Photo: Stockfile/FIS

The fleet intensifies shrimp operations while science projects potential catches of 225,000 tons for this year

ARGENTINA
Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

Optimism for a record shrimp season amid strong demands and the debate over fishing quotas

The extractive activity of the shrimp ( Pleoticus muelleri ) shows remarkable dynamism north of parallel 41°S , an area authorized for fishing since last April 15, 2026. Following the signing of wage agreements, various companies prepared their vessels to join the initial fleet operated by Conarpesa , Red Chamber , Pescargen , and the Santander Group . In the last week, more vessels joined the shrimp operations, while the sector awaits the start of the survey within the Permanent Management Area for Juvenile Hake (AVPJM) scheduled for this Friday, May 22, 2026 .

The National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP)will submit the survey project this week, detailing the number of vessels that will enter each sub-area to be monitored. Based on biological data regarding abundance, yields, and percentages of bycatch, the sectors that will be officially opened to commercial fishing within the major hake closure will be determined, with the estimated opening to take place during the first days of June 2026 .

Photo: courtesy Revista Puerto

Biological monitoring and alert over incidental catch

The increase of the fleet in the north brought with it a rise in the incidental catch ( bycatch ) of hake ( Merluccius hubbsi ). According to the Assessment and Transfer Report No. 32/2026 presented to the Federal Fisheries Council (CFP) , the accumulated bycatch of hake between April 16 and May 10, 2026 , reached approximately 217 tons , a figure higher than that registered in the same period of the year 2025 .

The operations of the observed fleet were concentrated in Sub-areas 1 and 2 ( RE 4161 and 4160 ). The averages of the hake/shrimp ratio ranged between 0.05 in the first week and a maximum of 0.20 in the second week, before bad weather conditions interrupted activities on May 6, 2026 . Likewise, business chambers CAPECA and CAPIP reported a 33% increase in the volume of shrimp declared as incidental catch in trawl fisheries compared to the previous year, formally requesting the CFP to analyze this increase.

Photo: courtesy Revista Puerto

Record projections and tensions in the shrimp Commission

The campaign report presented by INIDEP , conducted between March 9 and 26, 2026 , in the San Jorge Gulf , the coast of Chubut , and adjacent waters, yielded very encouraging results. An estimated 8.6 billion individuals were recorded— 105% more than in 2025 and 10% more than the record year 2024 —with a biomass of 141,222 tons (a 43% increase compared to last year). With these parameters, scientists project a potential catch of 225,000 tons for the entire year 2026 , factoring in the 42,705 tons already extracted in provincial waters.

However, the favorable commercial outlook contrasts with the demands raised by different sectors at the latest meeting of the Shrimp Commission:

• Fresh-Fish (wet) Fleet: Chambers from the Province of Buenos Aires ( UDIPA , CAAPBA , AEPC , ALFA , and CAIPA ) took the floor first to demand progress on the management and contingency plans. They requested the suspension of measures regulating trip durations, fixed schedules, and vessel speeds, considering them impossible to comply with. In response, INIDEP warned that the resource is at its maximum exploitation point and cannot support an increase in fishing effort.

  Photo: courtesy Revista Puerto -->

• Freezer Fleet: They reiterated their request to increase the limit imposed on the onboard processing of tails.

• Inspection and Enforcement: CAAPBA lodged a complaint over the increase in summary proceedings for infractions, attributing it to a change in criteria during inspections. In turn, it was requested that the crate weight controls applied to the national fleet be extended to vessels operating in provincial waters, targeting Rawson.

  

  On Friday, the Shrimp Commission meeting was held, bringing together all stakeholders to discuss the quota system the Executive Branch seeks to implement. Photo: courtesy Revista Puerto

Official uncertainty: Although the Undersecretary of Fisheries, Juan Antonio López Cazorla , convened the actors to address the new quota system that the Executive seeks to implement, authorities avoided debating the guidelines of the project. Faced with inquiries from Fernando Rivera ( CAIPA ) regarding the investment data requested for the 2022-2024 period, the Undersecretary closed the discussion by promising to present a formal project soon, along with a schedule of specific meetings.

🇯🇵 Japanese (日本语)

アルゼンチンアカエビの歴史的豊鱼となる225,000トンのpredictedに向けて鱼団がCATCHを本码

强いRequirementとcatch cut off when the catch is patrolled discussionのなかでrecordedなアカエビシーズンへの楽観论が広がる

Pleoticus muelleri ) fishing activities are open to fishing boats on April 15, 2026. The fishing area is open to the north side of the 41st parallel south latitude . Lease agreement, printing, receiving, 様々な Enterprise, ship maintenance, Conarpesa , Red Chamber , Pescargen , Santander Group , initial shipping, shipbuilding, shipbuilding, etc.ここbetween 1 week でさらに多くの Ship がアカエビoperation に加わったOne party, the industry はthis week 金曜日である2026 5 On the 22nd , it was decided to start a resource survey in the Juvenile Fishing Permanent No Fishing Zone (AVPJM).

The National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) , this week, and the National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) each The number of ships entered by the company has been recorded in detail, and a survey plan has been submitted and determined. Amount of resources, catch, by-catch, cut and combine, biology, fisheries, large-scale fisheries, commercial fisheries during the fishing ban period The industry has officially opened the sea area, and the sea area has been decided and opened in early June 2026, and the sea area has been presumed.

Biology's natural science and technology

The catch (bycatch, bycatch ) of the northern fishing boat 団のincreasing, Merluccius Hubbsi (Merluccius Hubbsi ) is rising. The Commonwealth Fisheries Council (CFP) proposed a review report No. 32/2026 , On April 16, 2026 , on May 10, the amount of mixed harvest in the pond was approximately 217 , The record of the same period in 2025 is the last time.

The investigation is focused on the activities of the fishing boat group and the fishing boat group 1および2 ( RE 4161 および4160 ).メルルーサとアカエビのratio average は, first week 0.05 , second week には maximum 0.20 The event will be suspended on May 6 , 2026 .同様に, the industry group のCAPECAとCAPIPは, トロール Fishery において mixed catch として report されたアThe company's volume has increased by 33% year-on-year , and the report and analysis of the increase in CFP have been officially requested.

Recorded predictions and tensions of the committee

March 9, 2026 - March 26 , 2026で実事されたINIDEPによるinvestigation キャンペーン report は, very に心强い results をもたらした. It is estimated that 8.6 billion individuals will record a 105% increase from 2025 and a 10% increase from 2024 to 2024 .また、バイオマス（biomass）は141,222トン（43% increase from the previous year）であった.これらのパラメーターにbasedづき、Scientist らは州の水水でに鱼出された42,705トンをConsiderationに入れた上で、The potential catch for the whole year of 2026 is estimated to be 225,000 tons .

しかし, the good-tempered commercial しとは対 Teru’s に, アカエビ Committee’s latestの合では、different なるセクターから开されたRequirementが対立している:

• Fresh fish boats: UDIPA , CAAPBA , AEPC , ALFA , and CAIPA ), the initial statement, the management plan, the emergency plan, and the progress of the plan. During the voyage, the ship's speed is fixed, the ship's speed is regulated, the measures are stopped, and the ship's speed is not allowed to be observed.これに対し, INIDEPは, the maximum limit of resources, the illegal opening of the limit (the upper limit of the opening), the location of the illegal opening, the amount of fishing effort, the increase in the amount of effort, the warning of the warning.

• Frozen ship: He らは, on board でのエビのtail processing class されているlimited limit を lead き上 げるよう change めて Required した.

• 検Inspection and execution: CAAPBA , Inspection of the benchmark changes in the cause of the violation of the rule of thumb, the increase of the number of cases, the reason for dissatisfaction, and the application of the rule.これに対して、Domestic shipping companies are applicable to されているクレート（通いBox）のweight managementを、Rawsonを対 elephant と し て, 国 の waters で 业 す る ship に 拡 大 す る こ と が Requirement さ れ た.

Uncertainty in Government: Juan Antonio López, Undersecretary of Fisheries Cazorlaは、Administrative がIntroduction Object Refers しているNew しいCatch Cut (クオータ) System にGET りgroup むたAll those who are related to it are summoned and discussed, and the authorities are discussed and avoided. Fernando Rivera ( CAIPA​ ) からのqueen and い合わせにDirect face to したSecond officer は、Nearly いうちにofficial なプロジェクトを promptし、Concrete な合のスケジュールをSET けることをRESTRICTION して Discussion を琁くくった.

🇨🇳 Simplified Chinese

Fishing fleets are ramping up their Argentine red shrimp catches during a quarter expected to reach a record 225,000 tons.

Optimistic about a record red shrimp season amid strong demands and fisheries quota debate.

Since April 15, 2026 , fishing for Argentine red shrimp ( Pleoticus muelleri ) in permitted fishing areas north of 41 degrees south latitude has shown significant activity. Following the signing of wage agreements, major companies prepared vessels and joined the initial fleet operated by Conarpesa , Red Chamber , Pescargen , and the Santander Group . Last week, more vessels joined the red shrimp fishing operations, and the industry awaits resource surveys scheduled to begin this Friday – May 22, 2026 – within the Argentine Permanent No-Fishing Zone for Juvenile Cod (AVPJM).

The National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) will submit a survey project this week detailing the number of vessels that will enter each monitored sub-area. Based on biological data on abundance, yield, and bycatch, the areas that will be officially opened to commercial fisheries during the large-scale blue cod closure are expected to occur in early June 2026 .

Biological monitoring and bycatch early warning

The increase in the northern fleet has led to a rise in bycatch of Merluccius hubbsi . According to Assessment and Transfer Report No. 32/2026 submitted to the Federal Fisheries Council (CFP) , the cumulative bycatch of Merluccius hubbsi reached approximately 217 tonnes between April 16 and May 10 , 2026 , a figure higher than the record for the same period in 2025 .

The observed fleet's operations were concentrated in sub-areas 1 and 2 ( RE 4161 and 4160 ). The average ratio of cod to red shrimp was 0.05 in the first week , peaking at 0.20 in the second week, before operations were suspended on May 6, 2026 , due to adverse weather conditions . Similarly, industry associations CAPECA and CAPIP reported a 33% increase in declared red shrimp as bycatch in trawling compared to the previous year and formally requested CFP to analyze this increase.

Record-breaking forecasts and tensions within the Red Shrimp Committee

A competition report submitted by INIDEP shows encouraging results from the assessment conducted from March 9 to 26, 2026, in the Bay of San Jorge , the coastal waters of Chubut Province , and adjacent waters. The estimated number of individuals recorded reached 8.6 billion – a 105% increase from 2025 and a 10% increase from the record high of 2024 ; biomass reached 141,222 tons ( a 43% increase from last year ). Based on these parameters, scientists predict a potential catch of 225,000 tons for the entire year of 2026 , including the 42,705 tons already caught in the provincial waters .

However, the promising business prospects stand in stark contrast to the demands raised by various parties at the Red Shrimp Committee's most recent meeting:

• The fresh fish fleet: Chambers of commerce from Buenos Aires Province ( UDIPA , CAAPBA , AEPC , ALFA , and CAIPA ) spoke first, demanding progress on management and contingency plans. They called for a halt to measures regulating sailing times, fixed schedules, and vessel speeds, arguing that these measures were unenforceable. In response, INIDEP warned that the resource was already at its maximum exploitation limit and could not withstand further increases in fishing efforts.

• Frozen cargo fleet: They reiterated their request to increase restrictions on processing shrimp tails on board.

• Inspection and Enforcement: CAAPBA protested the increase in simplified procedures for violations resulting from changes in inspection standards. In turn, there were calls to extend fish box weight controls applicable to national fleets to vessels operating in provincial waters, directly targeting Rawson .

Official uncertainty: Despite Under-Secretary of State for Fisheries Juan Antonio López Cazorla convening all stakeholders to address the new quota system sought by the administration, authorities avoided debate on the project's guidelines. Faced with inquiries from Fernando Rivera ( CAIPA ) regarding investment data for 2022-2024 , the Under-Secretary-General closed the discussion and pledged to soon present a formal project proposal and a timetable for specific meetings.

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