Photo: Revista Puerto/FIS

Rawson Shrimp Season Reaches Midpoint with Stable Catches and High Quality

ARGENTINA
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 06:00 (GMT + 9)

While volumes are lower than the previous record-breaking cycle, the industry highlights the abundance of L1 and L2 sizes in Chubut landings.

Nearly two months after operations began on November 15, the shrimp fishing season in Chubut waters continues at full capacity. According to reports from Revista Puerto, although the resource is more dispersed and less concentrated than last season, the fleet maintains a steady operational pace with positive biological results.

Photo: Revista Puerto

Yields and Comparison with the Record Season

The current shrimp harvest shows a different dynamic compared to the exceptional 2024/2025 season, which reached a historic high of 106,000 tons. This year, captains must rely on their extensive expertise, as the shellfish is not appearing in massive schools, requiring more hauls to fill the holds.

Official landing data reflects this trend:

• November: 14,936 tons were caught.

• December: 25,695 tons were landed at Puerto Rawson.

• Year-end: The season opened with an accumulated 40,000 tons of shrimp.

Photo: Revista Puerto

Despite the drop in volume, analysts agree that excessive supply could be counterproductive, as it would further depress prices in an international market already under pressure from competition with farmed shrimp.

Export Quality and Fishing Grounds

One of the highlights of the season is product quality. Processing plants are receiving specimens with hard shells and firm meat, with a predominance of L1 and L2 sizes and a lower percentage of L3. This standard positions the shrimp from this fishery as a premium product.

Photo: Revista Puerto

Regarding the fleet's location, specific behavioral patterns have been identified:

• South of the mouth of Golfo Nuevo: Excellent hauls with optimal sizes were recently recorded in this area.

• North of parallel 43°30’: This zone shows a positive trend with clean shrimp, free of bycatch (incidental hake fishing).

• South of parallel 43°30’: There is greater dispersal and presence of hake in the nets.

Click on the image to enlarge it

Economic Challenges and Labor Predictability

Unlike previous years, the industry highlights the successful conclusion of wage negotiations with all unions before the start of the fishery. This has provided stability and predictability for the entire production chain in Chubut.

However, concerns have shifted to the commercial sector. Revista Puerto notes that the business remains in a "risky equilibrium" due to:

1. Stagnant international prices.

2. High domestic costs and fiscal pressure.

3. Financial difficulties: some plants are only now finishing payments to vessels for shrimp delivered during the previous season.

Despite these logistical and financial challenges, the health of the fishery is excellent, and shrimp activity remains the region's economic engine at the start of 2026.

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