Buenos Aires official challenges new squid fishing permits

Javier Rodríguez, the Minister of Agrarian Development for the province of Buenos Aires, has challenged the allocation of 18 new permits for squid fishing vessels. Rodríguez criticized the decision made by the Federal Fisheries Council, describing the bidding process as an “absolutely express process” that lacked sufficient technical justification and occurred without adequate time for provincial authorities to analyze the proposal.

The Minister argued that the rapid approval process favors other ports and threatens employment and investment within the province. Specifically, he noted that out of the 18 permits awarded, only one project is slated to land its catch at the port of Mar del Plata, despite the city accounting for approximately half of the nation's total squid landings. The provincial government intends to continue contesting the decision through administrative and institutional channels.