The 2025 campaign to fish for loligo squid in the waters of the Malvina Islands, illegally licensed by the British Navy, began with worrying and contradictory signals . Three new vessels— the Argos Berbés, the Prion, and the Hadassa Bay —joined the fleet this year, but their launch was delayed at the suggestion of scientific teams, who warned of the scarcity of the resource. According to industry experts, the activity has been uneven and has yielded less than expected.
Journalist Lara Graña of the Faro de Vigo media outlet reported that the new head of the Department of Natural Resources of the illegal Malvinas government, James Wilson , publicly expressed his concern about the state of the fishing grounds. "We are facing the lowest biomass recorded in the last five years, even below the average of the last two decades," the colonial official warned.
The data accumulated up to March reflect this panorama: the fleet managed to land around 22,000 tons of squid, a figure that is well below the usual average, which usually exceeds 30,000 tons at this time of year . A projection that is well below the estimates of the president of ARVI (Vigo Shipowners Association), Francisco Javier Touza , who weeks ago had projected reaching 45,000 tons for the first season of 2025. A situation that has generated concern among shipping companies, especially those based in Vigo and Marín (Spain), which operate in the area through joint ventures with British companies.
One of the main Galician fishing companies indicated that the illegitimate Malvinas authorities have already announced that they are closely monitoring the evolution of catches and that they do not rule out closing the fishing grounds earlier than planned. "There is a real risk that the campaign will be ended early," they stated.
In addition to the poor fishing performance, the sector faces the challenge of recovering the significant investments made in recent years. The companies Pescapuerta, Pereira, Copemar, Rampesca, Moradiña, and Marfrío have renewed a large part of their fleet, with a total investment exceeding €240 million. The new freezer trawlers alone, built by the Nodosa and Armón Vigo shipyards, cost more than €30 million each.
And to make matters worse, days ago the brand new fishing vessel Hadassa Bay was towed to the port of Montevideo due to a breakdown in its main engine during the vessel's first trip.
Meanwhile, due to the late start of the season, several vessels sought alternatives in international waters, catching species such as hake and squid, to mitigate the economic impact. It should be noted that more than 90% of the loligo squid caught in the Malvinas is destined for Europe, mostly entering through the port of Vigo.
The campaign is taking place amidst a backdrop of mixed signals. While a few weeks ago some shipowners expressed a degree of optimism about the fishery's progress, today the colony's authorities are raising the possibility of an early closure. This disparity in outlook reflects the fragility of an activity that depends heavily on environmental conditions, responsible resource management, and sustainability. The economic impact of the investments made; but above all, the lack of scientific certainty when it comes to predicting and inferring a resource that hasn't been scientifically researched as it is within Argentina's exclusive economic zone with INIDEP, since the risk depends on catch projections and some wishful thinking from adventurous lobbyists. Today, given what has happened in recent days, it seems that the licensed Malvinas harvest is failing again.
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