The Falkland Islands Fishing Companies Association (FIFCA) and its Spanish associates said that following the early closure of the first Loligo season, (March first/27 April) given the scientific reports, and with total catches close to 38,000 tons, it was a relatively good season.
Add your comment!The Falkland Islands Government Fisheries Department has confirmed that the Loligo fishing season has closed. The season closed on Sunday 27 April. Following issues with the second season in the last two years, the first season was closely monitored, particularly with regards to size and maturity of squid being caught.
Following discussions with the fishing industry, the Falkland Islands Government Fisheries Department has confirmed that the Loligo fishing season will begin on 1 March.
In July 2024 the Falkland Islands Fisheries Department conducted a routine pre-season survey prior to the second Loligo season, working in close partnership with local fishing companies. The survey results showed the lowest second pre-season biomass estimate since 2008, with the lower end of the estimate being below the Fisheries Department safe stock replenishment threshold of 10,000 tonnes.
The Falkland Islands Fisheries Department (FIFD) conducted a pre-season survey for the winter Loligo ‘X’ licence season, working in close partnership with local companies. The survey results showed the lowest winter pre-season survey biomass estimates since 2008, a total of 19,859 tons.
Falkland Islands Director of Natural Resources Dr. Andrea Clausen reported there was another high catch of Loligo squid during this year’s first season, the fifth year in a row. Dr Andrea Clausen said in her report for the Fisheries Committee, meeting on June, that the total catch of Loligo had been 53,578 tons.
The recent visit to the Falkland Islands by HRAS, (Human Rights at Sea), to conduct an independent review of fishing licensing, related enforcement, and improvements for onboard crew safety and welfare, saw three leading companies opened their doors to scrutiny. This included access to one of the licensed squid fishing vessels and its crew at sea.
Fisheries authorities in the Falkland Islands have said that 2022 was a bumper year for the squid and hake fishing fleets licenced by the territory. Sixteen ships caught a remarkable 101,166 tonnes of loligo squid; a catch that was exceeded only in 1989 when 118,120 tonnes were landed, although that record catch was achieved by almost three times as many ships.
The Falkland Islands Loligo (Falkland Calamari) fishery, which holds two seasons a year, closed its first season of 2021 early – the northern part of the box on April 14 and the south on April 28, three days before the planned last day of May 1.
F/V Falcon, the latest trawler from the Falkland Islands Fortuna fishing company was launched on Wednesday at the Nodosa Shipyard in Vigo, Spain. The vessel will now undergo further completion works, leading to sea trials later in the year, and ready to join the Falklands' fleet for the first Loligo season, commencing February 2021.