en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Chile (Subpesca) has proposed advancing a national strategy to create higher added value for Chilean jumbo flying squid (jibia), aiming to enhance the industry's economic resilience amid international crises and market fluctuations.
Undersecretary Osvaldo Urrutia noted that the current difficulties in this fishery primarily stem from a sharp decline in international prices of jumbo flying squid, increased supply of competing products from countries such as Peru and Argentina, and challenges in the commercialization chain.
Urrutia stated that the current crisis is triggered by international market conditions, not by resource shortages or changes in domestic regulations. Therefore, Chile's challenge cannot be limited to catching and exporting raw materials; it must decisively advance a value-added strategy for domestic jumbo flying squid. When a country relies entirely on the international price of a resource, fishing families become highly vulnerable to external crises. It is necessary to strengthen the industrial chain, develop new products, explore markets, and bring greater stability to fishing communities and maritime workers.
Currently, the jumbo flying squid fishery extends from Arica and Parinacota to Magallanes, with a concentration between the Coquimbo and Biobío regions. The global fishing quota for 2026 is 200,000 tons, with resource availability remaining unchanged and no signs of biological impact. However, in the first quarter of this year, the export value of jumbo flying squid fell by more than 84% compared to the same period in 2025, with average prices dropping by approximately 48%, directly affecting the income of artisanal fishermen and processing plants. Domestic industrial activity has declined, with the number of processing plants decreasing from 64 in 2025 to 55 this year, and production volume falling by about 35%.
In response, Subpesca emphasizes that the focus should be on enhancing the industry's competitiveness through innovation, production diversification, and new commercial alternatives, avoiding the transformation of a temporary economic crisis into a purely regulatory debate. Urrutia concluded that the future of artisanal fisheries also lies in injecting development, innovation, and new economic opportunities into coastal communities. Chile has the potential to transform jumbo flying squid into high-value-added products, creating jobs, regional growth, and social stability for thousands of families.
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