Buenos Aires province challenges new squid fishing vessel permits

The Government of Buenos Aires has formally challenged the Federal Fisheries Council's decision to grant 18 permits for new squid fishing vessels, claiming the process unfairly disadvantages the port of Mar del Plata.

Minister of Agrarian Development Javier Rodríguez and Undersecretary Carla Seain criticized the bidding process as an “express process” that was approved on the same day it was proposed, leaving little time for provincial analysis. Officials noted that the criteria used for the tender effectively penalized projects planning to use Buenos Aires ports for landings. Out of the 18 selected projects, only one designates Mar del Plata as its landing site, despite the city handling approximately half of the nation's squid landings.

Furthermore, the provincial government raised concerns regarding the lack of scientific studies from the National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (Inidep) to justify the increase in fleet size. They also highlighted that none of the projects involve Argentine shipyards, meaning all 18 vessels will be imported, which they argue undermines the national naval industry and local employment.