The Argentine Subsecretariat of Fisheries has placed a temporary ban on fishing in two areas rich in shrimp, the country’s main fisheries export, due to the appearance of undersized specimens. As a result of the decrease in stocks of squid and Argentine hake, shrimp has become the leading export species in terms of both volume and revenues.

Subsecretary Norberto Yauhar had not planned for a closed season in October, but reports from the National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development indicated a reduction in shrimp size, leading to the decision to temporarily suspend fishing activity.

The one-week suspension, from Oct. 8 to 15, could be further extended, Yauhar told Tierramérica, although the 2010-2011 season has been “very good” and there have been few limits on fishing until now, he added.