An encouraging start of the 2024 Illex squid season, with good catches and sized specimens have been reported by both jiggers and trawlers, according to Argentine fishing interests operating since 12 January south of parallel 44.
Squid is back, and with good prospects for the catch season, according to reports from Argentina that also announced the launching of an aggressive vigilant and monitoring campaign between the Navy and Coast Guard to check on the estimated 350 Asian jiggers next to the 201 plus mile don't slip into the Argentine EEZ to “steal our sea resources”
The Argentine government, through the Federal Fisheries Council has officially opened the Illex squid season south of parallel 49. The two main fisheries chambers, CAIPA and CEPA had requested that the season begin 10 January south of parallel 44, but the Council in early December denied the request based on a scientific report from INIDEP, the National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development.
Over a hundred jiggers have crossed from the Pacific to the Atlantic through the Magellan Strait reports the Chilean navy responsible for monitoring and safe navigation along the waterway.
Since Saturday, January 15, zero hours, Argentine jiggers have been allowed to operate between parallel 44 and parallel 48 South, following the lack and/or minimum catches at the original specified area of parallels 49 to 52 S.
Argentina fisheries overseas sales during the first quarter of the year reached 56.843 tons, which represent a 34,9% volume increase compared to a year ago, but the value, US$ 162,5 million only climbed 7,7%, since the average price of the different species dropped 20%, according to the Under Secretary Fisheries department.
UK has been standing out for the Falklands and its squid and fish sales to the European Union, according to an article from the Financial Times, credited to Jim Brunsden in Brussels, and referred to the post-Brexit EU/UK trade talks.
A total of 62,000 tons of illex squid was taken during the first four months of 2020, which was above the average over the last four years reported the Falklands Islands Director of Natural Resources Dr. Andrea Clausen, at Thursday’s meeting of the Fisheries Committee.
In seven months of the current year, landings in the Argentine port of Mar del Plata reached 210.000 tons, which is 3.3% more than the same period a year ago, according to local fisheries authorities. Hake, apparently, helped with the positive difference since squid landings were notoriously lower.
Last week Penguin News reported on the uncertainty surrounding Brexit causing a slump in meat sales from the Falkland Islands Meat Company and lower prices.