Photo: PuntoNoticias/FIS

Garrone Turns on the Jiggers' Lights, but the 'Shadow Cone' Doesn’t Fall on the Squids

ARGENTINA
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

Argentine journalist Roberto Garrone has recently published a column in the Mar del Plata news outlet Puntonoticias, denouncing in a clear tone of protest a new "shady deal" (negociado) being organized: the mass incorporation of more jigger vessels (poteros) into the national fleet.

After an introduction regarding the current squid season, Garrone summarizes the current landscape: "In fishing terms, 2026 is just beginning to wake up with yawns after the year-end break. Fish workers in Mar del Plata will gradually return this Monday to begin reprocessing the first landings from the few deep-sea fresh-fish vessels that set sail after the New Year's toast," Garrone comments.

AI-generated image of Roberto Garrone -->

The journalist's analysis quickly turns sharp when describing the start of the harvest: "The South Patagonian stock squid confirmed that at this time of year, it is small and poorly concentrated for the anxious jiggers that sought to fish it on January 2nd. This experiment, consolidated in failure and disguised as a defense of sovereignty, only serves Chinese-capital companies that have plenty of resources to allocate economic and human assets to a chimera. The rest of the 82 squid fishing permits dispensed by the Argentine state this season—few of them in Argentine hands—also have plenty, but they are more cautious when it comes to squandering them," Garrone adds, before moving on to the core issue.

The Heart of the Deal: New Licenses in Sight

Garrone delves into the ambition surrounding this fishery, noting suggestive changes among the main players: "In this scenario, everyone wants to get a foot, or both, into this fishery. No, not everyone, sorry… Juan Redini, a leader in the jigger fleet, sold his boat and company last year to a Taiwanese business group and turned to the shrimp business, associated with a Chinese company."

Under the premise that "where there is a need, there is a business," the journalist warns of the official push to expand the list of permits: "In the final weeks of last year, the official project to expand the list of enabling permits for the squid fishery by some 10 to 15 new licenses regained momentum. There are also Chinese companies with addresses in Argentina that will surely seek to increase their fleet. In recent years, their presence has strengthened with a greater fishing effort. Modern boats with large holds: 'Fénix Internacional' has nearly a dozen boats with the 'Xin Shi Ji'; 'Pesquera Latina' follows behind with the 'Lu Quin Yuan Yu,' which are nine..."

Political Framework and Shadows of Corruption

The most crude description falls upon the Federal Fisheries Council (CFP) and the Undersecretariat of Fisheries, involving well-known figures from the private sector: "It is already vox pópuli that the Resolution providing the legal framework was drafted by Miguel Bustamante, former Undersecretary of Fisheries and one of the great interpreters of the Federal Fisheries Law. These days, the exact moment to submit the Resolution to the Federal Fisheries Council must be defined, possibly next month. The permits would be for the 2027 harvest. An election year."

Garrone denounces an alarming lack of support for the national industry and a prioritization of revenue (or personal gain) over sustainability:

"No one here is thinking about granting a license to sustain onshore employment, nor is it a condition that any of the boats be built in the country. Never in its rich history has the Argentine naval industry had the chance to build a jigger boat... Everything arrives imported and used, and with increasingly larger holds."

The journalist directly links these maneuvers to the current political environment: "I say no one among the government authorities, who think only of monetizing the growth of the fishing effort... to contribute to the 'Libertarian' government's coffers, where it became clear after the ANDIS-gate that 3% is for 'the sister'."

Finally, Garrone reveals figures and operations that challenge the sector's transparency: "One alternative under study is to distribute 15 permits, 2 for each provincial jurisdiction on the maritime coast so that each administration can find potential interested parties. The other five remain in the hands of the central administration... Squid is such a good business, and several parties are so desperate to enter, that no one objects to paying the 1.5 million dollars they are being asked for as a bribe to be selected among the chosen ones," he concludes.

Will There Be Real Change or Just a Change of Hands?

Garrone's report strikes at the heart of the current administration, suggesting that the denounced practices respond to a systematic plan. Given the gravity of these claims, one must ask: Is this not the right time for the highest authorities of the Ministry of Economy to take action?

Honest actors in the fishing sector are still waiting for the Government to be clear and decisive. After the controversial renewal of hake licenses last year, skepticism is growing. Two years ago, upon taking office, President Milei announced: "Will the promise of change finally be fulfilled, or are we simply witnessing a new version of the same old privileges and shady deals as always?".

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