meetings will feature presentations from Hatch and MEP, the authors of the socio-economic, environmental and legislative reports The Falkland Islands Government has confirmed the timetable for the forthcoming public consultation on salmon-farming. A two-week program of public engagement events will begin on 27 July 2026, including public meetings in Stanley and Goose Green, alongside a series of drop-in sessions held throughout the period.

]]> Thu, 25 Jun 2026 21:05:00 GMT <![CDATA[Falklands, lower catch from the Illex squid season; concern with fuel costs]]> Dr. Winter pointed out fo fuel costs but however said that the Islands should not expect a big decline in the fleet from what we are hearing, The illex squid fishing season in the Falklands Islands officially closed this Monday although many vessels had left by early June. The season was marked by rising fuel prices and catches well below the ten year average, however the Falkland Islands Fisheries department and the Fishing Companies Association, FIFCA, say the low catch is not an immediate cause for concern.

]]> Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:46:00 GMT <![CDATA[Report says Chinese firms control nearly two-thirds of the squid fleet in Argentina's waters]]> The vessels operate under the Argentine flag and Argentine rules, but their controlling capital is Chinese. Companies of Chinese origin own 63.1% of the jigger fleet that, under the Argentine flag, fishes squid inside Argentina's Exclusive Economic Zone, according to a report by illegal-fishing and marine-conservation researcher Milko Schvartzman, published by the outlet Infobae. The study states that 53 of the 84 jigger vessels that catch the species under the national flag have Chinese companies as owners or "beneficial owners," based on satellite observations from Global Fishing Watch and the translation of official Chinese documents.

]]> Sun, 21 Jun 2026 21:25:00 GMT <![CDATA[Report warns foreign fleets off Argentina catch up to four times the national industry's haul]]> The foundation warned that, if the current level of exploitation continues, resources that are strategic for the economy could be compromised Foreign fleets operating along the outer edge of Argentina's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) —the so-called Mile 201— extract up to four times the volume caught by the entire national fishing industry, according to a report by the Latin American Foundation for Fisheries Sustainability (FULASP) released on the International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing. The organization called the activity one of the main threats to the fishery resources of the South-West Atlantic.

]]> Sun, 07 Jun 2026 07:56:00 GMT <![CDATA[United States revokes visa of former Argentine official over role in illegal Patagonian toothfish case]]> The communiqué specified that the sanctions against Ferrara relate to “corrupt activities that facilitated illegal fishing and undermined fair market access for US fishers” The US Department of State on Wednesday revoked the visa of former Argentine official Pablo Ferrara Raisberg, former Foreign Ministry representative on the Federal Fisheries Council, over his alleged involvement in an illegal Patagonian toothfish episode that prompted his resignation in 2024. The measure is part of a new policy by the government of Donald Trump under which Washington has restricted the issuance of visas to 24 individuals linked to illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in exclusive zones, and also includes Mexican national José Ali Amado.

]]> Thu, 21 May 2026 11:53:00 GMT <![CDATA[UK £132 million funding for fishing, seafood industries and coastal communities across England]]> The Fisheries fund is open to businesses, education institutions, organizations, community groups and charities of all sizes, as well as port authorities and harbors and coastal councils. English fishermen, seafood businesses, and coastal communities can now apply for funding through the relaunched Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS), funded with £132 million committed to the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund over the next five years.

]]> Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:39:00 GMT <![CDATA[Falklands: Loligo squid returns, “sufficient biomass abundance” for fishing season]]> The pre-survey conducted by the M/V Monteferro between February 3 and 18 estimated Loligo squid biomass at around 41,725 tonnes. Fisheries surveys in the Falkland Islands indicate that there is “sufficient biomass abundance” of Loligo squid to sustain a commercial fishing season.

]]> Fri, 13 Mar 2026 02:49:00 GMT <![CDATA[Argentina clears US oceanographic cruise in the South Atlantic as debate grows over “dual-use” data]]> The authorization has triggered criticism in Argentine political and defence circles focused on the potential dual-use value of certain outputs Argentina’s Federal Fisheries Council (CFP) recorded that it had “no objections,” within its remit, to a United States request for a marine scientific research cruise by the R/V Roger Revelle inside Argentina’s Exclusive Economic Zone between March 5 and March 30, 2026. In the same document, the council asked for “all basic data” plus “preliminary and final reports” to be submitted to Argentine authorities prior to any publication of results.

]]> Wed, 18 Feb 2026 03:12:00 GMT <![CDATA[Argentina tightens illegal fishing enforcement, elevating satellite tracking as evidence]]> The move is designed to reduce long-standing legal “grey areas” around the so-called “Mile 201” boundary Argentina has tightened its enforcement framework against foreign vessels suspected of illegal fishing inside its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), giving greater evidentiary weight to satellite records and other remote sensors to open proceedings and impose fines, under a new regulation published in the Official Gazette.

]]> Sat, 07 Feb 2026 23:24:00 GMT