During a meeting with Agriculture Secretary Sergio Iraeta, leaders from Argentina's fishing sector expressed serious concerns over the sustainability of their industry amid high export taxes. They reported that, despite generating over $2 billion in revenue in 2025, without the immediate removal of these taxes, the sector could experience a significant slowdown or even paralysis, directly affecting employment and the broader coastal economy. This meeting was notable as it marked the first direct engagement between the fishing industry and the administration of newly elected President Javier Milei.

The leaders highlighted that the earnings from fishing activities represented the second largest export figure in the history of Argentina's fishing sector. Present at the meeting was Undersecretary of Fisheries Juan Antonio López Cazorla, who, along with Iraeta, heard the fishing leaders’ demands. They stressed the critical point of removing the Derechos de Exportación (DEX), which were seen as detrimental to the industry's future profitability and sustainability.

With the coastal economies heavily reliant on fishing for their survival, the meeting signifies an important moment in policy discussions that could impact many livelihoods. The fishing community's plea suggests that failure to address their concerns could lead not just to economic downturns but also to increased unemployment, highlighting the interconnectedness of the agricultural policies and coastal communities in Argentina.