The Falklands close the second Loligo squid season three days after reopening it
The Falkland Islands Fisheries Department announced on Thursday the closure of the second Loligo squid season due to low biomass levels, just three days after fishing had resumed following a two-week pause.
The Falkland Islands Fisheries Department decided to close the second Loligo squid season just three days after it had reopened, citing low biomass levels. This decision was made following analysis of catch data and results from exploratory fishing conducted during the two-week pause. The government described the measure as precautionary, aiming to ensure the long-term sustainability of the fishery.
Officials expressed deep concerns about the season, pointing to factors such as oceanographic currents, increasing numbers of predatory hake, and the overall pressure on the fishery. The last normal second season occurred in 2022, while 2024 saw the season entirely closed due to very low biomass estimates. The industry's economic significance to the Falklands was emphasized, with the potential impact extending to the island government's finances and the broader economy.
Measures to address the challenges are being discussed, including a vessel to observe the influx of hake and potential adjustments to fishing licenses targeting hake.
Written by urgent.news from MercoPress's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
