The Executive of the Falkland Islands has ordered the closure, effective immediately, of the fishing area where 16 freezer trawlers of Galician capital dedicated to the capture of Patagonian squid (Loligo) operate.
This second campaign of the year started with low expectations for the fleet, as just a few days after the start of the fishery, the boats encountered a notable lack of resources in the area. This situation led the Government of the Falklands to impose a first temporary closure of 15 days.
During that interval, some of the vessels were able to take advantage of other fishing licenses to exploit different species and thus maintain activity in other fishing grounds. However, several boats were forced to remain docked and inactive during that entire time.
After the resumption, the biologists of the Falklands, who embark on these Galician vessels during the development of the fishery, verified a strong decline in biomass, which has led the authorities to decree the immediate closure of the fishing ground until 2027.
The work campaigns are structured in two periods: a summer season, which usually starts at the end of July and lasts until September 30, and a winter season, which typically begins at the end of February.