Argentine Red Shrimp Fishing Season Concludes Early: Ripple Effects of the Worst Record in a Decade

On October 10, 2025, the Argentine Federal Fisheries Council (FFC) announced a nationwide fishing ban in marine waters, marking the early end of the 2025 Argentine red shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri) fishing season. This season set a decade-long record for the shortest operation period and the lowest output, casting a shadow over the industry's prospects in 2026.

Dual Challenges Lead to Lackluster Fishing Performance

The fishing season faced obstacles from the start. Due to labor disputes of the Argentine Seafarers' Union (SOMU), the start of fishing was delayed until August—nearly two months later than usual. Coupled with the declining abundance of red shrimp resources, the total national landing volume was only 138,000 metric tons, including 42,000 metric tons of ship-frozen shrimp, a rare low not seen since before 2012.

The direct cause of the fishing ban was the excessive bycatch of juvenile hake (Merluccius hubbsi). Only Subareas 1 and 2 maintained the legal bycatch rate limit of 20%. Starting from October 2, the Permanent Juvenile Hake Protection Area (AVPJM) was closed; new fishing operations were suspended on October 4; and nationwide red shrimp fishing was officially terminated on October 10.

Industrial Chain Faces Survival Pressure

• Fishermen: Most crew members had to stop work after only two months of operation. During the off-season (March-May 2026), they will rely on basic wages or subsidies to make ends meet. Freelance crew members have seen a sharp drop in income, struggling to sustain their livelihoods.

• Enterprises: Although the international price of red shrimp has stabilized at over USD 8 per kilogram (higher than the average in recent years), the shortage of raw materials has prevented enterprises from fulfilling export contracts. This risks losing long-cultivated markets such as China, Europe, and Japan.

Global Supply Pattern Undergoes Changes

As one of the world's major exporters of wild red shrimp, Argentina's reduced output will push up international spot prices and intensify procurement competition in the Asian market. At the upcoming Vigo International Seafood Fair (Conxemar) in Spain, the scarcity and high price of Argentine red shrimp are expected to be key topics. Some enterprises have even begun to seek alternative sources of supply to address potential long-term supply gaps.

Balancing Resource Protection and Industrial Survival Remains a Task

Despite fishermen's calls to extend the fishing season until December, authorities maintained a fishing ban timeline similar to previous years, citing resource sustainability. This confirms that "delayed fishing start did not extend the operation period." Experts point out that the crisis stems from the combination of declining red shrimp resources and industrial management conflicts. In the future, finding a balance between protecting fishery resources, safeguarding fishermen's livelihoods, and ensuring enterprise survival will be a long-term challenge for the Argentine red shrimp industry.