Positive Survey Boosts the 2026 Loligo Squid Season in the Falklands
The 2026 Loligo squid fishing season in the waters surrounding the Falkland Islands began on February 22 following a preliminary survey that delivered encouraging results. The assessment was carried out by the freezer trawler BP Monteferro, which, over 17 days of exploratory work, landed 700 tons of squid, averaging close to 41 tons per day.
These figures significantly exceed those recorded during the second 2025 season, when low yields—barely 25 tons per day—forced an early closure to protect the resource. Initial estimates suggest that available biomass stands at around 40,000 tons, raising positive expectations within the fishing sector.
The season is scheduled to last 64 days, although its continuation will depend on stock performance. Authorities are maintaining a sustainability-based management approach: if biomass falls below the 10,000-ton threshold, the fishery will be closed to safeguard the species.
After a challenging year, the start of the 2026 campaign signals a potential recovery for the industry and highlights the importance of science-based management in one of the South Atlantic’s most significant fishing grounds.
