Fishing policy in Argentina, for the period 2004-05, was designed to meet the aim of strengthen resource conservation to cause the least possible damage to economic activity. This period was marked by a drop in catches of some of the major marine resources (i.e. squid Illex argentinus and shrimp Pleoticus muelleri) and prolonged conflicts with crews.

Over the period analysed, total landings remained stable. Larger catches of Argentinean hake more than compensated for the decrease in squid and shrimp. Present landing levels, although stable, are lower than those reached during the last five years of the 1990s, when the amount of fishing effort applied had negative implications on the sustainability of some resources.