Fishery Disputes Resurface in the Southwest Atlantic: Falklands Raises Hake Bycatch Limit to 50%, Argentine Research Institute Voices Objections

A fishery policy conflict has recently unfolded in the waters around the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) in the Southwest Atlantic. Following the early permanent closure of the valuable Illex squid fishing season, local fisheries authorities lifted the bycatch limit for Argentine hake to 50%. This regulatory change immediately drew strong pushback from Argentina’s official fisheries research institute. Scientific disagreements, compounded by maritime jurisdiction disputes, have put this fishery back in the spotlight.

Policy Background: Troubled Illex Squid Fishery

Illex squid is the most commercially valuable cephalopod resource in Falklands waters. Due to stock depletion, the 2026 Illex squid fishing season was closed early and permanently. Falklands fisheries authorities justified the higher hake bycatch cap, claiming rising Argentine hake populations are outcompeting squid. Raising the bycatch ratio, they argue, will ease ecological pressure exerted by hake on squid stocks.

Bycatch limit refers to the permitted proportion of non-target species caught incidentally while fishing for target species. The new 50% threshold means half of the catch from fishing operations targeting other seafood may consist of Argentine hake, far above typical international control standards.

Public Challenge from Argentine Scientists: No Solid Scientific Basis, De Facto Overfishing

Argentina’s National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) publicly challenged this decision. Institute Director Otto Wöhler pointed out there is insufficient scientific evidence to support the claim that growing hake stocks are displacing Illex squid.

The institute has two major concerns:

1. The generous 50% bycatch limit will severely damage the spawning stock of Argentine hake. Though framed as an adjustment to bycatch rules, the measure effectively increases hake mortality, artificially reducing hake population sizes in an attempt to help squid stocks recover. Saving one depleted fishery by sacrificing another simply shifts the risk of fisheries management failure.

2. Argentine hake ranks among Argentina’s top three fishery export pillars, alongside red shrimp and squid. Landing data from Puerto Madryn shows 17,000 tonnes of Argentine hake have been unloaded this year. Fluctuations in this stock directly affect raw material supplies for Argentine fishing vessels and seafood processing plants, impacting a large workforce across the domestic industrial chain.

Layered Conflicts: Beyond Science – Sovereignty and Domestic Fishery Reform

Fishery issues in these waters have never been merely ecological. Long-running disputes over maritime jurisdiction mean fishing quotas and bycatch regulations remain persistent friction points between Argentina and the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, Argentina is advancing domestic fishery legislation. Congress is drafting laws on fisheries traceability; the industry expects reforms to integrate existing systems rather than build entirely new infrastructure. Bills related to sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands are also moving forward.

Dr. Wöhler also commented on Argentina’s red shrimp sector. Red shrimp output exceeded 130,000 tonnes in 2026, demonstrating solid resource potential. However, rapid harvesting has caused catch rates to drop later in the fishing season and pushed up hake bycatch levels. He noted abundant biological resources do not automatically translate into optimal economic returns for the industry. He supports quota management for red shrimp and views the addition of 18 new squid jiggers positively.

Closing Thoughts

This bycatch controversy highlights the real challenges of fisheries governance in cross-border and disputed marine areas. Parties hold conflicting scientific views on species interactions, while conservation goals and national industrial interests pull in opposing directions. Whether squid decline stems from hake competition or overfishing awaits more joint scientific evidence. For the Southwest Atlantic fishery, balancing the industrial demands of multiple nations while sustaining marine fish stocks remains a long-standing challenge.