Longfin Squid

Longfin squid are highly resilient to fishing pressure as they are fast growing, quick to mature, and as the entire population replaces itself every six months or so. Regular stock assessments are performed and biomass has generally fluctuated near or above target levels. According to a 2011 stock assessment, longfin squid are not overfished. As of 2017, there is not enough information to determine whether the stock is subject to overfishing. 

The majority of longfin squid are harvested using small-mesh bottom trawls over sandy or muddy bottoms that tend to be less sensitive to the impacts of bottom trawling than other areas. While benthic biological structures will take time to recover from the impact of trawling, sandy bottoms can generally withstand two to three trawl passes a year without significantly adverse changes. These recovery rates are lower in muddy and structurally diverse habitats where trawling may cause long-lasting, if not permanent damage.

Small-mesh bottom trawls used to target longfin squid can incidentally catch marine mammals and large pelagics. Finfish such as butterfish, hake, herring, flukes, dogfish, and mackerel are known to be caught in the US Atlantic longfin squid fishery – with butterfish being the most commonly caught bycatch species. To address butterfish bycatch, fishery managers have implemented hard caps on the amount of butterfish that can be incidentally caught in the fishery. The longfin squid fishery has also experienced interactions with protected and threatened and endangered species such as small cetaceans and leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles. To prevent bycatch, fishers use measures such as gear restrictions. Additionally, educational outreach initiatives instruct fishers on actions to take in the event of marine mammal interactions. Fishers communicate in real-time to report marine mammal spottings and hotspots of marine mammal activity. 

US management of the longfin squid fishery is considered to be effective as the fishery has maintained stock biomass and recruitment throughout the years. Management measures such as limited access, quotas and seasonal distributions of quotas (to spread out fishing effort), real-time closures, gear restrictions, and mandatory vessel trip reports have been successful at maintaining biomass levels – with current levels considered to be within historic norms. According to a 2013 Seafood Watch report, the fishery management plan could incorporate a more precautionary approach in the form of ecosystem-based management to better account for predation in stock assessments. Due to the high variability of the longfin squid stock due to natural factors, Seafood Watch has identified the need for more real-time assessment and monitoring.