Argentine red shrimp season tracker: federal, Chubut and Santa Cruz waters

How the season works

Three management regimes

• Federal waters. The Federal Fisheries Council (Consejo Federal Pesquero, CFP) and the national fisheries authority open and close areas on advice from the national fisheries research institute, INIDEP. The offshore fishery works mainly inside the permanent closed area for juvenile hake (AVPJM), between 42° and 48° S, with freezer and chilling vessels (OIA report, 2026).
• Chubut provincial waters. The province manages a restricted fishing area within 12 nautical miles of its coast, from 43° S to 44°56' S, worked by a coastal chilling fleet; the OIA report states that the freezer fleet is not allowed to fish shrimp in that area (OIA report). Chubut sets survey dates and openings by provincial resolution (Heraldo Chubut).
• Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz promotes the protection of the Golfo San Jorge and takes part in federal surveys with provincial observers; the 2026 federal openings in subareas 15 and 16 lie off its coast (Santa Cruz, 30 May 2026).

Surveys, subareas and closure triggers

Before a subarea of the AVPJM opens, an exploratory survey (prospeccion) is run and INIDEP reports on shrimp sizes, the share of juveniles, hake bycatch, abundance and yields; the authority opens the subarea when those indicators are favourable (CFP, 10 Jun 2026). Under CFP Resolution 9/2022, areas are closed when a high share of mature or impregnated females is present, when the hake to shrimp ratio exceeds 20%, or when L4 or smaller shrimp reach 20% of catches for four consecutive fishing days (OIA report). In 2026, rising hake to shrimp (M/L) ratios of 0.25 in subarea 7, 0.35 in subarea 15 and 0.36 in subarea 16 led to closures (CFP, 3 Sep 2026).

Chubut provincial season 2026/2027

• A provincial survey with 20 coastal vessels was set to start on 26 October 2026, with the opening hoped for in early November (Radio Chubut, 22 Oct 2026).
• That survey did not give results good enough to open: shrimp was patchy and hake appeared in catches. Pescare also reported that, commercially, about 35,000 tonnes from the previous season in national waters were still in stock (Pescare, 11 Nov 2026).
• Resolution 717/2026 ordered a new survey; Resolution 719/2026 cut it to two fishing days, from 14 November, in two areas between 43°00' and 44°00' S (Heraldo Chubut).
• For comparison, the head of the coastal fleet chamber said that in 2025 the survey was held on 28 October, repeated on 7 November, and the season opened on 12 November (Radio Chubut). This is a statement reported by the press, not an official notice.

What the season means for buyers

• Whole sea-frozen shrimp comes from freezer vessels on trips of about two weeks, and the freezing fleet is not allowed to fish shrimp in Chubut's restricted provincial area (OIA report). New sea-frozen production therefore follows the federal openings.
• Chilling vessels land fresh shrimp on ice for processing in plants on shore, and can operate in both provincial and offshore fisheries (OIA report).
• The size mix moves by subarea and month; the CFP notices publish survey shares by grade. Agree on grade tolerance before the season, not after.
• Do not plan on fixed dates. Ask suppliers what they hold in cold store as well as what they expect to catch.

More detail: sea-frozen vs land-frozen shrimp and sizes and grades.

Not legal or commercial advice. This page summarises public documents for orientation only. Rules, seasons and certificates change. Confirm every requirement with the issuing authority, your customs broker and your supplier before you buy.