Argentina closes Subareas 7 and 15 to shrimp fishing due to hake bycatch

The National Directorate of Fisheries Coordination and Supervision has ordered the closure of Subareas 7 and 15 to commercial shrimp fishing, effective August 31, 2026. This decision follows technical reports from the National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) indicating that the ratio of incidental hake catch to shrimp exceeded the regulatory limit of 20 percent, alongside a high proportion of juvenile hake.

The closure has significantly impacted the processing industry. Several fish processing plants, particularly in Chubut, have already announced the end of their 2026 national season due to a lack of raw materials. Many of these facilities do not own their own vessels and rely on the deep-sea fleet, which has returned to port following declining catches and recent storms.

Workers have noted that the current season was notably shorter than in previous years; while some seasons lasted five months, the 2026 season lasted less than three months. The fishing activity saw a concentrated period of high volumes in July, but the recent regulatory closures and declining catches have paralyzed the supply chain for processing plants.