Profile updated on 27 December 2023
SCIENTIFIC NAME(s)
Illex argentinus
SPECIES NAME(s)
Argentine shortfin squid
COMMON NAMES
Calamar (Spanish), Pota (Spanish)
The Argentine shortfin squid, Illex argentinus, is the most abundant commercial species of squid in the Southwest Atlantic. It is a widespread nerito-oceanic cephalopod occurring in waters off Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands. The species is associated mainly with the temperate waters of the Patagonian shelf, but also uses the subtropical waters of the Brazilian current for early development, and sub-Antarctic waters of the Falkland/Malvinas current for spawning migrations ((Arkhipkin et al. 2015). The population structure of this species is complex, with four stocks currently identified: winter-spawning South Patagonian Stock (SPS), autumn-winter spawning Bonaerensis/North Patagonian Stock(BNPS), Summer Spawning Stock(SSS) and Spring Spawning Stock (SpSS). It has been challenging to obtain sufficient data to assess each cohort separately, therefore this profile is structured considering the two main assessments, in Argentinean EEZ and Falklands (Malvinas) waters.
Management Quality:
≥ 6
≥ 6
≥ 6