An article published today by the newspaper La Voz de Galicia confirms the suspension of the second squid fishing season for the Malvina Islands squid ( Loligo gahi ) in the waters occupied by the British colonial administration. The suspension—initially scheduled to last until August 24—is due to the species' low biomass, marking the third consecutive year of decline, uncertainty, and biological standstill in a fishing ground subjected to illegal overexploitation.

The Spanish press reports that the colony's Director of Natural Resources, James Wilson , admitted that the detected biomass is a mere 17,505 tons —one of the lowest initial records in the last two decades— recommending that no more than 10,000 tons be caught to ensure a minimum margin for the species' survival and spawning . The decision took the fleets of the joint ventures by surprise, as they had just completed a voyage of more than 12,000 kilometers from Spain, forcing them to stop their engines and hope for the best on the high seas.

Three years of collapse and the "domino effect" on Vigo

This forced interruption undermines the narrative of "sustainable fisheries management" promoted by both the colony and the Iberian fishing corporation. The biological reality of the South Atlantic demonstrates a deepening structural crisis:

The economic impact of this biological buffer is hitting the port of Vigo particularly hard, as it is the main processing and marketing center for this squid in Europe. As Javier Touza, president of the Vigo Shipowners' Cooperative (ARVI), acknowledged, "the fishing grounds are in an uncertain situation, and this season raises serious doubts about the sustainability of the resource."

The trap of the colonial model

The dilemma facing the British occupation administration is also complex. The Loligo squid is a short-lived species (approximately one year) whose reproductive dynamics depend directly on environmental conditions and fishing pressure. Contrary to what official island statements maintain—attempting to attribute the collapse solely to "climate change" —the underlying cause is the accumulated overfishing through licenses granted outside the bounds of international law and United Nations resolutions.

For the established community, the fall of Loligo represents a fatal blow to its finances, given that the sale of fishing permits to Galician companies provides nearly 60% of its tax revenue.

While European shipowners and British officials are betting on "timely management" of the plunder—halting fishing for a few days to prevent the species from disappearing completely and resuming fishing as soon as there is a remnant—nature continues to define the limits of the fishing grounds. The halt imposed a few days ago is not a voluntary conservation measure: it is an explicit admission that the fishing bounty in the Argentine Sea is dwindling .